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"Access Denied" – America's Growing Health Care Crisis	Community Health Centers (CHCs): Addressing The Access Problem	"Access Capital": Bolstering America's Primary Care Infrastructure

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Affordable Care Act support for school-based health centers
(12/9/11)

Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, more than $14 million was awarded today to 45 school-based health centers across the country allowing the number of children served to increase by nearly 50 percent, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has announced. Clinics receiving the awards, made possible by the health reform law, are already providing much-needed health care services to 112,000 children. Today’s infusion of new money will enable them to expand their capacity and modernize their facilities, which will allow them to treat an estimated additional 53,000 children in 29 States.

“Children are the foundation upon which this country will grow,” said Secretary Sebelius. “The Affordable Care Act will help ensure our children get the high-quality health care they need and deserve.” Funds awarded today will help create jobs for Americans across the country. Funds will support job opportunities as more Americans will be needed to meet the clinics’ pressing capital needs - including construction, renovation and new equipment.

Click here to read more. Congratulations to the two centers in Indiana that received funding – Shalom Health Care Center and HealthNet, Inc!!!

How Healthy Is Your State?
(12/8/11)

UnitedHealth Group has released their 2011 annual state-by-state health rankings. Wondering where Indiana ranked? Indiana ranked 38 the same as in 2010. The rankings were based on 23 different factors, including rates of obesity, diabetes and cancer death. The survey found increases in America’s rates of obesity (up 7.5 percent from 2001) and diabetes (from 8.3 percent in 2010 to 8.7 percent in 2011), and decreases in tobacco use (3 percent decline since 2010) and preventable hospitalization (17 percent decline since 2001).

Part of the problem, Tuckson said, is the affordability of healthy foods compared to junk foods. “It is very easy to get access to a $1 cheeseburger, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,” he said. “It's much more difficult to get access to a $1 tomato.”

Click here to read more.

Washington decision could affect local medical care
(11/22/11)

A proposal from the Congressional Supercommittee that will affect health centers is a $60 million drop in graduate medical education, partially paid for by Medicare, a federally-funded program expected to see a drop in funding.

"We're very concerned about this," said Toni Estep, CEO of Open Door Health Services, the community health clinic. "Medical residents come from these programs, and with the huge physician shortage now, along with the increase in the number of people needing doctors in 2014 when health care reform kicks in ... we need more programs, not less. Not now."

Click here to read more.

Minnefield elected to national board
(10/20/11)

Rosetta Minnefield, who leads the local board of directors of the Madison County Community Health Centers Inc., was elected to serve a two-year term, 2011-2013, as the national consumer representative of the National Association of Community Health Centers Inc.

Click here for to read more.

NHSC Corps Community Day
(10/4/11)

The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) is hosting the first Corps Community Day on October 13, 2011 as part of the 13th annual National Primary Care Week. As a site administrator or clinician there are many ways you can take part in this day and spread the word about the NHSC:

Consider the opportunity to host an NHSC site tour for local students interested in pursuing a health professional career in primary care. Advertise your tour using the customizable event flyer.
While working in the community, hold a health fair to provide screenings, flu vaccinations and/or educational materials. Advertise your fair using the customizable event flyer, color stickers, and black and white stickers. Alert the media with the media advisory template.
Post the Corps Community Day Web Badge to your organization's web site.

If you have any questions please contact CorpsCommunityDay@hrsa.gov.

Affordable Care Act to support quality improvement and access to primary care for more Americans
(9/30/11)

Today the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a series of initiatives that will help over 900 community health centers and community-based organizations to enhance the quality and coordination of health care services across the country. A total of $47 million, made available by the Affordable Care Act (the health care law passed in 2010), was awarded in every state and will help improve quality and access to services for millions of Americans. They will also support better primary care and behavioral health services for people with mental and substance abuse disorders.

"These programs play a crucial role in the national effort to build high quality, comprehensive health care for those who need it most," said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. "With these investments, health centers and other community-based organizations can expand on their efforts to ensure they are able to serve patients in their communities."

The following Indiana community health centers received $35K: Madison County Community Health Center, Vermillion-Parke Community Health Center, East Chicago Community Health Center, Inc, Heart City Health Center, Community HealthNet, Inc., Health & Hospital Corp of Marion County, Indiana Health Centers, Inc., Raphael Health Center, Shalom Health Care Center, Inc, Riggs Community Health Center, Inc., Open Door Health Services, Inc., North Shore Health Centers, Inc., Windrose Health Network, Inc., Healthlinc, Inc., and Purdue University West.

To read more, click here.

Beacons Garner $8.5 Million for Health IT
(9/23/11)

Eighty-five community health center programs, located in 15 of the 17 Beacon Communities nationwide, were awarded $8.5 million on Monday to aid with the adoption of health IT to support long-term improvements in quality of care, health outcomes and cost efficiencies.

To read more, click here.

Boone County Community Clinic’s Bambi McQuade-Jones Selected for Highly Competitive National Nurse Fellowship
(8/18/11)

Bambi McQuade-Jones, D.N.Pc., F.N.P.-C., M.S.N., B.S.N., R.N., executive director and family practice nurse practitioner at the Boone County Community Clinic in Lebanon, Ind., has been named one of just 21 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Executive Nurse Fellows for 2011. McQuade-Jones joins a select group of nurse leaders from across the country chosen to participate in this world-class, three-year leadership development program designed to enhance nurse leaders’ effectiveness in improving the United States health care system.

To read more, click here.

Funding Health Centers Matter of Life, Death
(8/11/11)

As Congress and taxpayers struggle with budgets and funding, one area some suggest targeting is funding for community health centers.

Before we diminish the critically vital services these centers provide, let's examine a few facts.

To read more, click here.

National Health Center Week Photos

Partnership Brings New Community Health Center to Indianapolis' Far Eastside
(7/29/11)

Thanks to a $200,000 gift from The Glick Fund, a fund of the Central Indiana Community Foundation, HealthNet has opened a satellite community health center on the Far Eastside in partnership with the Community Alliance of the Far Eastside (CAFE).

To read more, click here.

Healthy Indiana Plan to Open Enrollment to 8,000 Childless Adults
(7/13/11)

Today (July 11, 2011), the Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) announced that 8,000 Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP) enrollment slots will be opened to childless adults August 1, 2011. The program, created by Governor Mitch Daniels and designed to promote health and personal responsibility, began accepting applications in January 2008 and is currently serving over 42,000 Hoosiers. Federal regulations limit how many childless adults may be enrolled in the program. However, FSSA is now able to open these slots due to attrition.

"The Healthy Indiana Plan has been a nationally recognized success since it began," said FSSA Secretary Michael Gargano. “We are fortunate to now be able to open this program to additional childless adults that need low-cost health insurance.”

To read more, click here.

IHC to Manage Brown County CHC - Editorial by Lynn Clothier, IHC

To read more, click here.

Obama Administration Rolls out Standards for Health Insurance Marketplaces
(7/13/11)

In a big step to carry out the new health care law, the Obama administration unveiled standards on Monday for insurance marketplaces that will allow individuals, families and small businesses in every state to shop for insurance, compare prices and benefits and buy coverage. Kathleen Sebelius, the secretary of health and human services, said the insurance exchanges, the centerpiece of the new law, "will offer Americans competition, choice and clout."

In theory, the exchanges will pool insurance risks and premiums so that individuals and small businesses will have "the same purchasing power as big businesses," Ms. Sebelius said.

To read more, click here.

Study Shows Colorado Community Health Centers Reduce Medicaid Costs
(7/12/11)

Federally qualified health centers, also known as community health centers, play an essential role in providing health care to millions of Americans. In return for providing primary care to underserved, homeless, and migrant populations, these centers are reimbursed at a higher rate than other providers by public programs such as Medicaid. Under the Affordable Care Act of 2010, the role of the centers is expected to grow. To examine the quality of care that the centers provide, the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing compared the use of costly hospital-related services by Medicaid clients whose usual source of care was a community health center with the use by clients whose usual source of care was a private, fee-for-service provider. The study found that community health center users were about one-third less likely than the other group to have emergency department visits, inpatient hospitalizations, or preventable hospital admissions.

To read the study, click here.

East Chicago Community Health Center Growing, Rebuilding

To read more, click here.

Jane Pauley Center Appoints Medical Director

To read more, click here.

Federal Appeals Court Upholds Health Law
(7/11/11)

The majority decision, issued by a three-judge panel from the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, included the support of a Republican appointee to the federal bench -- the first to affirm the individual mandate's constitutionality.

To read more, click here.

Madison County CHC one of six chosen by HRSA to rollout Does it Run in the Family? toolkit
(7/5/11)

Genetic Alliance, in partnership with the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), selected six HRSA-funded health centers to integrate the Does It Run In the Family? toolkit into their clinical care and outreach practices. Selected centers will receive $40,000 each to implement and evaluate their programs, with the goal of creating and sustaining awareness and discussion of family health history among health center providers, staff, and patients.

To read more, click here.

More Providers Enroll in Health Exchange Initiative
(6/23/11)

Seven separate community health centers and federally qualified health centers in central Indiana are now part of the Indiana Health Information Exchange's (IHIE) quality initiative, called the Quality Health First Program. Open Door Health Services, based in Muncie, is the latest participant the program.

To read more, click here.

Video—Community Health Centers: A Guide for State Policymakers
(6/23/11)

In March 2011, the National Council of State Legislatures released a video that highlights community health centers around the nation, demonstrating the gap they fill in communities by providing access to comprehensive, quality health care, their cost-effectiveness and meeting the needs of their communities.

To watch the video, click here.

June 27 is National HIV Testing Day

To read more, click here.

FSSA to Expand Hybrid to Lake and St. Joseph Regions
(6/17/11)

The Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) is pleased to announce the expansion of the Hybrid system for public assistance to 13 counties that comprise the Lake and St. Joseph regions beginning June 20. Bringing the statewide total to 72 counties in Hybrid, the Lake region includes Lake, Porter, Newton, Jasper and Benton; the St. Joseph region includes St. Joseph, LaPorte, Elkhart, LaGrange, Starke, Marshall, Pulaski and Fulton.

To read more, click here.

State Health Dept. To Cut Low-Cost Vaccines
(6/10/11)

The Indiana State Department of Health has ordered county health departments to stop giving low-cost vaccinations to people who have insurance. The ISDH said that the vaccinations should only go to needy children and that the budget for the immunizations was being strained. Dr. Virgina Caine, director of the Marion County Health Department, said she doesn't have a magic wand, but she has an alternative plan for those who are insured, or uninsured, if they act quickly. "You will be charged an administrative fee. Currently our fee is $10. If you hurry and rush in here before July 1, that's all you have to pay," Caine said.

Another option could be found at the Shalom Health Care Center, which offers a free vaccine program that receives federal money. Marc Hackett works at the center and said he planned on being busy. "We are going to have to add more to our order. We might have to go so far as to doubling our order just in anticipation of additional people needing immunizations at our primary care center or at our school clinics," Hackett said.

For more information, read here.

ACOs Under Fire From All Sides
(6/9/11)

A federal experiment of accountable care organizations produced lackluster results, adding to withering criticism of federal rules proposed for ACOs. But local hospital systems aren't backing away from the idea.

Last week, the Washington Post reported results from a five-year Medicare experiment with accountable care organizations. The experiment offered financial bonuses to 10 leading health care organizations that demonstrated high-quality care to seniors covered by Medicare that also lowered overall costs.

To read more, click here.

Indiana Medicaid Issues First Medicaid EHR Incentive Payment
(5/31/11)

A Fort Wayne physician was recognized today by Indiana Medicaid as the first provider in Indiana to comply with federal requirements aimed at streamlining the adoption of electronic recordkeeping. With the recognition comes an Electronic Health Record (EHR) incentive payment of $21,250 to Dr. Lisa Holtsclaw of Holtsclaw Medical Centre. For more information click here.

House Republican Budget Plan: State-By-State Impact of Changes in Medicaid Financing
(5/20/11)

This analysis projects the state-by-state impact of converting Medicaid into a block grant and eliminating the planned expansion of the program by repealing the health reform law, as called for under the House Budget Plan. It finds that the plan would trigger major reductions in Medicaid program spending that could result in significant enrollment decreases compared to current projections, a shift with big implications for states, hospitals and tens of millions of low-income Americans who likely would wind up uninsured.

Projected federal spending on Medicaid for the 10-year period 2012 to 2021 would fall by $1.4 trillion, a 34 percent decline. By 2021, states would receive $243 billion less annually in federal Medicaid money than they would under current law, a 44 percent reduction.

To read more, click here.

Planned Parenthood Clinics to Start Turning Patients Away Following Court Ruling
(5/20/11)

Planned Parenthood offices across the state are telling new Medicaid patients to find a different provider, after a federal judge denied a restraining order that would have kept state money flowing. Indiana lawmakers passed a law cutting off taxpayer funding to the agency because it performs abortions. "Planned Parenthood isn't the only place that discounts care," said Louis Winternheimer, Medical Director of Raphael Health Center.

The Raphael Health Center at 34th and Central in Indianapolis, is located just a few blocks away from the Planned Parenthood on North Meridian Street. To read more, click here.

Developing Federally Qualified Health Centers into Community Networks to Improve State Primary Care Delivery Systems
(5/20/11)

Across the nation, states are seeking to bolster the performance of Medicaid primary care providers in order to hold down costs while improving beneficiaries’ health. In particular, more than 37 states are developing or implementing strategies that seek to improve primary care delivery through the creation of medical homes. A majority of U.S. physicians work in small to medium-sized practices, which often do not have the resources to provide complex care coordination, behavioral health care, extended hours, and other services needed to function as medical homes. As a result, such practices are frequently left out of medical home reform efforts. Connecting such practices to federally qualified health centers (FQHCs)—which provide comprehensive primary care services—could help improve the health of vulnerable populations and potentially reduce costs by achieving efficiencies and sharing scarce resources.

To read more, click here.

Community Health Centers To 'Turn The Promise Of Coverage' Into Better Care—The KHN Interview
(5/09/11)

The role of community health centers, which serve about 23 million people, is expected to grow as part of the national health care overhaul. A recent report by the National Association of Community Health Centers found that the nation's 8,000 centers provide one-quarter of all primary-care visits for low-income people and saves the health care system $24 billion a year.

To read the entire article please click here.

Indiana Opens Medicaid Electronic Health Record Program
(5/09/11)

This week Indiana was one of the first 15 states to open their Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs for registration to Medicaid eligible professionals (EPs) and eligible hospitals. “We are extremely pleased to receive federal approval for the launch of Indiana’s EHR Incentive Program,” said Pat Casanova, Director of Indiana’s Office of Medicaid Policy and Planning. “This enhances our ability to assure continued improvements in healthcare quality, efficiency and safety for all Hoosiers.”

To read the entire article please click here.

Health Law Won't Get High-Court Review Yet
(4/29/11)

The Supreme Court refused Monday to consider an early challenge to the federal health-care law, allowing appeals courts to hear arguments first over the constitutionality of the Obama administration's signature legislative achievement.

The justices, without comment, rejected Virginia Republican Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli's bid for early Supreme Court review. The move wasn't a surprise because the court rarely agrees to hear cases directly after rulings by federal district courts.

To read the entire article please click here.

Collaboration and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC)
(4/25/11)

This paper is intended to provide non-FQHC health care providers with a better understanding of what is motivating FQHCs to expand the number of service sites and provide non-FQHC reimbursed services, such as laboratory and other diagnostic services. This paper does not provide an extensive explanation of the regulatory and operational requirements required to operate an FQHC. Information on the FQHC operational and programmatic regulatory requirements is available from Stroudwater (www.stroudwater.com) and other sources.

For the paper please click here.

National Women’s Health Week, May 8 – 14, 2011
(4/8/11)

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will celebrate National Women’s Health Week (NWHW) May 8-14, 2011. In conjunction with NWHW, National Women’s Health Check-Up Day will be celebrated on May 9, 2011, to encourage women to use the many high-quality preventive care services available to them at the Nation’s health centers. NWHW offers yet another opportunity to increase direct health care services to those most in need. Free promotional and educational materials are available at www.womenshealth.gov/whw. National Women’s Health Week was extremely successful in 2010, resulting in more than 2,200 events and health screenings nationwide. Please join us again this year to help thousands of women take steps toward leading healthier lives.

Community Health Centers Offer Model for Improving Care Even as They Grow
(4/11/11)

Community health centers serve 20 million people every year, and that number is expected to double by 2015, thanks to an $11 billion infusion from the health-care overhaul and $2 billion in federal stimulus funds. If you’re a middle-income worker with health insurance through your job, chances are these centers have been under your radar, since their target clients are low-income and uninsured people. But as the number of uninsured has risen to 50 million, more people than ever are struggling to get and pay for health care, and community health centers are an affordable option. As they expand, they’re adding new services and new locations nationwide.

To read the entire article please click here.

Health Center Stories: Shalom Health Care Center, Indianapolis, Indiana
(4/8/11)

Marc Hackett, Executive Director for Shalom Health Care Center, Inc, in Indianapolis, Indiana, shares how his health center has utilized stimulus funds to both double the health center's physical size, as well as double the number of patients served.

To watch the video please click here.

Medicaid Lifeline for Children and Adults with Serious Mental Illnesses
(4/4/11)

Medicaid is the single most important funding source of critical services for both adults and children who have the most serious mental health conditions. Various sources pay for mental health spending in the United States and Medicaid accounts for more than a quarter of it.

1) It is the bedrock of public mental health services, comprising 52% of state mental health authority revenues.

2) Community mental health services for children and adults with serious mental disorders are funded primarily through the Medicaid program. Moreover, Medicaid is the only health plan that finances a full range of the home and community-based rehabilitative services that people with mental illnesses need. In addition, because many people with mental illnesses have other significant medical needs, Medicaid is also critical to health coverage of chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart conditions, cancer and other illnesses.

For more, click here.

Senate Rejects Spending Bills From Both Republicans and Democrats
(3/10/11)

The Senate on Wednesday rejected a Republican plan to sharply cut spending this year, as well as a far more modest Democratic proposal, clearing a path for negotiations toward a compromise that could streamline government without damaging critical services. Senate Democratic leaders are pressing to expand the talks beyond the small slice of the budget that funds government agencies, arguing that any serious effort to reduce record deficits must also include cuts in entitlement programs and higher taxes. Senior White House officials joined GOP leaders in questioning the practicality of that approach, however, saying policymakers must break the impasse over funding for domestic agencies through Sept. 30 before tackling broader - and more politically sensitive - budget issues. Without a spending agreement, the government could shut down as soon as next week, when a temporary bill financing federal operations expires.

For more, click here.

Purdue Regional Extension Center – National Insight, Local Expertise
(3/8/11)

With the passing of the HITECH Act in 2009, the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC), in conjunction with CMS, developed meaningful use standards to trigger the technology-driven healthcare transformation that is now sweeping the nation. These meaningful use standards require healthcare providers to not only use the full functionality of a certified EHR, but step outside of their comfort zone and begin advancing healthcare by allowing data to flow smoothly among providers, empower patients to be fully informed of their health status, and addressing health disparities in our nation.

For more, click here.

Health Center Staff Speak Out Against Proposed Funding Cuts
(3/4/11)

Julie Wank, Intake Coordinator at HealthLinc Community Health Center in Knox, Indiana, speaks out against a $1.3 billion cut to the Health Centers Program, which would reduce patient access to care.

Jan Danford, Patient Service Representative at HealthLinc Community Health Center in Knox, Indiana, speaks out against a $1.3 billion cut to the Health Centers Program, which would reduce patient access to care.

Angie Garner, Site Manager and Emergency Management Coordinator at HealthLinc Community Health Center in Knox, Indiana, speaks out against a $1.3 billion cut to the Health Centers Program, which would reduce patient access to care.

Congress Puts Local Health Programs at Risk
(3/1/11)

As the CEO of Open Door Health Services, which employs about 135 staff and cared for almost 18,000 patients in 2010, I am alarmed that on Feb. 19, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to cut $1.3 billion from the federal community health-center program -- especially at a time when Congress should be seeking ways to contain unnecessary health-care spending as well as protecting jobs. From Congress we continually hear the words "it's all about jobs and the economy." While providing much needed health-care access, all 19 of Indiana's federally-qualified health centers are also providing much needed economic and employment impact for the underserved communities in which we are located.

To read more from Toni Estep, click here.

Proposed Budget Cuts Would Hurt Open Door
(3/1/11)

Local health care advocates fear the budget cuts in Washington D.C. will hurt uninsured and underinsured residents here in East Central Indiana. "This stinks, if you ask me," said Derek Edwards, an Open Door client for at least 20 years. "A lot of people think only the poorest of the poor use Open Door, but that's not even true. I'm self-employed, have been so for a long time now, but can't afford health insurance. There's nowhere for people like to me to go if there's no Open Door. Well, except to the emergency room."

To read more click here.

Daniels Lashes Health Care Law In WSJ Column

Please click here for the article

Vermillion Parke CHC receives Business of the Year Award

Please click here for the article

Advocates for Children, Mothers Fear Proposed Budget Cuts Could Place Valuable Services on the Chopping Block
(2/21/11)

Advocates for children worry about proposed cuts to the federal budget that reduce services to mothers and children.

According to Dr. Janice Katz, a local psychologist and founder of Imagination Station Child Development Center, the proposal includes a $210 million cut, or one-third of the total budget, for the Title V Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant.

“We know we have to balance the budget,” Katz said, “but to cut all these services to children means we are balancing the budget on the backs of our most vulnerable citizens.”

Beth Wrobel agrees. The executive director of HealthLinc, the federally qualified health centers in Michigan City and Valparaiso, Wrobel worries about proposed cuts of $1.3 billion to federally qualified health centers.

For more information click here.

Medicaid Expansion Could Tax Community Health Centers
(2/16/11)

With the new health reform law expanding insurance benefits to millions more people, Phil Morphew wonders how Indiana will find all the doctors, nurses and health clinics needed to care for them. “We’ve got our work cut out for us,” said Morphew, who for 20 years was CEO of Indianapolis-based Health Care Excel Inc., which helps health care providers assess and improve the quality of their services. What worries Morphew most is that health reform’s expansion of the federal-state Medicaid program is projected to add more than 500,000 Hoosiers to that program. Because of poor reimbursement rates from Indiana Medicaid, many private doctors do not accept Medicaid patients.

For more information click here.

GOP Cuts to Budget Would Hurt Local Health Clinics
(2/16/11)

Local community health centers are bracing for $1.3 billion in national funding cuts if the Republican-dominated U.S. House of Representatives’ budget passes.

A vote is expected within days on proposed reductions that would cost the nation’s community health centers the ability to treat 11 million patients — 3.3 million of them new patients who just gained access to care. An estimated 127 community health centers also would likely close, according to the Bethesda, Md.-based National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC), which advocates

For more information click here.

NACHC Statement in Response to the Budget from the House Appropriations Committee
(2/10/11)

Today the House Appropriations Committee announced a partial list of 70 spending cuts that will be included in an upcoming Continuing Resolution (CR) bill. Among their recommendations was a $1.3 billion cut to the Community Health Centers Program. Tom Van Coverden, the President and CEO of NACHC, has issued the following statement in response:

Today’s decision by House appropriators to cut $1.3 billion in funding to Community Health Centers levels a devastating blow to Americans who are already struggling in the economic recession. If this cut were to be approved, it would will mean that America’s Health Centers will lose the capacity to serve 11 million patients over the next year, with well over 3.3 million current patients losing their care within the next few months. That is equivalent to terminating all health care to the entire population of Chicago, or to everyone living in the states of Wyoming, Vermont, North and South Dakota, and Alaska combined.

To read more, click here.

NHSC Service Credit for Time Spent Teaching Update
(2/10/11)

For many full-time Corps members the policy and direction regarding teaching credit has not changed. Full-time NHSC participants can spend up to eight hours per week teaching in the clinical setting at an NHSC-approved site and those eight hours are still considered part of your direct patient care hours.

However, NHSC is pleased to announce an additional option for Corps members serving at HRSA-approved Teaching Health Centers (THCs). Full-time NHSC members teaching in these facilities will be allowed to count up to 20 hours per week spent teaching towards their service obligation.

For more information click here.

Urgent J-1 Visa Waiver Update
(1/28/11)

The Indiana State Department of Health has made several updates to the Indiana J-1 Visa Waiver Program Guidelines, effective immediately. Please visit our Indiana J-1 Visa Waiver Program page for more details.

State ‘Missing Out’ on Health Funding
(2/7/11)

Every dollar invested in a community health center yields returns beyond that investment, said an official of the association representing such centers in Indiana.

“Not only do we provide care to people without access to health services, but we improve the economy,” said Phil Morphew, chief executive officer of the Indiana Primary Care Association, the educational and lobbying group for 19 federally qualified community health centers and 28 state-funded health centers.

To read the entire article click here.

FSSA Expands Hybrid to Allen and Grant Regions
(2/4/11)

Today the Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) announced they will expand the Hybrid system for public assistance to 22 counties that comprise the Allen and Grant regions. Roll-out of the Hybrid system began in the Vanderburgh region January 26, 2010 before expanding to the Vigo region June 22, 2010 and then Clark on September 19, 2010. Despite rising case loads of Hoosiers requiring state assistance, Indiana has been able to show improvement in quality and service:

Number of Hoosiers enrolled in at least one program has increased from 899,701 in December 2005 to 1,279,483 served as of December 31, 2010.
Positive error rates for SNAP (food stamps) applications improved from 8.21% in July 2009 to 2.76% in July 2010; versus the national average of 3.70% (FNS)
Negative error rates for SNAP applications improved from 15.10% in July 2009 to 2.48% in July 2010; versus the national average of 7.55% (FNS)

For more information, click here.

Indiana Health Information Technology, Inc. Plan Earns Approval, Extra Funding
(2/2/11)

On Friday, January 21, Indiana Health Information Technology, Inc. (IHIT) received official notification of acceptance, as well as $3 million in additional funding, from the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) for Indiana's Health Information Exchange (HIE) Strategic/Operational Plan.

To read the entire article click here.

Pence Shuts 1 Door, Leaves Another Open
(1/28/11)

U.S. Rep. Mike Pence shut the door Thursday on seeking the presidency in 2012 but left unanswered whether his choice instead is the Indiana governor's office. "I'm open to running for governor," Pence said in an exclusive interview with The Indianapolis Star. "We're going to take the next several months to travel across the state and hear what Hoosiers have to say. We'll seriously consider it."

To read more, click here.

Influential State Rep. Bill Crawford Says This Term, His 20th, Will Be His Last
(1/28/11)

Crawford, 75, announced Thursday that after spending more than half his life as a member of the Indiana General Assembly, he'll make this his final term. He'll leave the Indiana House for the last time in 2012. "Twenty elections where the people had an opportunity to say 'bye' to me and they didn't, and I'm very appreciative," he told House members on the floor.

To read more, click here.

NHSC Now Accepting Requests for Full-to-Half-Time Conversions
(1/26/11)

On November 22, 2010, in conjunction with the opening of the 2011 National Health Service Corps (NHSC) loan repayment application cycle, the Corps announced a new half-time option for loan repayment awardees fulfilling service obligations. As of January 25, 2011 the NHSC will begin accepting requests for Full-to-Half-Time Conversions.

For more information please click here.

Governor Orders Creation of Health Insurance Exchange
(1/19/11)

Gov. Mitch Daniels does not like the federal health reform law enacted last year, but he's nevertheless taking steps to prepare Indiana for its implementation. On Friday, the Republican governor signed an executive order directing the Family and Social Services Administration to work with other state agencies to conditionally establish and operate a health insurance exchange.

Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, each state is required by 2014 to set up a health insurance marketplace, called an exchange, that is intended to save money and help consumers by making health coverage options more transparent.

Please click here to read the entire article.

Gov. Mitch Daniels Gets Pushback on Budget
(1/14/11)

The good news in the budget Gov. Mitch Daniels proposed Thursday: no tax increases.

The bad news? Public universities' funding would be cut. Poor adults would have to buy their own dentures and hearing aids. And K-12 education would have to make do with no more dollars than it gets now.

Please click here to read the entire article.

Daniels' Budget Cuts Target Higher Ed, Medicaid
(1/13/11)

Gov. Mitch Daniels today presented his budget proposal to the legislature, calling for cuts to higher education and some Medicaid programs and freezing virtually all other spending.

The budget proposal, presented by State Budget Director Adam Horst to the State Budget Committee, calls for spending about $13.76 billion in the fiscal year that begins July 1 and ends on June 30 2012, and about $13.98 billion in the fiscal year that begins July 1, 2012, and ends on June 30, 2013.

Please click here to read the entire article.

Elizabeth Burrows, Vermillion Parke CHC, named as a Rural Health Fellows
(1/11/11)

The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) has announced the final selections for the 2011 Rural Health Fellows program. After the completion of a competitive review process, 12 fellows were selected to participate in this year-long, intensive program aimed at developing leaders who can articulate a clear and compelling vision for rural America.

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CHCs' Role in Health Care Reform Undermined by State Funding Decreases

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Indiana's Budget Panel Projects Better Days

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State's Health Care Reform Cost Estimate Off By $500M

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Hoosier Healthwise (HHW) and Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP) Information
(12/13/10)

Indiana Medicaid's goal for the integration of the HHW and HIP programs is to create a "family health plan" that results in a seamless experience for Hoosier families. Additional goals include promoting primary and preventative care, foster personal responsibility and healthy lifestyles, integrate physical and behavioral health services and deliver cost-effective coverage.

Key changes to the program include, MCE (Managed Care Entity) selection at point of application for HHW, PMP assignments and selections to be made by MCE versus enrollment broker, implementation of PMPs in HIP, HP will no longer send MCE/PMP assignment letters and auto-assignment window reduced from 30 days to 14 days.

Please click here for additional information on the program that begins on January 1st, 2011.

Court: FSSA Denial Letters Unfair To Recipients
(12/03/10)

Indiana’s Family and Social Services Agency violated the due process rights of applicants by denying them benefits without fully explaining why, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled Friday. The class-action lawsuit claimed the FSSA acted improperly when it rejected claims for benefits because for an applicants “failure to cooperate,” most often by failing to provide all the necessary documentation. However, the letters sent to those applicants did not specifically identify what documents were missing. The court’s opinion ruled that hampers the right for an applicant to appeal the decision.

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National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Technical Assistance Call
(11/23/10)

The National Health Service Corps will be holding a Loan Repayment Application Guidance Technical Assistance Conference Call on Tuesday, November 30, 2010 from 2:00pm-3:00pm. The call in number is 1-800-857-5140 and the passcode is 4873468. An instant replay of the call will be available one hour after the call ends until December 31, 2010 at 1-866-383-3135.

National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program Update
(11/22/10)

The National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Fiscal Year 2011 Application Cycle is now open.

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Affordable Care Act Creates Greater Health Care Role for CHCs
Number of Health Centers Expected to Double by 2015
(11/22/10)

One of the provisions of the newly enacted health care reform legislation provides an additional $11 billion in dedicated funding for community health centers, or CHCs, during the next five years. That funding increase will double the size and reach of CHCs by 2015 and give them a much greater role in the evolving health care system, according to analysts interviewed by AAFP News Now.

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Neighborhood Health Clinic Gets $6.7 Million
(11/15/10)

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Daniels Announces New FSSA Leader
(11/11/10)

Governor Mitch Daniels has accepted the resignation of Family and Social Services Administration Secretary Anne Murphy, who is returning to the private sector, and has named FSSA Chief of Staff Michael Gargano as the agency’s new secretary.

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St. Francis, Anthem Announce Deal
(11/11/10)

St. Francis Health Network and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield have approved a new contract that will cover Hoosier Healthwise and the Healthy Indiana Plan members.

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Indiana J-1 Visa Waiver Guidelines for the 2011 Cycle
(10/27/10)

The Indiana State Department of Health has released the Indiana J-1 Visa Waiver Guidelines for the 2011 Cycle.

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Entering the Era of Reform: The Future of State Funding for Health Centers
(10/28/10)

Since 2008, state funding for health centers has been on the decline and this year proves to be no different. According to the National Association of Community Health Centers’ (NACHC) annual State Funding Survey, 33 states and the District of Columbia (DC) will appropriate a total of $364 million in State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2011. This is almost $90 million less than SFY 2010, which is a 20% decline, and puts state funding for health centers at a five year low.

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Maple City Health Care Center Wins 2010 Premier Health Award
(10/25/10)

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Dr. Larkin visits Vermillion Parke CHC
(10/20/10)

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HealthNet a 'Green' Health Center
(9/30/10)

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Commonwealth Fund's Health Reform Resource Center
(9/24/10)

To mark the six-month anniversary of the passage of health reform, The Commonwealth Fund launched today a new Health Reform Resource Center, the most comprehensive tool for exploring and understanding the provisions of the Affordable Care Act. Visitors to the Health Reform Resource Center can view a timeline of the law's major provisions and use the "Find Health Reform Provisions" tool to search for clear, detailed summaries of specific provisions by year, category, and/or stakeholder group.

Number of Insured Drops for First Time
(9/23/10)

The number of people with health insurance in the United States dropped for the first time in 23 years, the U.S. Census Bureau said Thursday. There were 253.6 million people with health insurance in 2009, the latest data available, down from 255.1 million a year earlier.

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Neighborhood Health Clinics Expands
(9/7/10)

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Clinic Seeks More Space
(9/7/10)

Its success has created a problem for Boone County Community Clinic. "We're bursting at the seams," clinic director Bambi McQuade a nurse practitioner, said. The clinic occupies about 1,200 square feet - about the size of a small three-bedroom home - in the rear of 404 W. Camp St. The building, which was built in the early 1980s for medical offices, is owned by Witham Health Services.

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Website Launched to Inform Hoosiers of ACA Impact?
(9/3/10)

The State of Indiana launched a website today to provide information related to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the impact it will have on health care delivery in the state. Related documents, including correspondence with the federal government, and recent news coverage are available on the website. As new information becomes available and the state receives more answers from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the website will be updated. The site also allows the opportunity for Hoosiers to provide feedback, ask questions and voice concerns about the ACA.

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The Center for American Progress Estimates 2015 Economic Impact by State
(9/3/10)

The Center for American Progress has published a report in tandem of National Health Center Week focusing on the Community Health Center’s economic impact under Affordable Care Act. The report provides state-by-state data and an interactive map on the number of jobs created by health centers in their communities and their economic impact in 2015. The Center also held a briefing featuring Rebecca Keen-Fan Sze, Director of Women’s Health at the Charles B. Wang Community Health Center, New York, NY; Stephanie Kenyon, Chief Operating Officer at the Loudoun Community Health Center, Leesburg, VA; and Dan Hawkins Senior Vice President for Public Policy and Research, at NACHC.

Click here for press release and report of the event.

Sandra Bullock Helps Raise Money for School Health Clinic
(8/30/10)

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Ensuring Children are Insured
(8/26/10)

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Shakamak Medical Center, Inc. is Formed
(8/12/10)

The steering committee attempting to bring a medical center into Jasonville has been more formalized with the forming of the Shakamak Medical Center, Inc. The corporation is fully registered and the by-laws accepted. Members and officers of the corporate board include Jack Ridinger, president; Brad Duncan, vice president; Joan Cook, secretary; Peggy Sluder, treasurer; Roy Terrell, Sr.; Jerry Hill; Garrett McQueary; Joe Don Wise; and Nathan Bridwell. Jeff Hawkins is the corporate attorney.

Nathan Bridwell is the originator and prime mover of the efforts to bring a medical center into Jasonville, hopefully complete with a drug store, optometrist, and physicians. He credited Alice Rae, Director of the Indiana Primary Health Care Association (IPHCA) with being a “driving force” in the movement, and Elaine Williams, also of IPHCA, as the planning grant writer.

Bridwell said that the board will first attempt to get a grant written by IPHCA to open a temporary facility; then later, with the help of the SIDC (Southern Indiana Development Commission), another grant to make a permanent location.

Vendors Named for Electronic Medical Records Program
(8/6/10)

The Indiana Health Information Technology Extension Center (I-HITEC) has chosen three software vendors to work with and assist the state's primary care healthcare providers adopt an electronic health record and achieve meaningful use. The center will aid Indiana small practices of 10 or fewer healthcare providers, community health centers, federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics. The software vendors selected are athenahealth Inc., Boston; iSALUS Healthcare, Indianapolis; and MDLand, New York.

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Are State Challenges to the Legality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Likely to Succeed?
(8/6/10)

Attorneys general in Florida and Virginia, along with their counterparts in 19 other states, have sued to block implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). They claim its mandate to obtain health insurance is unconstitutional. PPCA supporters say the mandate is a valid exercise of federal authority. This brief examines the officials’ arguments against PPACA and concludes the mandate rests on firm legal footing but has two vulnerabilities: (1) the Supreme Court could set new precedent and (2) enforcement provisions must be strengthened to preserve the government’s ability to ensure insurance coverage.

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Annual Kiss the Pig Campaign
(7/29/10)

Shalom Health Care Center is partnering with the American Diabetes Association for their Annual Kiss the Pig Campaign. Shalom Health Care Center is competing against local personalities and community leaders to raise funds for the American Diabetes Association. The lucky winner kisses a live pig on the main stage at the Indiana State Fair on August 19! The event will be at 10:30 am and will end around 11:30. Kevin Gregory from WRTV6 will be our emcee! One dollar equals one vote. Please, help us win.

Marc Hackett is our representative so if Shalom Health Care Center wins he will have the honor of Kissing the Pig! The easiest way for people to donate online is to visit the KAP website: www.diabetes.org/indykissapig, click on Marc Hackett, and go to our page.

Why a pig? For its life-saving role as one of the first sources of insulin. Since 1921, insulin has played a major role in the treatment of diabetes for millions of people who suffer from this disease. We “Kiss the Pig” for helping us to save lives and to have fun while raising money for the American Diabetes Association. Thank you for your support.

“FTCA for Volunteers” Passes House Subcommittee Unanimously
(7/28/10)

Providing health center volunteers with FTCA coverage, a policy change which has been championed on a bipartisan basis by Reps. Gene Green (D-TX) and Tim Murphy (R-PA), would allow health centers to take on volunteer practitioners without having to purchase costly malpractice gap insurance. These volunteer practitioners could significantly improve access to primary and some specialty care for health center patients.

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Community Health Center Executive Fellowship Program
(7/28/10)

The Community Health Center Executive Fellowship is an 11-month long program designed to prepare individuals for management positions in community health centers, including executive director and senior management positions. The Community Health Center Executive Fellowship is an 11-month long program designed to prepare individuals for management positions in community health centers, including executive director and senior management positions.

Click here for the registration brochure.

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: How the Performance of the U.S. Health Care System Compares Internationally, 2010 Update
(7/28/10)

Despite having the most costly health system in the world, the United States consistently underperforms on most dimensions of performance, relative to other countries.

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White House to Unveil List of Free Preventative Services
(7/28/10)

The Obama administration on Wednesday will unveil new rules specifying which preventive health services will be free to consumers under the new health law.

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NHSC Loan Repayment Application Deadline Extended
(7/28/10)

The National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Application deadline has been extended to August 2, 2010 due to the power outage in the DC area. If you have any questions or need assistance please contact the call center at CallCenter@hrsa.gov.

Click here for more information and FAQ.

The Stories of Five National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Participants
(7/20/10)

The stories of five National Health Service Corps (NHSC) participants were captured during a new-member orientation in San Antonio, Texas. Watch this brief video as they share their thoughts on the NHSC program, and their experiences working in underserved communities.

More information is available at www.nhsc.hrsa.gov.

Medicaid Chief: Feds Leave States in Dark
(7/15/10)

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Obama Bypasses Senate for New Medicare Chief
(7/9/10)

President Barack Obama bypassed the Senate Wednesday and appointed Dr. Donald Berwick, a Harvard professor and patient care specialist, to run Medicare and Medicaid. The decision to use a so-called recess appointment to install Berwick as administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services drew immediate fire from the GOP. Republicans have raised concerns about Berwick’s views on rationing of care and other matters and said it was wrong for Obama to go around the normal Senate confirmation process.

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