Click here for additional 2009 health observances.
The MPCA Communications Update is a weekly e-bulletin intended to keep MPCA members updated on issues important to Community Health Centers. Please feel free to forward this to interested individuals, or they may request to be added to the distribution list by registering here. Information from outside organizations does not represent an endorsement by MPCA, and opinions expressed by outside authors are not necessarily official positions or policies of MPCA.
The Senate Finance Committee, in its second week of marking up America's Healthy Future Act of 2009 (the Committee's health reform legislation), adopted two amendments crucial to Community Health Centers. Please take a minute to contact Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) to thank her for supporting the amendments, and to thank her for championing a third amendment requiring exchange plans to contract with Health Centers and other safety net providers. Senator Stabenow is working to ensure the amendment is included in the final Senate bill. The Finance Committee will vote next week, with a goal of bringing the bill to the Senate floor for a vote the week of October 12.
Click here for a 1-pager from NACHC on the three amendments mentioned above.
NACHC has prepared talking points on health care reform you can use when writing articles for your Health Center newsletter, submitting an opinion-editorial or letter to the editor, or talking with the media about the role of Health Centers in health reform.
Time to Fish or Cut Bait – a great blog post by Marc Wetherhorn of NACHC explains the need for Health Center advocates to respond to action alerts. “Critical decisions about the future of Health Centers are about to be made one way or the other in Washington. You need to decide if you’re going to be a spectator or a player and, as we say down South, it’s time for you to fish or cut bait!” – Marc Wetherhorn.
MPCA New Web Site Goes Live!
Michigan Primary Care Association launched a new web site today, complete with new bells and whistles (like a Health Center locator, a new streamlined look, and searchable keywords) in addition to old favorites. As the web site makes its transition from the old to the new, you may get an "Under Construction" message when you try to access it. (Because of this, some links in this MPCA e-Update may not display.) Please check back and subscribe to our RSS feeds to stay up-to-date on events, career opportunities, news, and blog posts. 2009 MPCA Annual Conference Recap:
Health Center Patient Advocacy Newsletter Template
Downloadable September 2009 newsletter from NACHC provides up-to-date information on what’s happening in Washington and highlights Health Center and patient advocacy efforts from around the country. It can be customized to include local information and community updates.
Primary Care Providers Sought to Take Survey
The CAEAR Foundation is conducting a survey to understand how primary care providers are providing services to people living with or at risk for HIV. Findings will enable organizations, communities, and professionals to identify their professional learning needs.
