Community Health Centers of Arkansas News

Sip Mouden Inducted into Grassroots Hall of Fame for America’s Health Centers

2010-03-23T13:18:00.000-07:00

The National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) has inducted Sip Mouden, Chief Executive Officer of Community Health Centers of Arkansas, Inc. (CHCA) in North Little Rock, AR, into the NACHC Grassroots Hall of Fame. The recognition honors the dedication and energetic efforts by advocates to rally public and political support for the strength and expansion of America’s Health Centers. She was presented the Hall of Fame Award at the 35th Annual NACHC Policy and Issues Forum in Washington, D.C., an event attended by more than 2,000 health center leaders from around the country.

“Sip Mouden has been a passionate advocate on behalf of health centers and the movement would not be what it is today without her dedication, skilled leadership and tireless energy” said Tom Van Coverden, President and CEO of NACHC. “She’s been on Capitol Hill many times carrying the health center message, and rallying public support and funding in her own state. We’re deeply appreciative of Sip’s commitment, hard work and leadership in advocacy.”

Sip has served in numerous leadership roles on behalf of health centers at the national and state level, including Chairmanship of the NACHC Rural Health Committee, serving on the NACHC-Primary Care Association Steering Committee, as well as the Legislative and Policy Committees. She has also testified on behalf of health centers on Capitol Hill, and was a featured speaker at a Congressional Briefing on the value of health care homes. Sip was named the 2008 Arkansas Rural Advocate of the Year by the Arkansas Rural Development Commission. Sip has over 30 years of health and social services administrative experience, within major medical and academic institutions, state government, private for profit health care businesses, insurance, and not – for- profit organizations.

Community Health Centers serve as the health care homes to over 20 million people in more than 7,500 communities, including over 125,000 Arkansans. Community Health Centers save the health care system an estimated $9.9 billion to $17.6 billion a year – while providing more than $12 billion in economic impact nationwide. With demand for health centers growing among the medically underserved and uninsured, local, state, and national support for initiatives that support and strengthen their mission is critical – now more than ever. The network of health center grassroots advocates, working in communities across the country to spread the message, help make this key support possible.

Health Care Reform Provisions Timeline

2010-03-22T08:33:00.000-07:00

As reported in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, here are the effective dates of major provisions of the health-care overhaul:

WITHIN A YEAR:
Would provide a $250 rebate this year to Medicare prescription-drug beneficiaries whose initial benefits run out.

90 DAYS AFTER ENACTMENT:
Would provide immediate access to high-risk pools for people with no insurance because of pre-existing conditions.

SIX MONTHS AFTER ENACTMENT:
Would bar insurers from denying people coverage when they get sick. Would bar insurers from denying coverage to children with pre-existing conditions. Would bar insurers from imposing lifetime caps on coverage. Would require insurers to allow people to stay on their parents’ policies until they turn 26.

2011
Would require individual and small group market plans to spend 80 percent of premium dollars on medical services. Large group plans would have to spend at least 85 percent.

2013
Would increase the Medicare payroll tax and expand it to dividend, interest, investment, capital gains and other unearned income for singles earning more than $200,000 and joint filers making more than $250,000.

2014
Would provide subsidies for families earning up to 400 percent of poverty level, currently about $88,000 a year, to purchase health insurance. Would require most employers to provide coverage or face penalties. Would require most people to obtain coverage or face penalties.

2018
Would impose a 40 percent excise tax on high-end insurance policies.

2019
Would expand health insurance coverage to 32 million people.

SOURCES: Speaker of the House, Congressional Budget Office, Kaiser Family Foundation

Act Now: Health Centers Appropriations Letters

2010-03-04T11:39:00.000-08:00

Time is Running Out - Health Centers Appropriations Letters

Take Action!

Stabenow-Bond and Pallone-Granger Dear Colleague Letters

FY 2011 Health Center Appropriations Letters Are Now Circulating
Only 13 Senators and 38 Representatives Have Co-Signed - Time is Running Out!

Have Your Members of Congress Signed On? Click Here to Check

You are receiving this alert because at least one of your Members of Congress has not yet signed the Health Centers Appropriations Letters supporting $370 million in funding for health centers in FY11.The DEADLINE TO SIGN ON IS MARCH 12!! Contact your Members of Congress TODAY to ask them to sign onto the Stabenow-Bond Health Center Appropriations Letter in the Senate or the Pallone-Granger Health Center Appropriations Letter in the House.

Call your Members of Congress toll-free TODAY by using the NACHC Advocacy Hotline at 1-866-456-3949. You can also click the link at the top right hand corner of this alert to contact your Members of Congress through the Health Center advocacy network.

To sign onto the Health Centers Appropriations Letters Senators can contact Oliver Kim with Sen. Stabenow or Julie Jolly with Sen. Bond. To sign on in the House, Representatives can contact Tiffany Guarascio with Rep. Pallone or Theresa Vawter with Rep.Granger. Both the House and Senate letter indicate support for a $370 million in increase in funding for the Health Center Program. The chances of getting this increase are directly related to the number of Cosigners on the Health Centers letters. This is our best chance to convey overwhelming support among members of Congress for increased funding for Health Centers in FY 2011. The deadline to sign onto the health centers letter is March 12!
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Background

This year's Health Centers Appropriations Dear Colleague Letters asks for an increase in funding for the Health Center Program to $2.56 billion. This increase equates to a Program increase of $370 million and could mean $100 million in funding to expand access to new communities, $250 million to stabilize existing health centers funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and $20 million to adequately fund the Federal Tort Claims Act fund. For more information and to access downloadable copies of the House and Senate Health Center Dear Colleague letters please visit the NACHC Federal Affairs web page.

Members of Arkansas Congressional Delegation Honored with National Health Care Awards

2010-03-03T14:52:00.000-08:00

The National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) presented three of Arkansas’ Congressional members with awards during the 35th annual NACHC Policy and Issues Forum held in Washington, D.C., February 24-28. Senator Blanche Lincoln was presented with the “Distinguished Community Health Champion Award,” and Representatives Mike Ross and Vic Snyder were presented with the “Distinguished Community Health Superhero Award.”

The “Distinguished Community Health Champion Award” presented to Senator Lincoln is given only to select Members of Congress who have gone above and beyond in championing wider access to primary care and strengthening America’s investment in Community Health Centers. As a member of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, Senator Lincoln has been a committed leader of improving access to care at our nation’s health centers, especially for America's seniors.

During the debate on health insurance reform in the Senate Finance Committee, Lincoln secured an amendment to ensure that Community Health Centers would not lose revenue when treating newly insured patients gaining coverage through the proposed Health Insurance Exchanges. Lincoln also introduced, along with Senator Snowe from Maine and others, the Menendez Amendment. This amendment provided, along with other provisions, that health centers should be paid a fair and comparable rate for serving Medicare patients as they are paid for serving Medicaid patients.

The “Distinguished Community Health Superhero Award” was presented to Representative Vic Snyder for his support in passing the bipartisan State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Reauthorization Act, which ensures vital health insurance for over 11 million American children, as well as for his vote for the passage of the Affordable Health Care for America Act of 2009, the House of Representatives’ Health Care Reform package. The “Superhero Award” was also presented to Representative Mike Ross for his support in passing the SCHIP Reauthorization Act.

“We are thrilled that the National Association of Community Health Centers is recognizing Senator Blanche Lincoln and Representatives Mike Ross and Vic Snyder as outstanding leaders in their support of Community Health Centers and the patients they serve,” said Sip Mouden, CEO, Community Health Centers of Arkansas, Inc. “As economic conditions remain challenging for many Arkansans, indeed many Americans, Senator Lincoln and Representatives Ross and Snyder understand that Community Health Centers provide equal access to affordable primary and preventive health care services, serve as local economic engines, and provide cost savings to all states’ health care systems through efficient delivery of care. Arkansas Community Health Centers are hopeful that with their continued leadership and support that not only Arkansas health centers, but also health centers nationwide, will be able to strengthen their systems of health care delivery and will be able to grow and meet the challenges and demands of the future.”

Arkansas Community Health Centers Mark Progress at One-Year Stimulus Anniversary

2010-02-17T07:07:00.000-08:00

Healthier Communities and People, Thanks to Recovery Act Investment

People and communities are healthier thanks to the investment in America’s Community Health Centers from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), or the “economic stimulus.” The law, enacted one year ago this week, provided funds that helped Community Health Centers expand care to the growing numbers of jobless and uninsured people who were quickly filling up their waiting rooms. To increase capacity and serve more people, many health centers were able to keep or recruit new staff, such as nurses, physicians and dentists, purchase new equipment, and renovate or open new facilities.

“The economic stimulus investment has made a substantial difference for Arkansas Community Health Centers and the communities they serve,” said Sip Mouden, CEO, Community Health Centers of Arkansas, Inc. “We are on track to expand health care access to over 50,000 additional patients, but the numbers alone don’t tell the whole story. For example, women who are patients of Corning Area Healthcare, Inc., an Arkansas Community Health Center in the northeastern part of the state, now have local access to prenatal and women’s health services through an OB/GYN hired with ARRA funding. Women no longer have to drive 30-60 miles or wait weeks to be seen by out-of-town private physicians. In the West Memphis area, patients of the East Arkansas Family Health Center, Inc. now have access to transportation to and from out-of-town specialty appointments. Lack of reliable transportation is no longer a barrier for patients to receive the care they need. Stories like these are repeated in Community Health Centers across the state.”

Signed on February 17, 2009, the economic stimulus bill provided a one-time investment of over $14 million for Arkansas Community Health Centers (CHCs) to expand care and create jobs. Arkansas CHCs will be able to serve over 50,000 additional patients, including more than 22,000 uninsured patients. Arkansas CHCs will also be able to create or retain over 260 jobs. The stimulus funding also allowed them to respond to the growing health care demands of the uninsured in a variety of ways that include, but are not limited to, increased hours of operation, adding new exam rooms, and adding a new health services delivery site in a medically underserved community. As President Obama recently noted, “For [health centers], health care isn't just about diagnosing patients and treating illness – it's about caring for people and promoting wellness. It's about emphasizing education and prevention, and helping people lead healthier lives so they don't get sick in the first place. And it works. Studies show that people living near a health center are less likely to go to the emergency room and less likely to have unmet critical medical needs.”

“The economic stimulus funding was the right medicine at the right time and one year later the investment is still delivering results,” said Mrs. Mouden. “It is important to remember, however, that this was one time funding. Continued financial support of Community Health Centers is critical now more than ever as our health centers strive to maintain the high quality services and programs currently offered and to expand health care to more high need communities in our state. There are still over 500,000 Arkansans who have no health care home or regular source of care.”

2009 Reflections and Accomplishments

2010-01-15T15:24:00.000-08:00

As we embark upon 2010, Community Health Centers of Arkansas (CHCA), the Arkansas Primary Care Association (PCA), would like to take this opportunity to look back at the year that was 2009. This last year proved to be both tremendously busy and immensely rewarding. As we look forward to the New Year, please take a moment to share some of the successes and accomplishments of 2009.

Several plans/guidelines worked together to drive the focus of CHCA’s activities in 2009, including Bureau of Primary Health Care PCA expectations, CHCA’s Strategic Plan, and the Access for All Arkansans Plan CHCA developed in 2009. The purpose of the Access for All Arkansans Plan is to preserve and strengthen existing Community Health Centers (CHCs) and expand access to primary and preventive care to those currently without a “health care home.” The plan addresses five critical areas: 1) Capital Resources, 2) Operational Resources, 3) Quality, 4) Workforce, and 5) Policy and Legislation. In accordance with the plan’s purpose and critical focus areas, CHCA embarked on a variety of activities.

Secured $10 million in State Funding for Arkansas CHC’s operations and $5 million in one-time capital needs funding. Through the State Funding, CHCs have additional resources to improve their financial stability, expand services in existing and new locations, expand hours of operation, and to enable CHCs to recruit needed providers in underserved areas.
Supported CHCs in their pursuit of 2009 American Reinvestment and Recovery Act funding. Arkansas CHCs received $13,572,035 through New Access Point grants, Increased Demand for Services grants, and Capital Improvement Program grants.
Received the Arkansas Health Center Controlled Network (AHCCN) Grant which will assist the CHCs in sustaining the costs associated with securing and implementing Electronic Medical Records and Health Information Technology. Integration into the AHCCN will allow Arkansas CHCs to share data, collaborate on future health disparity initiatives, and provide patients with increased quality of care.
Received a supplemental Cancer/Tobacco grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to assist Arkansas CHCs with enhancing tobacco cessation and prevention efforts in the selected Arkansas CHCs.
Affected growth and access to care through advocacy and education. (7 new CHC locations opened in 2009.)
Completed a Planning Grant in Phillips County, working to establish a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in Helena/West Helena. CHCA also received a Planning Grant for Miller County.
Hosted their Annual Primary Care Association Conference and 25th Anniversary Celebration. Conference Tracks included a Corporate Compliance track, Clinical Quality track, and a Financial Management track. The 25th Anniversary Celebration was held at the Governor’s Mansion.
Provided opportunities for mentoring, sharing of best practices, resources, and training through a variety of networks including the Chief Financial Officers, Nurse Managers, Outstation Enrollment Network, as well as the newly created Mid-Level Managers Network and Communications/PR Network.
Coordinated and hosted Uniform Data System (UDS) training, drawing 45 participants from Arkansas CHCs and 9 from Louisiana CHCs.
Created a “Workforce/Recruitment” video to tell the story of the “true mission” of a CHC and the benefits of serving as a provider in a CHC. CHCA also designed a new Exhibit Display for medical and dental recruitment.
Strengthened and built strong partnerships with key stakeholder groups including, but not limited to, the Governor’s Health Information Technology Task Force, the Arkansas Chronic Illness Collaborative Steering Committee, the Regional Quality Initiative Steering Committee, the Governor’s Healthcare Roundtable, the Arkansas Oral Health Coalition, the Arkansas Cancer Coalition, the Arkansas Minority Health Consortium, and the Coordinated School Health Action Team.
Partnered with the Arkansas Tele-health Oversight and Management Coalition (ATOM) as the state strives to create a comprehensive statewide Telemedicine/Tele-health network accessible to all medical providers, including CHCs.
Orchestrated and coordinated the acquisition of various supplies and equipment necessary to provide a continuum of care during the H1N1 crisis. Technical assistance and consultation was provided relating to Policies and Procedures H1N1 diagnostics and specimen collection to adhere to state and CDC guidelines. CHCA has also been directly involved with the Strategic National Stockpile initiative, assisting coordination of the delivery of anti-viral medications to all CHC communities.
Participated in the national and state level initiatives aimed at defining and creating Medical/Health Care Homes.
Participated in the entry level of the Governor’s Quality Leadership Award Program and received the Challenge Award.
Purchased the SharePoint software program to create an intranet linking CHCA and all CHC staff members. This intranet portal houses a resource library, shared calendars, document sharing, and a discussion forum.

Understanding Recovery.Gov

2010-01-07T14:27:00.000-08:00

The one year anniversary of the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act being signed into law is approaching. As the anniversary draws near, we expect the media to be checking on and reporting what Community Health Centers and other organizations are doing with the funding.

We hope they will pick up on all the wonderful things Health Centers are doing with the funding, however we know they will be looking for any potential misuses of the funding as that makes for “more interesting” news.

The first source for any investigative reporter looking for misuses of funding will be Recovery.gov since that is the federal government’s public reporting web site. The problem is that, by design, Recovery.gov easily lends itself to misinterpretation. So, an eager reporter may pick up on something that appears to be a misuse of the funding which may in fact be perfectly legitimate and above board.

In order to help Community Health Centers and other reporting organizations prepare for potential media inquiries, Community Health Centers of Arkansas has prepared the White Paper "Understanding Recovery.gov - Common Misconceptions".

Click Here to read the full text of this White Paper.

Health Care Reform Update - 12/23/2009

2009-12-23T11:52:00.000-08:00

Senate Democrat and Republican leaders struck a deal yesterday that would allow for an accelerated timetable leading to the final Senate vote on the Health Care Reform Bill. The Senate will hold the final vote on the bill on Christmas Eve at 8 AM EST. This will be the first December 24th session since 1963. The final vote requires only a majority (51 votes) to pass.

The Senate and House Conference to combine the Health Care Reform Bill will begin in January. The initial goal of Democratic Congressional leaders was to have the bill ready for President Obama’s signature before his first State of the Union Address. However, it is likely that it will take longer to complete the merged bill. Politico reports, “Officials at both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue hope to avoid a formal conference -- appointing conferees requires a series of votes. Some House members want the formal process, but the differences are more likely to be hashed out among Speaker [Nancy] Pelosi, [Senate Majority Leader Harry] Reid and the White House, with some personal involvement by the President. Then Congressional Budget Office scoring could take seven to 10 days" before the merged bill is complete (Allen, 12/23).

In the event that the Health Care Reform Bill goes before the formal Conference Committee,
Arkansas Community Health Centers have a strong voice of support on the committee in Representative Marion Berry.

Health Care Reform Benefits for Community Health Centers

2009-12-23T10:09:00.000-08:00

There are a variety of provisions in the Senate’s health care reform bill that greatly impact Community Health Centers. They are summarized below:

The Reid amendment added $10 billion in GUARANTEED funding for Health Centers and the National Health Service Corps over the next five years (FY11-FY15). This funding will enable health center construction projects, base operations sustainability
The Reid Amendment restored the Menendez Amendment to the bill. This amendment ensures that all health plans will pay health centers their Medicaid PPS rates
The Reid Amendment improved the Medicare payment language that was already in the Senate bill.
Essential Community Providers - mandatory contracting with all 340B providers, which includes CHCs.
Teaching Health Centers - Enabling residency training at health centers.
Negotiated Rule-Making for Medically Underserved Area Designation process- Calls on HRSA to work with stakeholders as they redesign the MUA/HPSA process.
Coordinated Care Networks – This is a newer version of the old HCAP program. Health Centers and public hospitals would be are the core of this newly authorized system.
Senate approves 60 day freeze on 21.2% Medicare cuts

Revised Senate Bill enables:

CHIP funding extension and adoption tax credit through 2015
Establishment of a Pregnancy Assistance Fund to assist teenage mothers
Requirements for all health plans to include oral and vision coverage for children
That all children have free covered preventive services
A health insurance exchange for children through child-only insurance policies, regardless of parent’s insurance status

Revised Senate Bill eliminates:

Provider Medicare and Medicaid enrollment fee
State “opt-out” public option
Medicare “opt-in” for 55-64 yr old uninsured (MGMA)

Finally, follow this link - http://bit.ly/5RvHrL - to hear Senator Bernie Sanders (I – Vermont) speaking on the Senate floor about the provisions for Community Health Centers included in the Senate health care reform bill which he helped secure.

Health Care Reform Update - 12/21/2009

2009-12-21T11:57:00.000-08:00

The Senate took a major step forward in passing health care reform legislation. Over the weekend, Senator Ben Nelson (D-Nebraska) agreed to support the bill after language was included to allow states to opt out of allowing insurance plans to cover abortions, providing the critical 60^th vote.

According to the Commonwealth Fund, the senate voted 60-40 at 1:00 this morning to close debate on the “Manager’s Amendment.”

The Senate must approve two more cloture petitions shutting off debate on the base bill and the underlying House-passed bill serving as the vehicle for the base bill before a final vote can occur in the Senate on the overhaul proposal.

The second cloture vote is scheduled for 7 a.m. on Tuesday and a third cloture vote if the second one passes is scheduled for Wednesday at 1 p.m. A vote on final passage of the overhaul bill would then occur Thursday, Dec. 24 at 7 p.m.

The Senate’s bill would provide insurance coverage to 30 million Americans who are currently uninsured, and would cost $871 billion.

Community Health Centers are big winners in the current version of the Senate bill. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) was successful in having $10 billion set aside to supplement Community Health Centers and the National Health Service Corps. According to the Burlington Free Press, this would fund CHCs in 10,000 new communities, providing services to 25 million more Americans. The investment also provide an additional 20,000 slots for the National Health Service Corps, helping to ensure a growing base of primary care professionals (Remsen, 12/20/2009).

In a press release posted on her website, Arkansas Senator Blanche Lincoln expressed her support for the revised Senate health care plan “because it will lower heath care costs, expand access to more than 400,000 uninsured Arkansans, and reduce the deficit by $132 billion in the next 10 years—all without a new government plan that places taxpayers at risk.”

According to an article in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, the bill also includes an expansion of Medicaid that would provide coverage to over 200,000 Arkansans who would become eligible under the new guidelines (Medicaid Plan Adds To Debate, Park, 12/21/2009).

Health Care Reform Update - 12/17/09

2009-12-17T18:52:00.000-08:00

Senate Republicans are using every tactic they have available to delay health care reform. Senate Democrats are still working out agreements and amendments in order to secure the 60 votes needed to move the bill to a vote and avoid Republican filibuster. However, there is a bright light in the health care reform tunnel for Community Health Centers.

Senator Bernie Sanders (VT) has spoken out strongly, insisting that the Senate health care reform bill include the provisions outlined in the House bill to greatly increase funding for Community Health Centers and the National Health Service Corps. The inclusion of this funding would help ensure a strong primary care workforce to accommodate the millions of Americans that will gain health insurance if reform is passed. According to Senator Sanders, “Community Health Centers are a blessing to Americans who have Medicare, Medicaid or no insurance at all because they provide primary care, including dental, and help keep Americans from having to use emergency rooms as their health care provider” (NY Daily News, December 16, 2009).

Get The Facts on Health Care Reform

2009-12-08T10:48:00.000-08:00

As the debate over health care reform continues on in the Senate, many Arkansans are confused or left wondering what all of this means for them. We are here to help.

The National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) has produced these guides designed to help Community Health Center patients and advocates understand and navigate health care reform from both a personal and health center perspective.

Click here to get the document "Health Reform: What Does Health Reform Mean for ME?"

Click here to get the NACHC "Health Reform Glossary," useful for decoding many of the terms associated with the health care reform debate.

Access to Affordable Health Care Critical to Health Care Reform

2009-12-04T14:16:00.000-08:00

Currently millions of Americans and thousands of Arkansans are without health insurance. It is important to note, however, that 60 million Americans and more than 500,000 Arkansans also lack access to basic primary and preventive health care services. For any health care reform to have a positive and lasting impact on the lives of Americans, it must include provisions to increase access to high-quality and affordable health care and ensure a strong primary care workforce to meet the growing demand for health care services. The Public Health Investment Fund contains critically important investments in health care access including $12 billion in NEW, guaranteed funding for Community Health Centers over the next five years. This provision must be included in the final bill that goes to the President’s desk.

Community Health Centers (CHCs) stand as exemplary partners in health care reform. CHCs assure equal access to high-quality and affordable preventive and primary health care services, improve the quality of life and overall health of community members, achieve measurable cost savings throughout the entire system, and bring a positive economic impact to the communities they serve.

The health and well-being of our communities depend heavily upon every individual having equal access to a full range of affordable and high-quality primary and preventive health care and support services in their own communities. CHCs serve communities that are medically underserved, who would otherwise have limited or no access to local health care providers. The care received in a CHC is patient and family centered, coordinated, continuous, and proven to yield better health outcomes, remove barriers to needed care, and minimize health disparities.

Thousands of Arkansans and millions of Americans currently suffer from chronic illnesses that are largely preventable. Community Health Centers empower their patients to improve their own quality of life and overall health and provide holistic, physician driven and patient centered health services that emphasize wellness and chronic disease prevention and management. No person should ever suffer needlessly from chronic disease or the risk factors impacting chronic disease.

Data indicates that Arkansas Community Health Centers provide a cost savings to the state’s health care system of more than $200 million annually (Access Granted, 2007; 2008 UDS Data) and an economic impact of more than $117 million annually in payroll, services, and products (State Economic Impact Report, 2009). CHCs provide greater efficiency of care leading to fewer costly tests, procedures, extended hospital stays, and unnecessary emergency room visits that overwhelm the health care delivery system. Patients receiving a majority of their care at a CHC have 41 percent lower expenses than those who receive their care from other health care providers. Republicans and Democrats agree that the health center program has proven its worth as a sound taxpayer investment.

Arkansas Community Health Centers will continue to provide high-quality and affordable primary and preventive health care services to underserved Arkansans, regardless of their insurance status. However, the need far outweighs the capacity to serve, and the need continues to grow. Future investments in CHCs will ensure that all Americans and all Arkansans have equal access to vital health care services, no matter the outcome of health care reform.

Arkansas Stimulus Success Stories

2009-12-03T11:42:00.001-08:00

Communities in rural Arkansas face a common scenario, a lack of basic primary care services forces residents to drive long distances to see a physician. Community Health Centers make a valiant effort to bring rural Arkansas communities the health services they need, but often resources are stretched thin and the need is simply too great. “With stimulus funding from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA), Arkansas CHCs can add and retain providers, nurses, and support staff, giving them the opportunity to expand existing services as well as provide new services,” says Dr. Susan Ward-Jones, CEO, East Arkansas Family Health Center, Inc. For the small rural community of Bearden, AR this means that the residents of this small town now have full-time access to primary medical care. In Corning and Pocahontas, women now have local access to quality, affordable prenatal care and women’s health services.

Although CABUN Rural Health Services, Inc. has maintained a medical site in Bearden for some time, they have not had the personnel to keep the clinic open full-time. Residents would have to drive 25-30 miles on narrow rural roads to the nearest hospital to receive medical care. In May 2009, with funding from the ARRA Increased Demand for Services grant, CABUN hired an experienced Advanced Practice Nurse, Mr. Kelly Clark, to provide full-time services at the Bearden site. Mr. Clark joins the current part-time physician assistant to offer expanded hours and offers a variety of medical services that were not previously available locally including a variety of procedures and simple office surgeries.

Mr. Clark has quickly endeared himself to the community by participating in community events and letting people know that he is ready and available to provide for their health care needs. The expansion of the Bearden Health Center is already making a difference for residents in the small rural town of Bearden, Arkansas.

In northeast Arkansas, women living in the Corning and Pocahontas area have had limited access to prenatal and women’s health services due to a lack of OB/GYNs in their area. With ARRA Increased Demand for Services funding, Corning Area Healthcare, Inc. (CAHI) hired Dr. Dawn Brown, OB/GYN and Nurse Vicki Adamson, RN to provide these vital women’s health services locally. Dr. Brown began her practice on March 1, 2009 and has treated 113 new patients, including 65 who are uninsured. Women no longer drive 30-60 miles to be seen by an OB/GYN.

Patients see Dr. Brown within a week of making an appointment instead of sitting on waiting lists for out-of-town private physicians.

As the media and many Americans continue to scrutinize the various uses of the stimulus funding, it is important to highlight the positive impact this funding is making in our local communities in Arkansas. Access to local, affordable, quality primary and preventive health care services leads to healthy and productive citizens. Healthy and productive citizens lead to healthy and productive communities.

White River Rural Health Center to Provide Housing Assistance for HIV Patients

2009-12-03T11:39:00.001-08:00

White River Rural Health Center’s HIV Care Program received a one-year, $164,732 contract awarded by the Arkansas Department of Health to provide housing assistance for HIV patients through the Housing of People with AIDS (HOPWA) Program. The coverage area includes two of the six HOPWA Districts in Arkansas, covering 27 counties in northeast and north central Arkansas. The HIV CARE program can now provide all HIV services available in the state including Ryan White Part B (medications), Ryan White Part C (medical care), Ryan White Part D (women and children services), and HOPWA (housing) onsite in all four HIV Access sites: Mountain Home, Batesville, Kensett, and Jonesboro.

CHCA Receives Governor's Quality Award

2009-12-03T11:23:00.002-08:00

For more than 15 years the Governor’s Quality Award (GQA) Program has been serving Arkansas’s organizations by identifying business strengths and opportunities for improvement and creating a culture of quality by using the Baldrige Criteria as a measurement tool. The vision of the GQA is to “Contribute to the success of Arkansas organizations and the communities they serve” while its mission is “To promote, educate and recognize Arkansas organizations committed to performance excellence.”

This year, Community Health Centers of Arkansas has partnered with the Governor’s Quality Award Program, Arkansas Hospital Association, Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care, American Data Network, and the Arkansas Health Care Association to present the Challenge Healthcare Seminar on June 10th at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock.

Not only did CHCA partner to sponsor the seminar, but also committed to participate in the program by completing the requirements for the Challenge Award. The Challenge Award level is the starting point for any organization expressing interest in adopting and applying quality principles as defined by the seven categories of the Governor’s Quality Award Criteria. Application at this level requires a three-page overview of the organization’s operation, the signature of the executive leader of the organization indicating his/her commitment, and attendance at a Challenge Seminar.

Governor Beebe awarded CHCA with the Governor’s Quality Challenge Award during the 15th Annual Awards Celebration for the Governor’s Quality Award Program on Monday evening, October 19th at the DoubleTree Hotel in Little Rock. More than 275 business and civic leaders from throughout Arkansas attended the celebration.

Community Clinic Receives Grant to Enhance ARKids First Enrollment Efforts

2009-12-03T11:23:00.001-08:00

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on September 30 announced $40 million in grants to 69 grantees in 41 states and the District of Columbia to help them find and enroll children who are uninsured but eligible for either Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Grants were awarded to applicants whose outreach, enrollment and retention efforts will target geographic areas with high rates of eligible but uninsured children, particularly those with racial and ethnic minority groups who are uninsured at higher-than-average rates. Community Clinic received $162,965 to enhance their ARKids First enrollment efforts by increasing enrollment worker staffing.

Arkansas Health Center Controlled Network Under Development

2009-12-03T11:22:00.000-08:00

Community Health Centers of Arkansas, Inc. (CHCA), the Arkansas Primary Care Association, and six (6) of the 12 member Community Health Centers (CHCs) received $ 458,003 from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to develop the Arkansas Health Center Controlled Network (AHCCN). This Network will establish an integrated and networked Health Information Technology infrastructure aimed at implementing certified Electronic Health Records (EHRs). CHCA will oversee the integration and networking of each CHC into the AHCCN.

Creation of the AHCCN will impact over 62,000 Arkansas CHC patients and will improve the quality, efficiency and effectiveness of care given by the participating CHCs. As part of this project, the AHCCN also aims to track and improve measures relating to early childhood immunizations, diabetes and cervical cancer. Integration into the AHCCN will allow Arkansas CHCs to share data, collaborate on future health disparity initiatives and provide patients with increased quality of care.

“The creation of the Arkansas Health Center Controlled Network provides Arkansas CHCs the opportunity to be on the leading edge of implementing available technologies which positively impacts the delivery of patient care and improves patient health outcomes,” says Sip Mouden, CEO, Community Health Centers of Arkansas, Inc. “Eventually all 12 Arkansas CHCs will belong to the network allowing them to share data electronically and lead the way in reducing health disparities among medically underserved Arkansans.”

Reducing health disparities is the number one priority of Arkansas CHCs. Historically, Arkansas has lagged behind the national average in the percent of two-year old children receiving CDC standard immunizations, as well as controlling diabetes. Moreover, the state’s death rate is 20% above the national average for deaths from cervical cancer. Implementation of the AHCCN is an important step forward in improving the health and well-being of all Arkansans.

Progress on Health Reform to Benefit Community Health Centers

2009-10-02T15:25:00.000-07:00

According to the Community Health Centers of Arkansas, Inc. (CHCA), the Arkansas Primary Care Association, the unanimously adopted Amendment F9 included into the Senate Finance Health Care Bill yesterday, would greatly benefit Community Health Centers in Arkansas and across the US. This amendment contained the Medicare Access to Community Health Centers (MATCH) Act, which would remove the current cap on Health Center Medicare reimbursement, and provide for appropriate and predictable Medicare payments to Community Health Centers (CHCs) in the future.

The amendment was introduced by Senators Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) and Blanche Lincoln (D-AR). “These amendments will assure that our most vulnerable seniors and all underserved Arkansans have full access to quality and comprehensive health care services provided through Community Health Centers”, says Senator Blanche Lincoln.

The Senate Finance Committee also passed a second crucial amendment designed to strengthen Community Health Centers and expand access to care for CHC patients. This amendment, championed by Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), would ensure that private insurance plans operating through the new "health insurance exchanges" provide enhanced reimbursement to CHCs similar to what Community Health Centers are reimbursed through Medicaid.

“Both amendments are a great victory for Community Health Centers. CHCs currently lose revenue when treating Medicare patients. The removal of the Medicare cap will ensure that CHCs receive appropriate reimbursement for treating Medicare patients and also ensure that CHCs receive adequate compensation for the comprehensive care they provide to all patients,” says Sip Mouden, CEO, Community Health Centers of Arkansas. “We are so excited that Arkansas’ own Senator Blanche Lincoln is such as tremendous leader and advocate for CHCs and the patients they serve.”

Community Health Centers in Arkansas are located in underserved areas and serve the most vulnerable of populations. Community Health Centers provide comprehensive continuous primary medical, dental, mental health and preventive care to nearly 18,000 Arkansans on Medicare, approximately 51,500 uninsured Arkansans and close to 29,000 Medicaid enrollees. CHCs also serve private pay patients.

“CHCA will continue to monitor this form of the Health Care Plan as it goes before the full Senate, to conference with the House, and eventually to the President’s desk. We still have challenges ahead,” says Mouden.