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Legislators are on a two-week break from business in Springfield, but many are still busy at work in their districts, including House members, who will be present at several public hearings where projects for the proposed Capital Plan will be heard. As you know, school health center are a critical part of Illinois’ health care infrastructure and safety net. IMCHC has been advocating with state legislators to include funding for schools health center expansions and renovations in any Capital Plan that includes health care facility funding. For those of you in the Chicago area, House Regional Capital Hearings are taking place on Thursday, April 16th at the Austin Town Hall Auditorium in the morning and at Advocate Illinois Masonic Hospital that evening. School health center stakeholders are encourage to provide oral and written testimony about the great need for school health center expansion funding. If you are interested in attending, please email Blair Harvey, Project Director for the Illinois Coalition for School Health Centers or call her at 312-491-8161x25. Additionally, please let us know if you are aware of other capital plan hearings taking place throughout the state.
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President Obama’s proposed FY2010 budget sets aside $634 billion over 10 years to pay for health coverage expansions. Although specific details have not been released, eight guiding principles would be used to create a plan. These principles include: protections for families’ financial health, affordability, a path towards coverage for all, portability of health plans despite job change, choice of health plans, investments in prevention and quality care, as well as fiscal sustainability. The proposed budget also provides additional help to low-income families in the form of a permanent Child Tax Credit, increasing the Earned Income Tax Credit for families with three or more children and a new tax credit to help college students. Additionally, the President’s budget also supports full funding for WIC and provides for an increase of $1 billion a year over 10 years for the anticipated reauthorization of the child nutrition reauthorization act. The budget is also a clear indication of the President’s intentions to make children and families a priority by allocating funding to “Promise Neighborhoods” that will provide some cities with funding to replicate what has been done through the Harlem Children’s Zone in New York City. A new Nurse Home Visitation Program for first-time mothers is also included in this budget. For additional details, visit the White House’s official website dedicated to the budget. House and Senate committees have presented their own budgets that incorporate many of President Obama’s priorities, but will likely face an uphill battle. Several Senators have already introduced amendments to strip appropriations in domestic spending, including in health care, education, housing and renewable energy. The House is considering including reconciliation instructions to health care reform and education initiatives. Many believe that this would provide a stronger incentive for Republicans to come to the table to negotiate a health care reform proposal, instead of avoiding the discussion and blocking passage through a filibuster.
Special thanks to the Coalition for Human Needs for providing much of this information.
State – Legislative Updates Before adjourning for a two-week break, members of the Illinois General Assembly voted on numerous bills in order to meet the House and Senate deadline to pass legislation out of their respective chambers. Legislation that will be considered during this session when legislators return to Springfield on April 21st include: HB3923, the Health Insurance Fairness Act, would help make private insurance more affordable and accessible to those who purchase insurance in the individual or small group insurance market through insurance reforms. Reforms in the Act include:
HB3923 passed by a narrow margin of 62-45, with one member voting present. Advocates expect a challenging fight with the opposition when the bill is heard in the Senate. See the “Take Action” section of the newsletter to send a thank you note to legislators who voted in favor of HB3923; visit the Illinois General Assembly website to find out who voted in favor of this bill. A special thanks goes out to Rep. Greg Harris who is the Chief Sponsor of the bill. SB2043, Medicaid Low-Birthweight Study, creates a pilot program for pregnant women in Medicaid to participate in disease management. Amendment 1 would mandate the sharing of maternal and child health data between various state departments. The bill passed unanimously out of the Senate. Sen. Heather Steans is the Senate Chief Sponsor and Rep. Harry Osterman is the House Chief Sponsor. HB745, Public Aid Application Rights, would allow for TANF, food stamp and Medicaid applicants to apply for and maintain their benefits at the office of their choice. Currently, these clients are required to maintain open cases at the office that serves their home address. Rep. Sara Feigenholtz is the House Chief Sponsor and Sen. Jacqueline Collins is the Senate Chief Sponsor. SB212, Expedited Partner Therapy, would allow doctors to treat the partners of individuals diagnosed with chlamydia or gonorrhea without a physical examination of the partner or partners, if in the judgment of the health care professional, the partner is unlikely or unable to present for comprehensive health care. Sen. Koehler is the Senate Chief Sponsor and Rep. Feigenholtz is the Chief House Sponsor. HB2343, All Kids Pediatric Specialist Rate Increase, would phase in modest payment increases for pediatric specialists, resulting in rates that would cover 66% of a doctor’s costs. With federal match, this will result in $150 million for pediatric physicians by 2012. Rep. Mendoza is the Chief House Sponsor and Sen. Cullerton is the Chief Senate Sponsor. Several pieces of legislation unfortunately DID NOT pass out of their respective chambers including:
A full list of legislation that IMCHC is currently tracking can be viewed and downloaded from our website.
We will also present the winner of the Loretta Lacey Health Advocacy Award at the annual meeting; we are currently accepting nominations for this award. Eligible categories include: researcher, community advocate and health care provider; self-nominations are allowed. The deadline is April 30th. Visit IMCHC’s homepage to download a nomination form. The meeting/luncheon will be held at Maggiano’s Little Italy, 516 N. Clark Street in Chicago. To reserve your spot, please contact Lilah Handler. Online registration will be available through IMCHC’s home page later this month.
The Illinois Coalition for School Health Centers would like to thank everyone who attended the School Health Center Advocacy Day on April 1st in Springfield. This year marked the largest student-led Advocacy Day to date. Over 330 individuals participated, representing 20 different schools and over 20 different organizations and sponsoring agencies. Schools travelled from all over the state, from South Beloit to Anna-Jonesboro and all the way from Cahokia to Chicago to communicate with their legislators about including $3 million for school health centers in a capital plan. To energize the student advocates, the Illinois Coalition for School Health Centers and the Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health held a Student Health Rally that took place in the Capitol Rotunda. The event was led by the ICSHC Youth Advisory Council (YAC). Senator Trotter, Representatives Collins, Dunkin, Feigenholtz, Harris, Hernandez and Osterman spoke to the crowd of student and adults about the important role that school health centers play in the lives of Illinois’ youth. Thank you again for a successful day! To see photos, please visit our Flicker page.
Visit the NIIW events web page for planning, public relations materials, and campaign materials. For more information about the NIIW events in Chicago, email Sheila Sanders with the Chicago Area Immunization Campaign, or call her at 312-491-8161x28.
This quarter’s topic is “The State of Immunizations” and will feature Dr. Anne Schuchat, Assistant Surgeon General, Interim Deputy Director for Science and Public Health Program, Director for the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases; Dr. Kamala Ghaey, Pediatrician, Kidz Health; and Salaeha Shariff, Immunization Project Manager, American Academy of Pediatrics, Illinois Chapter. Additionally, an awards presentation will be lead by Dr. Damon Arnold, Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health. There is no cost to attend this meeting. Email Sheila Sanders or call her at 312-491-8161x28 to RSVP.
Conference Highlights
Early registration is encouraged, as space is limited. For more information please visit the ICSHC webpage or email Conor Butkus at contact him by phone at 312-491-8161.
Committee volunteers would work directly with staff and members of our Board of Directors on various projects that help support IMCHC as an organization. This is a great “stepping stone” opportunity for individuals who would like to eventually serve on IMCHC’s Board of Directors. For more information or to find out how to join a committee, please email Robyn Gabel.
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Newsletter Archive
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Ask for School Health Center Funding to be Included in a Capital Budget Proposal! Senate and House leaders are crafting a state capital infrastructure plan and they need to hear from you to ensure that funding for school health centers is included in any proposal for health care infrastructure. Contact Senate President Cullerton, Speaker Madigan and your state Senator and Representative, to tell them that school health center funding should be included in a capital funding proposal. Visit IMCHC’s e-advocacy center to take action today.
Ask your Congressperson to co-sponsor the Paid Parental Leave Act of 2009! In a Harvard-led study of over 170 countries, the United States was found to be one of only four countries that does not offer some form of paid leave for new mothers. The Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act of 2009 (HR626) would provide that 4 of the 12 weeks of parental leave made available to a federal employee be paid leave. Paid leave will provide families with the support and flexibility they need, as well as help with employee retention, productivity and overall morale. With more than 2.7 million civilian employees, the federal government is the nation's largest employer. Passing a standard of paid parental leave for people who work for the nation's largest employer is a benchmark toward paid family leave for all workers. It's time for the federal government to establish policies which support working families, and thus set an example for all other employers. Illinois Congressional members Danny Davis, Bobby Rush and Jan Schakowsky have already signed on as co-sponsors. Take action today by contacting your Congressional Representative through IMCHC’s e-advocacy page and asking for his/her support as a co-sponsor of HR626, the Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act of 2009. Special thanks to MomsRising for providing information on this important issue. Back to top |
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Join AARP Illinois in press events taking place throughout Illinois to bring attention to health care reform legislation that can become a reality in Illinois. Event dates and locations include: April 14th at a public library in Rockford, 10am Individuals, families and small business owners with “insurance horror stories” are invited to provide testimony. Email Jennifer McDermott with AARP Illinois or call her at 217-747-8883 if you are interested in attending. Tell Metra to Clean up their Dirty Diesel Locomotives Metra wants to purchase 10 new diesel locomotives. Tell Metra to go GREEN and buy less polluting and more fuel-efficient trains. Earlier this month, the Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago and the Illinois Campaign to Clean Up Diesel Pollution partners passed out flyers near Union Station calling on Metra to clean up their engines. Click here to see the Chicago Tribune's coverage of the event.
Visit RHAMC’s website to take action today. Bridge to Healthy Smiles Update - Soda Pop Tax as a step to solve Illinois’ oral health care crisis The Bridge to Healthy Smiles campaign supports raising the sales tax on sugary soda pops that could generate millions of dollars in funding enabling more than two million hard working Illinoisans on All Kids and Medicaid to obtain the treatment they urgently need. In a hearing before the Senate Deficit Reduction Committee held earlier this month, members of the Illinois State Dental Society told legislators that increasing the tax on soda pop could generate a $94 million increase for Medicaid reimbursement rates for oral health care services, dental clinics and other dental programs. Prolonged exposure to soft drinks can lead to significant enamel loss, even though many people consider soft drinks to be harmless or just worry about their sugar content and the potential for putting on pounds. The erosive potential of colas is 10 times that of fruit juices in just the first three minutes of drinking, a study last year showed. Last month the Bridge to Healthy Smiles Coalition held a lobby day in Springfield to encourage legislators to vote in favor of three key pieces of legislation that will increase access to dental care. The three point legislative plan includes appropriating $94 million to increase funding rates for Medicaid payments, funding the opening of ten dental clinics and dental student incentive programs. Please TAKE ACTION to ask the Governor and legislators to support the Bridge to Healthy Smiles Plan which increases funding for dental care. You can also learn more about the campaign and view a just released video that illustrates the oral health care crisis in Illinois. Free Sexual Health Workshops The Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health is hosting free positive sexual health workshops throughout Spring 2009. The workshops will offer innovative strategies to include positive sexual health messages into your work with adolescents. Visit ICAH’s website to find dates and locations for these trainings. Email Carrie Neff Andrews, ICAH Training Coordinator, for more information, or call her at 309-378-8500.
As we all prepare to tackle our 2008 Income Tax Returns, please keep oral health in mind. Last year, the IFLOSS Coalition was able to obtain a tax check-off account on the Illinois State Income Tax Return. The money donated to this fund will help support children's oral health care.
Many kids do not receive any care other than care received in some schools. To assure the continuation of the tax check off, it must have a minimum balance of $100,000.
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Surprising Survey Results on Young Adults and Attitudes Towards Pregnancy Prevention Half of the respondents said that they didn’t seek out information on pregnancy prevention because “they know enough already”, but when asked about prevention methods, women scored 6 out of an 11-point scale and men only scored 4.7. Additionally, 25% of respondents said that birth control was “too embarrassing to talk about”. While many know of the downsides to teenage pregnancies, unintended pregnancies at an older age may also be at a higher risk for complications when women miss the opportunity for pre-conception and early prenatal care. Women who do not realize that they are pregnant may also unintentionally expose their fetus to harmful substances such as cigarettes, alcohol, x-rays and dangerous medications. Unplanned pregnancies are also linked to higher incidents of economic challenges and interrupted educational plans. Read the full article on Self’s website.
California Bill Would Require Maternity Coverage in Individual Insurance Plans Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed similar bills in 2004 and 2008. Advocates say that the including maternity coverage would result in a nominal increase in monthly premiums of less than 5% and that savings would be achieved in the long-term because fewer women would be reliant on state programs. Opponents, including Anthem Blue Cross, which covers half of California's individual policyholders without maternity coverage, say that this requirement could result in more than doubling of premium costs and that individuals should be forced to pay for services they have no intention of using. Analysis conducted by the National Women’s Law Center in “Nowhere to Turn: How the Individual Health Insurance Market Fails Women” showed that Illinois fares even worse when it comes to availability of maternity care in the individual market. The report indicated that out of the 138 plans available to Illinois residents, only three offered comprehensive maternity coverage that include pre and postnatal care, labor and delivery; seven plans offered coverage for a limited scope of services. Other plans offer coverage only through riders, which often have high levels of out-of-pocket costs for limited coverage on top of the monthly premium expense. Source: National Partnership for Women and Families Daily Women’s Health Policy Report – March 25, 2009
Study Finds Some Developmental Delays in 'Late-Preterm' Infants Preterm births are on the rise in the US, increasing from 9.4% in 1981 to 12.3% of all births in 2003. About 70% of preterm births are considered to be “late-preterms” which often result from early, induced labors because of bleeding or blood pressure problems in the woman. Alan Fleischmean, medical director for the March of Dimes, said that while many preterm deliveries are considered medically necessary, some may be preventable. He added, "We need to make sure the obstetricians are not suggesting early deliveries and caesarean sections to be done at their convenience, and that the mothers are not requesting early deliveries”. Source: National Partnership for Women and Families Daily Women’s Health Policy Report – March 31, 2009
Congress Continues Debates on Health Care Reform Although most members of Congress agree that there is a need for health care reform, partisan lines have been drawn when it comes to including a public plan option. A majority of members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus have already drawn a line in the sand by saying that they will use their 77 votes to block any health care reform legislation that DOES NOT include a public plan option. Senate leaders say that House Democrats are committed to including the public option in legislation, but several ranking Republicans, including Chuck Grassley of Iowa have already publicly stated their opposition.
A possible compromise might include creating a plan similar to what is currently offered to state employees that could be run by private insurers, which would include cost-containment protections such as an annual budget for health expenses, negotiated rates and incentives to adopt healthier lifestyles.
MA Spent Nearly $800 Million on Health Coverage for Large Businesses’ Employees in FY08 A report from the Massachusetts Division of Health Care Finance and Policy finds that costs associated with subsidizing health coverage to the employees of large companies (50+ employees) increased by nearly 25%, amounting to $793.7 million in FY08. This dollar amount translates to a 12% increase in the number of employees and their dependents since 2007, with Wal-Mart having the highest number of employees with public health coverage.
The report will likely spark the debate on whether Massachusetts employers should contribute more to their workers’ health care. Health Care for All, a statewide health care advocacy organization, is supporting legislation that would require employers to contribute more to a state fund that pays for subsidized health coverage programs. | |||||||||||||||||||
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IMCHC Southern Illinois Chapter Meeting
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IMCHC’s Junior Fundraiser
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Illinois Maternal and Child Health Coalition
1256 W. Chicago Avenue
Chicago, IL 60642
312-491-8161 (voice)
312-491-8171 (fax)