October 1, 2009  
 

Federal - Health Care Reform

Congressional Updates

Currently, Congress is back in session and debating the health care bills.  Senator Max Baucus released the Senate Finance Committee’s bill for health care reform last week, and senators on the committee submitted 564 amendments to the bill. 

Yesterday, the two amendments to include the public option in the Senate Finance Committee bill (introduced separately by Rockefeller and Schumer) were voted down in the executive committee session.  While this is a blow to the fight for a public option, the Senate Finance Committee bill will need to be combined with that of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee, as well as the House of Representatives health care bill, which does include a public insurance option.

While the Senate Finance Committee is not planning on discussing the rest of the amendments, there are a few that advocates for children should monitor.

Rockefeller Amendments

• Extends CHIP beyond its current reauthorization date of September 30, 2013 to 2019
• Removes all pre-existing conditions for children
• Introduces a public option into the Senate Finance Committee Bill
• Increase Medicaid to 150% of poverty
• Improve coverage and care coordination for individuals eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare
• Establish a coordinated system of eligibility determination for Medicaid, tax credits and CHIP

Bingaman Amendment

• Requires that the coverage offered in the Exchange be adequate to meet the needs of children
• Assures that adequate processes have been established by state Medicaid agencies and exchanges to provide EPSDT wrap-around and cost-sharing protections
• Requires states to provide the same level of CHIP coverage after health care reforms are passed

Kerry Amendment

• Provides an option of a medical power of attorney for children aging out of foster care
• Makes health care coverage more affordable through health care tax credits

Stabenow/Wyden/Kerry Amendment

• Ensures parity for mental health services within the exchange

Stabenow/Menendez Amendment

• Requires that the more than 13 million children currently enrolled in CHIP in 2013 will not be moved onto the exchanges unless it is clear that they will secure coverage that is at least comparable if not better than what they have in CHIP, so that they are not left worse off by health care reform

It is critically important that we continue to call our senators.  Please call Senator Durbin (DC 202-224-2152, District 312-353-4952) and Senator Burris (DC 202-224-2854, District 312-886-3506) and let them know that health care reform that includes a public option and considers the unique needs of women, children and families is important to you!

Click here to also send an email to your legislators.

Visit IMCHC's e-advocacy site to find your legislator or local contact information. Contact Kathy Chan to report the results of your phone calls.

 
FamilyCare and All Kids Trainings

The Illinois Maternal and Child Health Coalition will be conducting a series of trainings providing updates on the FamilyCare and All Kids programs, as well as state and federal health care reforms.  For a flyer or to register online please click here, and for more information please contact Sara Howard.

The scheduled dates and locations for the upcoming trainings are:

Wednesday, October 14th
2 - 4 pm
Illinois Association of Community Action Agencies
Springfield IL

Wednesday, October 21st
9:30 - 11:30 am
C.E. Brehm Memorial Public Library District
Mt. Vernon, IL

Wednesday, October 28th
2 - 4 pm
Rockford Public Library, Rock River Branch Library
Rockford, IL

“Health is Academic” School Health Center Back-to-School Campaign

Health is Academic State Campaign:
This year, the ICSHC back-to-school campaign is focused on the intersection between school health and education. The message of the Health is Academic campaign is simple: “Want to succeed in school? Visit your school health center!” 

We want to support administrators, teachers and families in ensuring that their students are healthy and ready to learn. By helping schools complete compliance rates and working with teachers to keep students focused on academics, school health centers remove barriers to learning. Find out how to participate by going to IMCHC’s website.  

National School Health Center Week - National Campaign:
On a federal level, things have never looked better for school health centers (SHCs)! Our two main Congressional priorities include:

1. Create a federal authorization program for SHCs; and
2. Ensure that SHCs are reimbursed by Medicaid and CHIP. Both of these priorities have been included in Congressional Committee legislation.

The time is NOW to take action to ensure that health care reform passes with the inclusion of SHCs. We need EVERYONE to get involved in this momentous legislative occasion by contacting their Congressional Representatives and asking them to pass a health care reform bill that includes SHCs. Illinois SHCs are being asked to join the 1700 SHCs across the country in scheduling 20-30 minute Virtual DC Meetings with their Congressional offices and sharing the Virtual SHC Tour video during the meeting.


Find out more on IMCHC’s website  or on the National Assembly for School Based Health Care’s website.

Please email Megan Erskine, ICSHC Project Coordinator, for more information.

Chicago Area Immunization Campaign  

Protect Yourself and Your Loved Ones, Get Your Seasonal Flu Shot This Fall!

The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH), in partnership with the Chicago Area Immunization Campaign, will be providing seasonal flu shots at the following locations. If you have a Medicare card, please bring it with you. For information about other CDPH clinic locations, please call 311.

2009 Faith-Based Flu Clinic Schedule

For more information about this project, email  Melissa Ponce or call her at 312-491-8161x33.

Chicago Department of Public Health Hosts Family Flu Vaccination Day

Getting the flu shot is the best protection for families this flu season.  Flu shots help cut down on health care costs and sick days from work and school.  The Chicago Department of Public Health will be providing free flu shots for the entire family on Saturday, October 3, 2009 from 9:00am – 2:00pm at the following locations:

• West Side Tech Institute – 2800 S. Western Ave.
• Kennedy King College – 6301 S. Halsted St.
• Richard J. Daley College – 7500 S. Pulaski Rd.
• Truman College – 1145 W. Wilson Ave.
• Wright College – 4300 N. Narragansett Ave.

For additional locations, call 311 or go to www.cityofchicago.org. 

Chicago Area Immunization Campaign’s Fall General Meeting: 
“Are You Ready for the Flu?” 

The Fall General Meeting will be on Thursday, October 8th at the University of Illinois at Chicago – Student Center East at 750 South Halsted Street, 6th Floor, Room 605 from 8:30 – 12:00pm.  Dr. Julie Morita, Medical Director of the Immunization Program at the Chicago Department of Public Health, and Dr. Stephanie Black, Medical Director of Acute Disease Surveillance at the Chicago Department of Public Health will be addressing seasonal flu and H1N1.  There is no charge to attend the meeting, and a full breakfast will be provided.  For more information or to RSVP, contact Sheila Sanders.



Campaign to Save Our Babies Release of the Emma Report

On September 16th the Campaign to Save Our Babies released the Emma Report.  The Emma Report is a recommendation to lawmakers to prevent the more than 1,300 infant deaths which occur each year in Illinois.  The report is the product of more than two years of study into the causes of infant death in Illinois.  To view the Emma Report online please click here.



IMCHC Junior Executive Board

The Illinois Maternal and Child Health Coalition’s new Junior Board is holding meetings on a bimonthly basis at the IMCHC offices.  There are over twenty young professionals actively involved in the Junior Board planning events to raise awareness for maternal and child health.  Please contact Sara Howard if you would like to learn more about the Junior Board and its activities.

Some of the events the Junior Board has planned include:

October 8th – House Party and showing of ‘Money Driven Medicine’
                Please contact Kathy Chan if you are interested in this event.
October 27th – Meet and Greet at Mahoney’s Bar
                Please contact Lilah Handler if you are interested in this event.
November – Junior Board Meeting
                Please contact Sara Howard if you are interested in attending.
December – Junior Board Book Group Selection: Pushed by Jennifer Block
                Please contact Sara Howard if you would like to participate in this discussion.

Staff Updates

We are pleased to announce that Divya Mohan Little has taken over as Project Director, for ICSHC.  Many of you may know her from her last position as Communications Director, for the National Assembly on School-Based Health Care, where she served as spokesperson, and managed the website, marketing, field and media relations.   She comes to the position with intimate knowledge of the school health center model and the federal policy efforts surrounding the movement.  She has over five years of non-profit and communications experience, including positions at the National Trust for Historic Preservation and Epoch Communications.  Divya received her Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and Journalism from Washington & Lee University and her Master of Arts in Communication from George Mason University.  She looks forward to working with all of you as she becomes involved in the Illinois SHC community.  She can be reached at dmohanlittle@ilmaternal.org.

Newsletter Archive

Visit our newsletter archive to read about recently listed articles from past issues. Past topics include:

• “Health is Academic” School Health Center Back-to-School Campaign
  • New IMCHC Chapter – Lake County and Greater Cook
  • New Home of Illinois Premature Infant Health Network
  • Protect Yourself and Your Loved Ones, Get Your Seasonal Flu Shot This Fall!
  • Staff Updates

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Now Recruiting:  the Cook County Medical Reserve Corps

The Cook County Medical Reserve Corps are in urgent need of health professionals to assist them with their seasonal flu vaccination efforts in suburban schools to prevent the spread of H1N1 among youth grades pre-kindergarten to eighth grade.  If you are interested in participating in this important program please visit www.cookcountypublichealth.org.

Rally for a Fair Budget

The Responsible Budget Coalition brings together human-services providers, advocates, civic leaders, labor unions, faith groups and others in a coordinated response to the state budget crisis that is forcing harmful cuts to education, health care, human services and public safety and is threatening the loss of thousands of jobs.

Coalition partners will build public support across Illinois for comprehensive tax reform that will raise revenue to restore public services and save jobs, while making taxes fairer.

The Responsible Budget Coalition is sponsoring a rally at the State Capitol in Springfield, Illinois at noon on Thursday, October 15th.  For more information contact Maya Tillman (773-697-6137).

Forum on Toxic Chemicals, Public Health and Learning Disabilities

Please join public health, disability and children’s advocacy experts, activists and policy makers to learn more about the link between toxic chemical exposure and learning disabilities.  The forum is Friday, October 2nd at the University of Illinois at Chicago.  For more information please visit www.ehinitiative.org.



Call for Abstracts - The 9th National Conference on Immunization and Health Coalitions

Abstracts are now being accepted! NCIHC 2010 will showcase successful ways in which health coalitions can improve immunization protection, prevent disease, improve access to care and health outcomes for underserved populations, reduce racial, ethnic, and geographic health disparities, educate new populations, and build community health infrastructures.

Abstracts are welcome from all disciplines and must be submitted electronically no later than February 1, 2010.  If you are interested in submitting an abstract, information is available at the following website: http://www.ilmaternal.org/ncihc2010.htm.   NCIHC 2010 is being hosted by the Chicago Area Immunization Campaign, a project of the Illinois Maternal & Child Health Coalition. 

IMCHC Southern Illinois Chapter Meeting
Wednesday, October 21st 
12:15pm-2:15pm
Municipal West Building
200 Potamac in Mt. Vernon
RSVP to Lilah Handler

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IMCHC Lake County Meeting
Wednesday, December 2nd
1pm-3pm
University of Illinois Extension
100 S. Highway 45 in Grayslake
RSVP to Lilah Handler

IMCHC Chicago Area Chapter Meeting
Wednesday, December 9th
1pm-3pm
Metropolitan Family Services
1 N. Dearborn, 10th Floor in Chicago.
RSVP to Lilah Handler

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