July 2010

In this Issue:

• New Resources  
  • New Media
  • Funding Opportunities  
  • Publications
    
    
• Policy Updates
  
  
• Activities in the Field
  
  
• Upcoming Events

New Resources

NEW MEDIA:

• The University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill’s Minority Health Project recently hosted their 16th annual public health research institute and videoconference on minority health. The videoconference, What Will Health Care Reform Mean for Minority Health Disparities?, discusses how health reform works toward eliminating health disparities among communities of color and the need for community-based participatory research. Click here for a webcast of the event.
  
• DiversityRx has released its ninth webinar, Another “Double Helix”: Language and Cultural Challenges in Genetic Counseling Encounters, as a part of their Your Voice campaign. This webinar explores the complexity of genetic counseling, which is the process of helping people understand and adapt to the medical, psychological, and familial implications of genetic contributions to disease. There are multiple layers of communication that are integral to ensuring that patients receive the best possible, culturally competent care during genetic counseling visits.

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

The federal Office of Minority Health (OMH) is currently accepting applications for two grant programs. First, the National Umbrella Cooperative Agreement (NUCA) Program is distributing $2,275,000 and offering up to nine awards to minority-serving organizations. The grants are designed to support projects, strategies, and interventions which efficiently and effectively improve access to care for targeted racial and ethnic minority populations; address social determinants of health to achieve health equity for targeted minority populations through projects of national significance; reduce youth violence (including gang violence) among targeted minority populations; increase the diversity of the health-related workforce; or increase the knowledge base and enhance data availability for health disparities and health equity activities. The deadline for applying for a grant is August 2, 2010. For more information, click here.

OMH is also offering funding through Partnerships Active in Communities to Achieve Health Equity, which is a three-year grant offered to an organization that is working to address social determinants and environmental barriers to health care access and increase access to and use of preventive health care, medical treatment, and supportive services through integrated, community-based networks. The applicant must be a private, nonprofit, community-based, minority-serving organization with a minimum of five years experience providing health, human, or social services. Tribal government entities are also eligible. There is $4 million in awards available for 8 to 10 organizations. The deadline to apply is August 2, 2010. For more information, click here.

PUBLICATIONS:

• Democratic Policy Committee recently published fact sheets on how African Americans, Asian Americans, and Latinos will benefit from the health reform law. The fact sheets explain how health reform will lower costs, expand choice, and provide affordable and quality health care to communities of color. Some of the topics covered include support for small businesses, eliminating insurance company discrimination, providing tax credits to consumers, and improving preventive care.
  
• Robert Wood Johnson Foundation released Cancer Risk Communication with Low Health Literacy Patients: A Continuing Medical Education Program, which describes a continuing medical education program designed to improve physicians’ ability to effectively communicate about cancer risks with patients with low-health literacy. Patients with low-health literacy are less likely to use preventive health measures, understand risk reduction, or clarify points of confusion about their care. The continuing education program is a four-year program to teach primary care physicians to communicate better with low-health literacy patients about cancer risk.
  
• The Urban Institute’s new report, Health Insurance in Nonstandard Jobs and Small Firms: Differences for Parents by Race and Ethnicity, examines gaps in health coverage among racial and ethnic minority groups with a focus on parents who are employed in small firms or in nonstandard employment. The study found that, compared to white parents, a disproportionate share of Latino and black parents have nonstandard employment, and Latino parents are more likely to be employed in small firms. These work arrangements increase the risk of being uninsured, since small firm and nonstandard jobs are less likely to come with an offer of health insurance.
  
• Center for Disease Control and Prevention published Emergency Department Visitors and Visits: Who Used the Emergency Room in 2007?, which examines the demographics of patients who use the emergency room. The study finds that older adults (aged 75 and over), non-Hispanic black persons, poor persons, and persons with Medicaid coverage were more likely to have had at least one emergency department visit in a 12-month period than those in other age, race, income, and insurance groups. The study also found that among the under 65 population, the uninsured were no more likely than the insured to have had at least one emergency department visit in a 12-month period.
  
• Washington State Governor’s Interagency Council on Health Disparities has released its State Policy Action Plan to Eliminate Health Disparities, which outlines policy recommendations for consideration by the governor and legislature in Washington State that are aimed at closing the academic achievement gap, increasing health insurance coverage and access to culturally and linguistically appropriate healthcare services, promoting a diverse health care workforce, and ensuring that all Washingtonians have an equal opportunity to access healthy environments, make healthy choices, and manage their health in order to reduce disparities in obesity and diabetes. 

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Policy Updates

Obama Establishes National Prevention, Health Promotion, and Public Health Council
The Obama Administration recently issued an Executive Order establishing the National Prevention, Health Promotion, and Public Health Council based on language from the health reform law. The council will be chaired by the Surgeon General and will be made up of the heads of federal departments and agencies, such as Health and Human Services, Agriculture, Transportation, and Labor. The Council will be responsible for making sure that all policies take into account their potential health impact. The Executive Order also establishes an advisory group made up of 25 stakeholders that will advise the council on the development of program and policy recommendations. To view the Executive Order, click here.

Prevention and Public Health Fund FY2010 Allocations
In addition to the Council, the Administration announced how $500 million for fiscal year 2010 from the Prevention and Public Health Fund will be allocated. Half of the funding for FY 2010 will go toward preparing the health system to meet the demand for health care workers, including doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician’s assistants, and public health workers. The second half of the funding will go toward community and clinical prevention efforts, such as obesity prevention and tobacco cessation.

Healthcare.gov Website
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services unveiled a new website to help consumers take control of their health care by connecting them to new information and resources that will help them access quality, affordable health care coverage. HealthCare.gov is the first website that will allow consumers to compare both public and private health coverage options tailored specifically for their needs in a single, easy-to-use tool, with information from more than 1,000 private insurance plans. Consumers can receive information about options specific to their life situation and local community. In addition, the website will be a one-stop shop for information about the implementation of the Affordable Care Act and other health care resources. The website will connect consumers to quality rankings for local health care providers and preventive services. In October 2010, price estimates for health insurance plans will also be available online. In the weeks and months ahead, new information on preventing disease and illness and improving the quality of health care for all Americans will also be posted. 

Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP)
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the establishment of a new Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan that will offer coverage to uninsured Americans who have been unable to obtain health coverage because of a pre-existing health condition. The Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan, which will be administered either by a state or by HHS, is a transitional program until 2014 when insurers will be banned from discriminating against adults with pre-existing conditions, and individuals and small businesses will have access to more affordable private insurance choices through new competitive Exchanges. Twenty-one states have elected to have HHS administer the plans, while 29 states and the District of Columbia have chosen to run their own programs. The applications are currently available for the national Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan. All states that are operating their own Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plans will begin enrollment by the end of the summer, with many currently accepting enrollment. For more information about how the plan is being administered where you live, please visit HHS's new consumer website, www.HealthCare.gov.

Activities in the Field

Asian Health Coalition of Illinois
The Asian Health Coalition of Illinois (AHC) seeks to improve the health and well-being of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Illinois through advocacy, technical assistance, education, and community-based research. AHC is a grassroots organization, created by community members and health care providers in December 1996. AHC received nonprofit 501(c) (3) status in 1998. The coalition supports Asian American and Pacific Islanders’ health needs by advocating for culturally and linguistically appropriate services and programs.

Today, the Coalition is composed of a diverse array of community-based organizations, health care providers, and public health officials that work to increase the representation of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in all levels of the health care policy and decision making processes. 

In addition, the Coalition serves as a clearinghouse, think tank, and resource center for all Illinois-based health related organizations for Asian American and Pacific Islander issues. Through providing technical assistance to programs, the Asian Health Coalition is able to promote culturally and linguistically appropriate community health education and disease prevention while overcoming barriers to health care access. In order to enhance the visibility of Asian Americans, AHC also works to increase and improve the collection, analysis, and dissemination of data about Asian American and Pacific Islander populations and sub-populations.

The AHC provides information on health resources (providers, agency, and service locations) in the Chicago metropolitan area that can provide culturally and linguistically appropriate health care services to limited English proficient Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Their directories also include a list of agencies and providers that offer direct services to clients and patients in the areas of mental health and women's health.

For more information on the Asian Health Coalition of Illinois, please email info@asianhealth.org.

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Upcoming Events

• 5th Annual National Urban Indian Health Conference: Celebrating the Past, and Preparing for the Future
  July 21 – July 22, 2010
  Seattle University, 901 12th Ave. Seattle, WA 98122
  Sponsor: Seattle Indian Health Board
  For more information and to register click here.
  
• 2010 National Behavioral Health Conference
  July 27 – 29, 2010
  Hyatt Regency Sacramento, 1209 L St., Sacramento, CA 95814
  Sponsor: Indian Health Service - Division of Behavioral Health
  For more information and to register click here.
  
• Association of American Indian Physicians 39th Annual Meeting & National Health Conference
  August 5 – 9, 2010
  Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort & Spa, 1300 Tuyuna Trail, Santa Ana Pueblo, NM 87004
  Sponsor: Association of American Indian Physicians
  For more information and to register click here.
  
• Blacks in Government 32nd National Training Conference (BIG)
  August 16 – 20, 2010
  Marriott Downtown Hotel, 200 West 12th St. Kansas City, MO 64105
  Sponsor: National Organization of Blacks in Government
  For more information and to register click here.
  
• The Power of Partnerships: 2010 Community Action Partnership Annual Convention
  August 31 – September 3, 2010
  Boston Marriott Copley Place, 110 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02116
  Sponsor: Community Action Partnership
  For more information and to register click here.

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