LEGISLATIVE & POLICY CORNER
Health Reform Implementation
Now that the polls are closed and the results are in, implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is expected to march forward, although not completely without opposition at some levels. Congress will continue to provide oversight of implementation of the law and a series of legislation designed to defund provisions of the law is expected, however these proposals will not gain traction with the Senate. There are opponents of the law that are still bent on challenging certain aspects of the ACA in court, too. The outcomes of these challenges remain to be seen. The final debt deal in Congress may include provisions that will propose changes to Medicaid, premium subsidies and Medicare eligibility. [more]
Health Insurance Exchange Deadline for States
Many governors were awaiting the results of the election to make an important decision on the implementation of the state health insurance exchange. Nov. 16 was the deadline set by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for states to submit their plan to run a state-based insurance exchange, enter a partnership with the federal government or have the federal government run the exchange entirely. Health insurance exchanges are scheduled to open for business on Oct. 1, 2013 for enrollment. [more]
Medicaid Expansion Remains in Question for Some States
The Supreme Court decision earlier this year that upheld the ACA entirely, left the Medicaid expansion decision up to states. While there is no official deadline for states to increase eligibility, having the systems in place to accept the newly eligible populations through the health insurance exchanges is something states will need to consider. Again, now that election is decided, many governors might reconsider expansion, however, budget woes loom for many states, which are an ongoing concern for many governors and weigh heavily on their decision to expand Medicaid. [more]
GET INVOLVED
AMCHP 2013 Annual Conference Training Institute Sessions Announced
The AMCHP Annual Conference Training Institute offers a rich program of skills-building sessions starting on Saturday, Feb. 9. Preregistration will be required for all Training Institute sessions to guarantee entry! You can preregister for Training Institute events when you register for the conference. [more]
AMCHP February Board Meeting
All members are invited to attend the AMCHP Board meeting, which will be held during our Annual Conference, on Saturday, Feb. 9, beginning at 7:30 a.m. EST. The meeting will be held at the Omni Shoreham Hotel. [more]
Register Today for AMCHP 2013!
The AMCHP 2013 Annual Conference will be held Feb. 9-12, at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, DC. To register, visit regonline.com/amchp2013. Don’t miss our early-bird registration rates -- register now! [more]
AMCHP Technical Assistance Project: Request for Applications
AMCHP, with support from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, is leading a project to increase the capacity of state MCH programs and other state stakeholders (e.g., Medicaid agencies, providers, local health departments, community health centers) to improve birth outcomes throughout the life course. This project has a specific focus to enhance the capacity of state MCH programs and their partners to maximize the current environment of opportunity by providing state teams with targeted technical assistance on developing a collective impact approach to coordinating the multiple, concurrent efforts and initiatives to improve birth outcomes through health reform. This project will focus on opportunities presented by the Affordable Care Act and other national initiatives to improve birth outcomes and maternal and infant health, with a particular focus on reducing health disparities and assuring racial equity. AMCHP is accepting applications through Dec. 9. [more]
AMCHP Best Practices Technical Assistance Project: Request for Applications
As part of an overall strategic goal to improve maternal and child health outcomes by sharing effective and promising practices with state and territorial MCH programs, AMCHP is providing replication stipends to foster connections between states interested in replication or adaptation of a current emerging, promising or best practice in Innovation Station. Through this project, applicants can request technical assistance support (i.e., travel funds or other seed resources) to learn how to adapt a specific Innovation Station practice (or elements of a practice) to their state or community. Applicants will need to demonstrate readiness to adapt the practice in order to maximize technical assistance resources. AMCHP is accepting applications through Nov. 20. [more]
CSN Webinar on Reducing Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
The number of U.S. babies born addicted to the class of drugs that includes prescription painkillers has nearly tripled in the past decade. These babies experience longer, often medically complex and costly initial hospitalizations. In 2009, the estimated cost for total hospital charges for Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome was $720 million, for 13,539 babies. State Medicaid programs are responsible for the majority of the hospital expenditures. [more]
Enter to Win $2,500 in AJPM Childhood Obesity Challenge
The American Journal of Preventive Medicine (AJPM), in partnership with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, is seeking submissions for the second round of their Childhood Obesity Challenge. The challenge is looking for innovative policies aimed at reducing child obesity or related behaviors and new strategies that lead to the adoption of these policies by key stakeholders. The first-place winner will receive a $2,500 cash prize and be featured in the AJPM Web and print editions. Cash prizes also will go to second- and third-place winners, and the winner of the "popular vote." [more]
HRSA Uniform Data System Webinar
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Health Center Program will present a webinar on the Uniform Data System (UDS) on Dec. 3 at 2 p.m. EST. This webinar is planned in partnership with the Bureau of Primary Health Care and will include an overview of the core 2011 data set collected annually from grantees in the HRSA primary care programs (i.e., Community Health Center, Migrant Health Center, Health Care for the Homeless and Primary Housing Primary Care). The webinar will also include a demonstration of the UDS Mapper tool and its potential to inform Title V Maternal and Child Health program efforts. [more]
Home Visiting Research Network Survey Now Available
Prenatal and early life experiences influence the health and development of children throughout their life span. The literature demonstrates the potential of home visiting to enhance the quality of prenatal and early life experiences by improving family functioning, parenting, and child health and development. Research reveals that the impacts of home visiting are at times modest or limited to certain populations and that some programs struggle to implement and scale up their models with fidelity. [more]
To see more ways to get involved, click here.
PUBLICATIONS & RESOURCES
General Maternal and Child Health
NCCC Resource Guide on Mentoring Strategies to Recruit and Retain Workforce from Underrepresented Groups
The National Center for Cultural Competence (NCCC) at Georgetown University has compiled a number of resources for MCH training programs on using mentoring as an evidence-based strategy to increase the number of students and faculty from racial and ethnic groups underrepresented in MCH programs. [more]
Family Voices Report Highlights the Work and Impact of a National Network of Family Leaders
2012 Activities & Accomplishments of Family-to-Family Health Information Centers (F2F HICs) looks at the role of family-staffed organizations in providing support, information, resources, and training for families of children, adolescents, and young adults with special health care needs (CSHCN) and the professionals who serve them. The report was developed by the Family Voices National Center for Family-Professional Partnerships with support from the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB). [more]
Child and Adolescent Health
Resource Brief on Reaching Out to Children and Youth Following Disasters
The impact on children, adolescents and families in neighborhoods disrupted by Hurricane Sandy presents many challenges for families and health professionals. The MCH Library at Georgetown University presents a guide to provide resources for helping children and adolescents cope with injury, loss of loved ones, destruction of homes and schools, and other trauma. [more]
NHTSA Study Finds Booster Seats Decrease Child Motor Vehicle Fatalities
A study published in Pediatrics, reveals that U.S. states with laws requiring kids to ride in car booster seats have had fewer child deaths in accidents, especially among six- and seven-year-olds. The findings are based on data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for 1999 through 2009. [more]
Pediatrics Supplement on Care of Children and Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Improving Health Care for Children and Youth with Autism and Other Neurodevelopmental Disorders, the supplement to the November 2012 issue of Pediatrics, describes an MCHB initiative to fund autism-intervention-research networks, training programs, and related projects. [more]
MCH Library Releases Resource Guides About Obesity in Children and Adolescents
The Overweight and Obesity in Children and Adolescents Knowledge Path directs readers to a selection of current, high-quality resources about the prevention, identification, management, and treatment of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents in homes, schools, and communities. [more]