Clinicas De Salud Del Pueblo Receives $3,925,000 Investment from UnitedHealth Group to Enhance Access to Health Care Services in California. - Health & Medicine Week

Brawley, Calif.-based Clinicas De Salud Del Pueblo received $3,925,000 in capital from UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) and its PacifiCare of California subsidiary to further the clinic's efforts in delivering quality, affordable health care services to rural communities in California (see also UnitedHealth Group).

The $3,925,000 in capital is part of UnitedHealth Group's California Health Care Investment Program, a twenty-year, $200 million commitment to provide access to capital financing for health care entities providing services to underserved, low-income and underinsured communities and/or populations throughout the Golden State.

Clinicas De Salud Del Pueblo, Inc., is a private, nonprofit corporation providing an array of primary-care services to residents throughout Imperial and Riverside counties. Established in 1970, Clinicas De Salud Del Pueblo has expanded from two original clinics to nine clinics, three dental centers and three Women, Infant and Children centers.

'At Clinicas De Salud Del Pueblo, we are committed to ensuring that all individuals, regardless of race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion or physical disability, or their financial situation, have access to comprehensive primary and preventive health care,' said Yvonne Bell, CEO of Clinicas De Salud Del Pueblo. 'We thank UnitedHealth Group for helping enable us to maintain that commitment.'

'UnitedHealth Group is committed to investing in a healthier California,' said David Hansen, CEO, Pacific Region of UnitedHealthcare. 'We do this by offering products and services that address affordability, access and quality needs for all Californians, and by supporting community health organizations that will help improve the health care delivery system for everyone, especially underserved populations.'

As part of a separate grant program, UnitedHealth Group and its PacifiCare of California subsidiary recently awarded more than $6 million to 15 community-based nonprofit organizations statewide that are dedicated to improving health care services through enhanced health care technology opportunities, and driving preventive health and coordinated care initiatives. Also, University of California Riverside and University of California Merced received a $10 million grant for the creation of medical and health science education programs at the two campuses, and for hiring of administrative, teaching and support staff needed to establish course work and classes for the programs.

UnitedHealth Group offers health benefits, including commercial and Medicare health plans to more than 3 million Californians, and partners with about 50,000 physicians across the state.

Keywords: UnitedHealth Group, Financing, Business.

SEN. ROBERTS CALLS FOR BETTER ACCESS TO HEALTH PROFESSIONALS IN RURAL AMERICA - US Fed News Service, Including US State News

The office of Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., issued the following news release:

Today, U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS) joined a bipartisan group of Senators in co-sponsoring and voting for the Health Centers Renewal Act of 2007 which renews two important health programs for Kansas: adding incentives to attract more primary care physicians and other health professionals to medically underserved areas and expanding Community Health Centers throughout Kansas. The bill was approved unanimously by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee and now goes to the full Senate for a vote.

'I am pleased we passed this legislation to give more Americans access to top quality health services, especially in rural areas. Our rural communities in Kansas have unique needs and these programs attract more primary health professionals to help rural patients and providers,' Senator Roberts said. 'As Co-Chairman of the Senate Rural Health Caucus, I believe improving access to quality health care is essential to preserving our rural way of life.'

The 'Health Centers Renewal Act of 2007,' S. 901, introduced by Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT), includes increased funding for the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) program which is a long-standing federal loan repayment and scholarship program which focuses on getting primary care physicians and other primary health professionals to medically underserved areas. These professionals go to areas that critically need the manpower and have trouble recruiting health professionals and receive loan repayment or scholarships in exchange for serving a certain number of years in a community. Kansas had forty-six placements across the state in 2006, with the bulk of these professionals located in rural areas.

Also as part of this legislation, the Community Health Centers program is renewed and expanded for another five years. Community Health Centers (CHC) are local, non-profit, community-owned health care providers serving low-income and medically underserved communities. In 2004, the Kansas health centers served over 62,000 individuals across the state. Kansas has ten federally-funded Community Health Centers located in Kansas and two located in Missouri that serve Kansans. This bill will expand the current Community Health Centers and their services as well expand the number of CHC's in Kansas.

'This is a program that works,' Roberts said. 'Community health centers are the primary care safety net for so many Kansans and studies have shown that those who use this program are healthier and use emergency rooms less, which keeps costs lower for all Kansans. It is my hope that passage of this bill will allow this program to expand to other Kansas communities. '

The bill now goes to the Senate floor for debate and a vote.

Senator Roberts received the 2007 Distinguished Community Health Super Hero Award by the National Association of Community Health Centers and the Kansas Association of the Medically Underserved. Roberts is a senior member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions and the Senate Committee on Finance.Contact: Sarah Ross Little and Molly Mueller, 202/224-4774.

Survey develops options to increase residents' access to health insurance - Virgin Islands Daily News

A $1 million federally funded study has come up with severaloptions to extend health insurance coverage to the nearly 25 percentof Virgin Islanders living without it.

The project, funded with a State Planning Grant from the U.S.Department of Health and Human Services to the V.I. EconomicResearch Bureau, initially surveyed the territory's uninsured and isnow looking toward developing options that would increase theiraccess to health insurance.

'We will be looking at long-term strategies,' said Lauritz Mills,director of the Economic Research Bureau.

Although the numbers are better than officials expected, thepercentage of people living without health insurance in theterritory far exceeds the national average, with 24.1 percentreporting they had no insurance at the time of the survey, comparedwith a 17 percent average for the nation as a whole.

The figure for residents who had no health coverage the entireyear is more bleak: 21 percent in the territory, compared with 12.2percent across the nation.

The study came up with three options to increase the number ofinsured in the territory:

- Expand health insurance access to small employers with group-purchasing arrangements or possibly a buy-in to the governmentemployee plan.

Survey results indicated that some of the residents more likelynot to have insurance were those who were self-employed or employedby firms with fewer than 10 workers.

The project report says that some level of local governmentsupport would be required for this option, such as premiumsubsidies, tax credits or legislation changes to enable unrelatedbusiness firms to pool their purchasing power with insuranceunderwriters.

Developing a buy-in provision for small employers into thegovernment employee insurance program is another possibility underthis option, although it would require a way to project annualparticipation and assess the degree of risk.

'Nothing in this option assumes that coverage is given for freeto employees or employers. It is designed to find the marginaldollar which will encourage small firms and their employees topurchase health insurance,' the report states.

- Increase individual access to health insurance.

This option is potentially more costly than any program thatdeals directly with employers, according to the report.

One of the possibilities under this option is developing high-risk pools for people who cannot get insurance in other ways. Thecost of coverage in this sort of pool is more expensive because ittends to attract people who are sicker.

Another possibility is to enable individuals to buy into thegovernment employee health insurance program, although the logisticsfor this would be more complex than private-employer participationin the plan.

The final possibility under this option is a health-center prepayplan, where the East End and Frederiksted health centers wouldmarket prepaid service plans for preventive care to small employers.

- Develop a public/private universal coverage program.

This option would bring every person in the territory with anykind of health insurance into a single pool, thereby reducing costs.

'Some of these options have worked in other states,' Mills said.'I am sure that one of these options, or a combination, would workfor us.'

Mills said more studies and number-crunching will be done on theoptions, and an advisory group that comprises a cross-section of thecommunity, from health leaders to members of the AmericanAssociation of Retired Persons, will weigh the results and design aproposal that works for the Virgin Islands.

The findings will be presented to government leaders.

Federal Grant to Help Improve Access to Health Care in Michigan. - Managed Care Weekly Digest

Wayne State University has been awarded a two-year, $900,000 grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration to create a state-wide Area Health Education Center program that will improve access to and quality of health care for Michigan residents and reduce health disparities in underserved areas through community-academic partnerships for health professions training. Michigan was one of only a handful of states without an AHEC program (see also Business News).

The award, which requires a funding match, comes at a critical time because federal health reform is expected to provide millions more Michiganders with health coverage and increase the demand for primary care providers in a state already experiencing a severe shortage.

The Michigan Great Lakes Area Health Education Center program will work to strengthen recruitment of underrepresented and disadvantaged students to the health professions, and improve the knowledge, skills and retention of Michigan's health professional workforce. The centers will collaborate with local workforce agencies to produce a health professional workforce that meets the needs of the state.

'Given Michigan's diverse rural and urban environments, coupled with our state's growing need for primary care providers, establishment of an AHEC program is going to have a significant impact,' said Valerie M. Parisi, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A., dean of the WSU School of Medicine and co-principal investigator for the grant, 'We will address health disparities caused by geographic, socioeconomic and racial and ethnic factors.'

The Wayne State University School of Medicine and College of Nursing will share planning, implementation and management of the program's operations. Wayne State's Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, School of Social Work and the University of Detroit-Mercy School of Dentistry will provide additional leadership, support and training.

'This multidisciplinary approach to the AHEC program is uniquely suited to enhancing training in the communities where students will learn and practice, and will play a critical role in the success of the centers,' said Barbara Redman, dean of the WSU College of Nursing and co-principal investigator for the grant. 'We're extremely excited by the opportunity to create this program with our partners around the state and stand ready to address health professional workforce shortages across the state.'

The grant funds will be used to create two regional AHEC centers. During the first year of the grant a southeast Michigan AHEC center will be established and housed at the Detroit Wayne County Health Authority. The center will serve nine urban counties (Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Lapeer, Saint Clair, Genesee, Monroe, Livingston and Washtenaw.)

During the second year of the grant, Central Michigan University will spearhead the development of an AHEC center serving mid-Michigan and serve as interim host of the center that will serve 13 rural and six urban counties (Arenac, Bay, Midland, Saginaw, Shiawassee, Clinton, Eaton, Ingham, Tuscola, Huron, Sanilac, Gratiot, Isabella, Clare, Gladwin, Osceola, Mecosta, Montcalm, and Ionia.) The long-term goal is to establish five regional AHEC centers over five years, giving access to all 83 Michigan counties.

According to the Health Resources and Services Administration, 75 of Michigan's 83 counties have at least partial designation as primary care health professional shortage areas and 45 counties are designated as mental health care professional shortage areas. Rural and urban areas often suffer greater workforce shortages because of inadequate distribution of health professionals.

Wayne State University is a premier urban research university offering more than 400 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to nearly 32,000 students.

SOURCE Wayne State University

Keywords: Business News.

Latinos still lack access to health services - La Voz Nueva

Latinos in Colorado pay a high 'human cost' each year for not having access to proper health care services, according to a recent report published by the Colorado Department of Health.

The Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities in Colorado 2005 report confirms Latinos are 'disproportionately affected' by chronic diseases, including diabetes, hepatitis, cervical cancer, kidney diseases and tuberculosis. There is also a high incidence of HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases among Latinos, a high pregnancy rate, and even a higher death rate due to homicides or legal intervention.

Also in Colorado, there are around 2,800 obese Latinos who need health care but can't afford it. At the same time, there are no obese Anglos in that situation.

Speaking recently at Denver Health, Lucy Trujillo, president of the Colorado Minority Health Forum, said many people still do not understand the disparity in access to health care in Colorado.

If Latinos and other minorities could have the same health care other groups have, there will be a decrease in health related problems and mortality, and the quality of life in the city will be better, according to Trujillo.

However, there are still many obstacles, as shown in the new report. Trujillo said the new information should be a wake-up call for community leaders to unite and act soon, before more people die.

But this is a complex problem, with many factors involved, including traditional beliefs, culturally established responses, level of education, nutritional habits, exercise, and family income.

There is another factor, seldom mentioned but very real, according to Trujillo. She suggested there is still racism and prejudice in the medical community, so nonminority people get better treatment and easier access to health care than minority people, even if money is not a problem.

The new report reaffirms a similar study presented in 2004 by Dr. Paula Espinoza of the Latino Research and Policy Center at University of Colorado in Denver. According to the Espinoza's study, only 48 percent of Latinos in Colorado have health care insurance, leaving more than 430,000 Hispanics with no coverage, and relying only on free health services, community clinics, and Medicare or Medicaid.

At the same time, 77 percent of Anglos in Colorado have medical insurance, and only 13 percent of them need Medicare or Medicaid.

Espinoza's report also said the situation is even worst, due to the fact that many Latinos work in unhealthy conditions, during long hours or in physically-demanding jobs. When they need treatment, they prefer traditional medicine (curanderos).

And if they eventually decide to go to a hospital, there will probably be no bilingual doctor at hand.

FEDERAL GRANT TO HELP IMPROVE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE IN MICHIGAN - US Fed News Service, Including US State News

DETROIT, Oct. 12 -- Wayne State University issued the following press release:

Wayne State University has been awarded a two-year, $900,000 grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration to create a state-wide Area Health Education Center program that will improve access to and quality of health care for Michigan residents and reduce health disparities in underserved areas through community-academic partnerships for health professions training. Michigan was one of only a handful of states without an AHEC program.

The award, which requires a funding match, comes at a critical time because federal health reform is expected to provide millions more Michiganders with health coverage and increase the demand for primary care providers in a state already experiencing a severe shortage.

The Michigan Great Lakes Area Health Education Center program will work to strengthen recruitment of underrepresented and disadvantaged students to the health professions, and improve the knowledge, skills and retention of Michigan's health professional workforce. The centers will collaborate with local workforce agencies to produce a health professional workforce that meets the needs of the state.

'Given Michigan's diverse rural and urban environments, coupled with our state's growing need for primary care providers, establishment of an AHEC program is going to have a significant impact,' said Valerie M. Parisi, M.

D., M.

P.

H., M.

B.

A., dean of the WSU School of Medicine and co-principal investigator for the grant, 'We will address health disparities caused by geographic, socioeconomic and racial and ethnic factors.'

The Wayne State University School of Medicine and College of Nursing will share planning, implementation and management of the program's operations. Wayne State's Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, School of Social Work and the University of Detroit-Mercy School of Dentistry will provide additional leadership, support and training.

'This multidisciplinary approach to the AHEC program is uniquely suited to enhancing training in the communities where students will learn and practice, and will play a critical role in the success of the centers,' said Barbara Redman, dean of the WSU College of Nursing and co-principal investigator for the grant. 'We're extremely excited by the opportunity to create this program with our partners around the state and stand ready to address health professional workforce shortages across the state.'

The grant funds will be used to create two regional AHEC centers. During the first year of the grant a southeast Michigan AHEC center will be established and housed at the Detroit Wayne County Health Authority. The center will serve nine urban counties (Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Lapeer, Saint Clair, Genesee, Monroe, Livingston and Washtenaw.)

During the second year of the grant, Central Michigan University will spearhead the development of an AHEC center serving mid-Michigan and serve as interim host of the center that will serve 13 rural and six urban counties (Arenac, Bay, Midland, Saginaw, Shiawassee, Clinton, Eaton, Ingham, Tuscola, Huron, Sanilac, Gratiot, Isabella, Clare, Gladwin, Osceola, Mecosta, Montcalm, and Ionia.) The long-term goal is to establish five regional AHEC centers over five years, giving access to all 83 Michigan counties.

According to the Health Resources and Services Administration, 75 of Michigan's 83 counties have at least partial designation as primary care health professional shortage areas and 45 counties are designated as mental health care professional shortage areas. Rural and urban areas often suffer greater workforce shortages because of inadequate distribution of health professionals. For any query with respect to this article or any other content requirement, please contact Editor at htsyndication@hindustantimes.com

THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT JOINS OVER SIX MILLION CALIFORNIANS IN CELEBRATING EXPANDED ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE. - States News Service

SACRAMENTO, Calif -- The following information was released by the California Endowment:

With the Affordable Care Act (ACA) just days away from its second anniversary, The California Endowment today celebrates its success insignificantly improving Californian's overall health and wellness and access to care.

Expanding prevention programs is a key element of the federal health care law, and since the law was signed in 2010, preventive care available through health coverage has increased for an additional 54 million Americans. Of those, more than six million Californians and 1.6 million (nearly 20 percent) are children. And as a result of the law, California has received more than $459.6 million to date.

'We know that health happens in our schools, in our neighborhoods and with prevention,' said Dr. Robert K. Ross, president and CEO of The California Endowment. 'A shift in how we approach health beyond health care is key to building stronger, healthier communities. We are encouraged to see that our government and policy leaders agree with us and are leading the nation in expanding care and investing in preventive health.'

The ACA has increased health, wellness and prevention for Californians in the following measurable ways:

$114 million to build new and expand existing community and school health centers in California.

$4.8 million in grants to help enroll California children in health coverage;

19.8 million California residents who are privately insured no longer have to worry about lifetime limits on their health coverage;

4.8 million Medicare beneficiaries in California can now receive certain preventive services - like mammograms and colonoscopies - as well as an annual wellness visit with their doctor at no cost.

$22 million in Community Transformation Grants to ten organizations to support community-level efforts to reduce chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes.

Insurance companies are prohibited from denying coverage to the any California child with pre-existing medical conditions.

Over 450,000 California small businesses became eligible for a federal health care tax credit.

When fully implemented in 2014, some of the key benefits of the ACA include:

Residents who don't receive health insurance through an employer will be able to purchase it directly from the California Health Benefit Exchange, which will offer a variety of plans.

Small employers will have access to new health insurance offerings through the Small Business Health Options Programs, a part of the California Health Benefit Exchange.

Expanded access to Medi-Cal for Californians earning less than 133 percent of the federal poverty level including childless adults.