Defending the Affordable Care Act

Deborah Riddick

Last month I was in Washington D.C. for the Families USA Health Action 2012 Conference where health care advocates from across the country met to commiserate, recharge and share best practices.  The central theme of this year’s conference was preserving the Affordable Care Act (ACA).  Not surprisingly, this is a goal that every advocate in attendance is genuinely committed to.  During the conference we shared successes and frustrations; strategies and resources.  There were individuals and organizations from nearly every state in the Union who were determined to defend the benefits and protections promised by law.  It was, after all, this collective grassroots commitment that helped to get this historic law passed in 2009.  There was diverse representation of various backgrounds, education levels, economic statuses and religious affiliations.  Despite the many differences, each had played her part at the local level to ultimately create this common good.  Together each local effort had fed into the national movement and ultimately changed the lives of people we will only ever know by the stories reported or the data collected.  But for this group, that was the point…

Similarly, our work here in Michigan must include defending the ACA at the local level.  We must share the stories of our SBHC renovations and what that means for Michigan youth and their families.  We must reach out to communities to inform them of provisions that are currently effective like the provision that allows young adults to remain on their parents insurance until 26y.o. or the preventative services provision that removed copays.  We must also do our best to rebut incorrect accusations with factual information.  We have worked far too hard to get the ACA passed to now sit back and watch it all simply slip away.  We cannot afford to let misinformation sway public opinion and fuel political opposition.

Every year I look forward to the Families conference because it reminds me that we, here in Michigan, are not alone in our efforts to provide comprehensive health care for the underserved.  After all, the benefits we received from the ACA SBHC grant funding took a collective effort from many states mobilizing their networks to ensure our inclusion; many recommended provisions weren’t as fortunate.  It also reminds me that our local efforts are but one piece of a much larger and more intricate picture…one that is incomplete without us.  No one can accurately identify the tipping point that led to the ACA’s final passage, but it is clear that the sum of our parts was essential.  Let us continue to work together to ensure that health care, as anything but a right, becomes an urban legend and that the ACA remains the law of the land.

The Affordable Care Act — What SBHCs Need to Know

Robin Turner

Wow!!  I can’t believe its been almost two years since the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) .  I remember watching it on a television in Washington DC when I was attending the National Association of Community Health Centers.  I was just down the road from the momentous vote!  Needless to say, the people attending the conference were mostly ecstatic that it finally happened.  It had been years of fits and starts, trying to move the country forward together to provide health care to all people.

You might be wondering exactly what the status is.  So, here are just a few critical pieces to keep on your radar:

1. The Supreme Court will hear the states (Michigan among them) case against mandatory coverage.  This is supposed to be heard in March 2012, and decided by June 2012.   The decision could repeal all or just some of the ACA.
2.  State Insurance Exchanges – the (Michigan Health Marketplace): Legislature is waiting to work on this until the ACA case is determined in June.
3. Many parts of the ACA have already been rolled in; for example, children staying on parents insurance until age 26 (without having to live with them, nor be in school).  Co-pays on prevention services have been removed already on most plans.  Small business and non-profit tax credits for providing insurance were phased in 2010, just to name a few.

SCHA-MI received a grant to do some grass-roots outreach through our school-based/linked health centers, providing presentations on ACA 101.  Contact SCHA-MI if you are interested in a short presentation to your community group, advisory board, or others.

For more information on the ACA, please see our state partner,  Michigan Consumers for Healthcare or the federal website for information.

You probably realize that the number one determinant of better health is simply HAVING insurance.  Finally, we have a vehicle to move things forward.  There will be changes, compromises, and struggles, but it’s a start, and I’m happy for it.   Are you?

Healthy Students Graduate from High School: Reframing How We Talk About SBHCs

Michele Strasz

With Michigan’s statewide drop-out rate holding steady at 15% annually, and the Detroit graduation rate of 21.7%,  dead last in the country,  this is not just a school problem!

Economists know that graduation rates are a predictor of a person’s future economic status.  According to a 2006 Princeton study, Michigan drop outs stand to lose $11 billion in total lifetime income by foregoing the diploma.

Graduation rates also impact health disparities.  Jocelyn Elders, former U.S. Surgeon General, stated that, “You cannot educate people who are not healthy.  But you certainly cannot keep them healthy if they are not educated.”

Last week, our friend and colleague, Terri Wright spoke at the State Capitol about the impact that school-based health care has on the children and youth served in school-based and linked health centers across the country.  Terri is the Director of Center for School, Health, and Education, and co-editor of School-Based Health Care: Advancing Educational Success and Public Health, published by the American Public Health Association.

The research Terri highlighted in the book illustrates that users of SBHCs have:

• Decreased absenteeism (50%)

• Decreased tardiness (25%)

• Increased grade point average

Did you know that African American males who used SBHCs were three times more likely to stay in school? Yes, 3x!

School-based health centers have a proven track record improving health and educational outcomes for Michigan’s children and youth. Michigan State University’s recent study, the Michigan Evaluation of School-based Health (MESH), reviewed the impact of Child and Adolescent Health Centers  (CAHC) on the health and health behaviors of the children and youth of Michigan. Findings from the study document that CAHCs are associated with a wide-range of health benefits for the entire student population, including greater self-esteem, less physical and emotional discomfort, and eating more healthy foods. CAHCs are an important component of school environments that support student health and achievement, whether students directly use CAHC services or not.

For years, SCHA-MI and our national partners have pitched school-based health using the tagline, Healthy Students are Better Learners.  Terri challenged us to take that one step further by reframing the message- Healthy Students Graduate from High School.

If Michigan wants true school reform, we must link school achievement to health, and vice versa.  School-based and linked health centers are a key to improving graduation rates in Michigan.  Advocates for school-based health care must join with school-boards, teachers, parents and students to take this message to policy-makers.

Practice your elevator speech and join us on March 13 for SCHA-MI’s annual advocacy day at the state capitol! Registration will open this week.

February 2012: A Month to Celebrate

Keri Bennett

In line with the national effort, Governor Rick Snyder is proclaiming February as School-Based Health Center Awareness Month in Michigan.  Today, there are approximately 100 centers and programs in Michigan serving more than 200,000 children and adolescents in urban, rural, and suburban schools and communities across the state.

Every year, SCHA-MI invites youth advisory councils from local health centers to participate in an Awareness Month Contest.  The 2012 theme, “School-based and school-linked health centers are the ‘key’ to academic success,” brought entries showcasing photography, videos, posters, and interviews.  Entries have been showcased in the Capitol Rotunda this week, garnering media and public attention.

I am amazed every year we do this and never underestimate the power of youth voice.  But, this year, I was impressed and proud of the program I serve more than usual.  As many of us are bogged down by the winter blues and mundane paperwork, this is a ray of sunshine that reminds me why I’m so invested in our program.  Our youth are talented, intelligent, and when given high expectations – always rise to the occasion.  Michigan health centers give youth a forum to exercise meaningful engagement, stay healthy, and in school!

Even though February 2012 is a designated month to celebrate our health centers, why not celebrate them year round?  Here are some great activities for youth advisory councils to try:

• Plan for a legislative visit to your health center.  Experience the legislative process in action!
• Inundate school functions and pass our fliers, postcards, or have meaningful conversations about the services and programs offered in your centers.
• Hold an after school exercise forum – challenge the teachers and adults in your building as well!
• Create a videotape encouraging others to support your health center.
• Write your school or local newspaper highlighting your health center.
• Find a list of “months” to celebrate and highlight National Health Observances throughout the year to raise awareness.
• Hold a cooking demonstration or distribute health recipes in your clinic.
• Make a PSA or announcement once a week or month to highlight a new service or program offered at the health center.
• Engage your art, physical education, health teachers in projects throughout the year to get the word out about your health center!

Congrats to our youth that has entered their projects!  Winners will be announced on our March 13^th Youth/Adult Advocacy Day.