Project scope is below. For more information, visit their website here: http://www8.nationalacademies.org/cp/projectview.aspx?key=49244

Project Scope:

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) face enormous challenges related to their information systems.  They must meet challenging day-to-day operational requirements and make frequent adjustments to their business processes, code, databases, and systems in response to changing statutory, regulatory, and policy requirements.  Increasingly, their core mission is expanding from one focused on prompt claims payment to one that is more broadly involved in improving health care quality and efficiency.  And all of this is being done with old, and arguably antiquated, information technology even as CMS is increasingly engaged in efforts to modernize the nation’s healthcare information technology.

An ad hoc committee will conduct a study that would, in the foregoing context, lay out a forward-looking vision for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), taking account of CMS’s mission, business processes, and information technology requirements.  It would review the current state of CMS’ technical infrastructure and systems architecture and current plans for its evolution, and make recommendations to CMS on modernizing its business processes, practices, and information systems to meet today’s and tomorrow’s demands, including how to build in the flexibility to cope with changing requirements. The study would anticipate ever-broadening mandates for CMS to deal with data on outcomes, performance, and clinical procedures — perhaps even extending to electronic health records themselves — and requirements for interacting directly with beneficiaries, both to manage claims and to manage health.   It would also consider the financial and human resources necessary to implement this modernization.

The study would take place in 2 phases.  The first phase, drawing largely on a workshop (centered on the current CMS landscape and emerging strategy to match its information technology to changing mission requirements), would result in an interim report to be issued 6-9 months after the project start.  The second phase, drawing on the workshop and additional briefings, site visits, and committee deliberations, would result in a final report to be issued by the end of the project.

The Project is sponsored by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services
The approximate start date for the project is April 15, 2010.
An interim report will be issued by late 2010 and a final report the end of the project in approximately 24 months.

Opening Date August 29, 2010.

For more info, go here: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-MD-11-001.html

• Mr. Daniel Dawes, Premiere Inc.
• Ms. Millicent Gorham, National Black Nurses Association
• Dr. Brian Smedley, the Health Policy Institute at the Joint Center
• Ms. Fredette West, Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities Coalition
• Ms. Mara Youdelman, National Health Law Program

(Washington, DC – August 16) — Congresswoman Donna Christensen convened  the inaugural meeting of the Health Equity Leadership Commission this morning – a new Commission assembled by the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Health Braintrust, with members that have substantive expertise in one or more areas of public health, health policy and health equity.  “Our purpose is to ensure that the provisions that serve to eliminate health disparities and foster health equity are implemented to the fullest extent,” said Congresswoman Christensen. “We were also pleased to have the participation of Majority Whip James Clyburn at our inaugural meeting,” she said.

The Health Equity Leadership Commission was established not only to ensure that pertinent health care reform information is communicated to those in and serving racial and ethnic minority communities, but also to monitor and serve as an expert resource on health equity and health disparity elimination to the Obama Administration and to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as the various provisions in PPACA are planned, announced, implemented and evaluated.

To read the rest of the press release, click here.

Event Details
Thursday, July 22nd
4 – 6 pm (Includes briefing and reception)
Hors d’oeuvre and drinks will be served.

Rayburn House Building Room 2168

The National Hispanic Medical Association- NHMA- is hosting a Congressional briefing about Health Care Reform Implementation for Hispanic Communities. The goal of the briefing is to discuss key aspects for health care reform implementation and next steps to follow that will impact the Hispanic community.

Welcoming Remarks: Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard
Chair, Congressional Hispanic Caucus Health Task Force

Speakers:
Garth Graham, MD, MPH
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health, Office of Minority Health, Department of Health and Human Services
Janet Heinrich, DrPH, RN, FAAN
Associate Administrator of the Bureau of Health Professionals, Health Resources and Services Administration, HRSA
Nora SuperDirector, Federal Government Relations- Health/Long-term Care, AARP
Ciro Sumaya, MD, MPHTM
Dean of School of Rural Public Health, Texas A & M
Elena Rios, MD, MSPH
President & CEO, National Hispanic Medical Association

Part I <http://www.healthlaw.org/images/stories/PPACA_Part_I.pdf>  includes an analysis of the private insurance reforms and state-based exchanges;

Part II <http://www.healthlaw.org/images/stories/PPACA_Part_II.pdf>  includes an analysis of changes to the Medicaid program; and

Part III <http://www.healthlaw.org/images/stories/PPACA_Part_III.pdf>  analyzes selected provisions from other titles of the PPACA and Reconciliation law.

On behalf of the Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO), the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF), and Out of Many One (OMO), we are pleased to respond to the above-cited notice from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) within the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) soliciting comments on HRSA’s intent to establish a Negotiated Rulemaking Committee under a Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) in order to establish a comprehensive methodology and criteria for the designation of Designation of Medically Underserved Populations (MUPs) and Primary Care Health Professions Shortage Areas (HPSAs).

AAPCHO is a national organization representing 27 community health organizations that primarily serve Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and other Pacific Islanders (AA&NHOPIs), particularly the medically underserved including a majority living under poverty level and who are limited English Proficient (LEP). AAPCHO members, predominantly community health centers, serve over 350,000 patients annually, providing health care for underserved AA&NHOPIs across the nation, its territories and freely associated states. APIAHF influences policy, mobilizes communities, and strengthens programs and organizations to improve the health of AA&NHOPIs. APIAHF is recognized as a leading voice for health policy on behalf of Asian Americans(AAs) and in support of Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (NHOPIs) in the U.S. and its jurisdictions. OMO is a national multicultural advocacy coalition committed to achieve health parity for people of color. OMO’s membership is comprised of organizations representing the five OMB categories for the major racial and ethnic health groups that experience health disparities in the United States.

We appreciate HRSA’s efforts in developing a more coordinated MUP and HPSA designation methodology and procedure. Further, we strongly support utilizing the NRM process to develop the designation methodology and procedure. However, we have some concerns regarding the procedure outlined in the Notice. We believe there is room for modification to ensure that the  unique needs of many underserved minority populations served by CHCs are considered  and make the following recommendations:

To read more, download our comments below.

Note: There is a file embedded within this post, please visit this post to download the file.

Dear Advocate,

Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans account for 50% of people with chronic hepatitis B in the US but only 45% – less than half know they are infected. It is time to raise awareness within our communities AND among our legislators about this epidemic. These resolutions are important elements of our campaign to eliminate hepatitis B transmission in the U.S. Please call your Representative & Senators today and ask them to sign on! All the info you need is below/attached.  WE NEED YOUR VOICE TO ELIMINATE HEPATITIS B TRANSMISSION!

ACTION ALERT

Call your Representative and Senators to Cosponsor Congressional Resolution on World Hepatitis Day and National Hepatitis Awareness

Dear Colleagues-

Call your Representative AND Senators to ask that they become cosponsors of the House and Senate resolutions designating May 19th as World Hepatitis Day and the month of May as National Hepatitis Awareness Month.

This Resolution supports the goals and ideals of World Hepatitis Day, May 19 and the month of May as National Hepatitis Awareness Month. The goals of World Hepatitis Day and National Hepatitis Awareness Month are to highlight the global chronic viral hepatitis epidemics, to recognize the need for a comprehensive public education and awareness campaign designed to help infected patients and their physicians identify and manage the disease, and to help increase the length and quality of life for those diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B and C infections.

Background
House of Representatives
Representatives Joseph “Ahn” Cao (R-LA), Mike Honda (D-CA), Hank Johnson (D-GA), Charlie Dent (R-PA), and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) recently introduced a National Hepatitis Awareness Month and World Hepatitis Day resolution (H.RES.1302). The more Members of the House that cosponsor H.RES.1302 in advance of World Hepatitis Day on May 19, the better the chance of passage. A copy of the Dear Colleague letter is attached and below. The following is a list of current cosponsors:

Rep Cao, Joseph [LA-2]
Rep Baldwin, Tammy [WI-2]
Rep Bordallo, Madeleine Z. [GU]
Rep Boustany, Charles W., Jr. [LA-7]
Rep Cassidy, Bill [LA-6]
Rep Christensen, Donna M. [VI]
Rep Chu, Judy [CA-32]
Rep Davis, Danny K. [IL-7]
Rep Dent, Charles W. [PA-15]
Rep Grijalva, Raul M. [AZ-7]
Rep Hinojosa, Ruben [TX-15]
Rep Honda, Michael M. [CA-15]
Rep Johnson, Henry C. “Hank,” Jr. [GA-4]
Rep Kennedy, Patrick J. [RI-1]
Rep Lee, Barbara [CA-9]
Rep Melancon, Charlie [LA-3]
Rep Norton, Eleanor Holmes [DC]
Rep Richardson, Laura [CA-37]
Rep Sutton, Betty [OH-13]
Rep Wu, David [OR-1]
Rep Young, Don [AK]

Senate
Senator Diane Feinstein (D-CA) will be introducing the Senate resolution on or near May 19. Please note that there is no bill number as the Senate resolution has not been introduced yet. Her office is recruiting original cosponsors to list when the resolution is introduced. A copy of the Dear Colleague letter is attached and below.

Action
Ask Members of Congress to become cosponsors of the House and Senate resolutions designating May 19th as World Hepatitis Day and the month of May as National Hepatitis Awareness Month.

It is urgent that your calls and/or e-mails be made immediately. Please call your Representative’s and Senators’ Washington, DC office. Ask to speak to the staff person who handles health issues. You can call the Capitol switchboard at 202.225.3121. Ask to be connected to your Representative’s or Senator’s office. If you do not know who your Representative and Senators are, you can go online to www.house.gov and www.senate.gov.

You may also send the staff person an e-mail. Please ask for the person on the phone to spell the person’s name for you as they often will not give out e-mail addresses. Typically in the House, e-mail addresses are firstname.lastname@mail.house.gov as in corinna.dan@mail.house.gov and in the Senate it is firstname_lastname@senatorlastname.senate.gov as in corinna_dan@mikulski.senate.gov. Note the period and underscore between the names when e-mailing the House and Senate respectively.

Whether you speak to this person directly, leave a message or e-mail, tell them:

“My name is ____________________ and I’m a constituent of Representative/Senator____________________. I am calling to urge my Member of Congress to cosponsor a Congressional Resolution designating May 19th as World Hepatitis Day and the month of May as National Hepatitis Awareness Month.

[If you are calling a Representative] H.RES.1302 was introduced with bipartisan support from Representatives Joseph “Ahn” Cao (LA), Mike Honda (CA), Hank Johnson (GA), Charlie Dent (PA), and Bill Cassidy (LA). [If you are calling a Senator] The Senate Resolution is going to be introduced by Senator Diane Feinstein (CA) and we need you as an original co-sponsor.

Hepatitis B and C affect over 5 million Americans and is the leading cause of liver cancer, one of the most deadly, expensive, and fastest growing killers of Americans every year, and the leading cause of liver transplants each year. This Resolution is an important, cost-neutral and non-controversial step to increase the much-needed awareness of hepatitis among the American public and our health providers. This is important to me personally because________.”

If you have any questions, please contact Corinna Dan (cdan@aapcho.org) or Colin Schwartz (cschwartz@NASTAD.org). Thanks for taking the time to contact your Members of Congress!

Summit Health Institute for Research and Education & The California Endowment

2nd Health Information Technology Resource Teach In

Preparing Underserved and Communities of Color for Health IT and EHR Adoption:  Meaningful Use, What’s in it for you?

**There is no charge to attend this conference.  REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.**

WHEN:    Wednesday, June 23, 2010……….. 8:00am – 4:00pm
WHERE:  California Endowment Conference Center for Healthy Communities,
1000 North Alameda Street,
Los Angeles, CA  90012

WHO SHOULD ATTEND: Physicians, practice administrators, nurses and nurse practitioners, allied health professionals, elected officials, community/consumer advocates, health policy analysts, community-based organizations, faith leaders, representatives of health information technology/electronic health record companies, foundation representatives, managed care organizations, insurance companies, Federal, State and local government employees, professional organizations representing providers, and consumers

TO RSVP OR FOR A TENATIVE AGENDA  click here: http://shireteachinla.eventbrite.com/

Teach-In Overview
Summit Health Institute for Research and Education, Inc. (SHIRE) and The California Endowment are sponsoring the Second Health Information Technology (HIT) Resource Teach-In in Los Angeles, CA on June 23, 2010. The conference will inform participants about the opportunities, benefits and challenges of adopting and utilizing electronic health records (EHRs) that comply with meaningful use regulations under consideration or promulgated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Additionally, conference participants will receive information about innovative uses of HIT among the underserved and in communities of color, as well as guidance on suggested methods to navigate EHR adoption and compliance.

Please contact Latoya Thomas regarding any questions or for more details:
SHIRE, Inc.
1313 L Street, NW
Suite 111
Washington, DC  20005-4110
Office Phone:  (202) 371-0277
Fax:  (202) 833-8222
E-mail:  lthomas@shireinc.org

Beyond Reform: Health Concerns and Disparities Among America’s Fastest Growing Populations

Thursday, May 6 – Washington, D.C.

Health reform has passed, but the battle to improve America’s health is far from over.  A key question remains: How can health disparities be eliminated in the U.S.?  This May 6th briefing will address disparities in health – particularly those facing Asian American, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders  – in light of new findings in the May issue of the American Journal of Public Health.

Policymakers, experts and an audience Q&A will explore stark disparities documented by the Journal and how to alleviate them. Hosted by the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF), speakers include Dr. Howard Koh, Assistant Secretary for Health for the Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Representative Mike Honda (D-CA), Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, U.S. Representative Judy Chu (D-CA), Dr. John Ruffin, Director of the National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities, and Dr. Ed Sondik, PhD, Director of the National Center for Health Statistics.  Two panels, Shine the Light: A Research Agenda to Reveal Hidden Needs, and Addressing Root Causes: Paths to Achieving Health Equity will feature both journal authors and prominent policymakers.

This first-ever issue of a major public health journal devoted to this population releases an array of new research that highlight alarming disparities:  Among one Pacific Islander-American group, 20 percent of births are pre-term.  Deaths from breast cancer are four times higher among some Asian-born women in the U.S. than among their U.S.-born counterparts.  Rates of vaccine-preventable liver and cervical cancer among the Hmong in California are three to four times higher than those of other Asian American groups.   Among the topics to be discussed at the briefing are:

• How can health care reform improve the access and quality of care available to minority and vulnerable populations?
• How does culturally appropriate care affect the quality of health services?
• What impact does immigration status have on rates of disease and death?

WHEN:    Thursday, May 6th from 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
WHERE:    National Press Club
529 14th Street NW, 13th Floor
One block from Metro Center on the Red, Orange, or Blue Lines

RSVP:    To reserve a place for this event, please see:
http://burnesscommunications.com/event/APIAHF-health-concerns-and-disparities

FOLLOW:   APIAHF will provide live Twitter updates from the event at #APIAHealth

See below for the final amended resolution.

Note: There is a file embedded within this post, please visit this post to download the file.