Current News and Personal Opinion is produced
by
John Hardman RPA-C as a volunteer service for Minnesota PA's.
(October 13, 1999) Perhaps, you have noticed something a little different about the site. To the left is an image of the AAPA Chapter Excellence Award, that was presented to Cindy Ulshafer and I, on behalf of MAPA, when we attended the 1999 CCOW conference last week in Washington DC. This award is in recognition for those chapters that have exemplified those improvements over the past three years that AAPA recognizes as outstanding. MAPA was honored as the medium size chapter. Alaska and Arkansas tied in the small chapter category, and Texas won the large chapter award.
Much of the credit for this award goes to Cindy for her tireless efforts as President for two terms and the extended transition to a midyear election cycle. Her efforts at putting together the narratives and completing the lengthy application forms and organizing the presentation binder are very much appreciated by all those in MAPA involved with this project. Our hats off to Cindy! The AAPA, in addition to the recognition, also provides a $2500 honorarium to MAPA! Thanks again to all who put in effort throughout the last three years for the benefit of MAPA! You are justified in feeling proud!
While in Washington DC, as part of the Constituent Chapter Organization Workshop I had the opportunity to meet with several of the Minnesota legislators, together with Cindy Ulshafer, Bev Kimball, and Clover Shultz. We rallied for Minnesota PA's in regards to promoting access to health care, reimbursement for PA's under Medicare and Medicaid, and funding for PA school programs. We were warmly received and given consideration for our legislative efforts.
Also while in Washington, we were made aware of the Sign Them Up campaign. Advocacy for the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) was encouraged for PA's who wished to try to help in the efforts at improving health care coverage and thus access for many of our uninsured children in this country. In August 1997, Congress enacted the state Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) in an effort to help children in working families with incomes too high to qualify for Medicaid but too low to afford private family insurance.
Minnesota it seems is always in the forefront of these issues, and has its implementation of this law as The MinnesotaCare Program . Under this program, children ages 18 and under can receive benefits that include: regular checkups, immunizations, doctor, (and of course PA) visits, eyeglasses, prescription drugs, hospital care, and dental care. MinnesotaCare covers children in a family of four with an income up to $46,760/year or $3897/month. if under age two, and slightly more restrictive, for children age 2-20, with family incomes up to $45,925/year or $3,827/month. Adults, too, can apply for health care coverage under the MinnesotaCare Program.
So what can we do as PA's? Well, you can go to the Spread the Word site that details what you can do, such as download an outreach flyer that you can print out and distribute in your waiting rooms and clinic patient education areas. You could call Jeanyne Slettom, Outreach Coordinator at 651-296-5233 for details on how you can become involved, or you could email the director of Children's Defense Fund Minnesota, Jim Koppel and let him know how you would like to help out. I recently spoke with Jim Koppel, and he informed me of a first meeting of a state-wide coalition, of a "Covering Kids Project" which will be October 19, 1999 at the Kelly Inn near the State Capital from 1:30-3:30 PM. It would be great if a representative or two from MAPA could attend this meeting and follow with this group with 2-3 more meetings over the next year.
Finally, from this site you can subscribe to an email list to get weekly updates on various aspects of the program, including descriptions of successful outreach and enrollment strategies, and how they can be implemented in your community. Also available is national and state data, descriptions of proposed or adopted federal and state legislation, and reviews of developments in state and local child health policy and in public health literature.
Whatever you decide to do, I hope that you realize the tremendous potential that PA's can have in those aspects of community care that extend beyond the traditional office or hospital setting. I encourage all of us in the PA community to choose to become involved with promoting these worthwhile and lifesaving programs.