Alan Stevens, President Community Health Center of Central Missouri

Ben Ernst, Vice President Northwest Health Services, Inc.

Dwayne Butler, Treasurer BJK People’s Health Center, Inc.

Pat Richards, Secretary Southern Missouri Community Health Center

Ron Camp Cross Trails Medical Center Sherilyn Clark Missouri Highlands Health Center Gloria Crull Family Health Center T.R. Dudley Great Mines Health Center, Inc. Alan Freeman Grace Hill Health Centers, Inc. Hilda Fuentes Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center Archie Griffin Myrtle Hilliard Davis Comprehensive Health Centers Andy Grimm Northeast Missouri Health Council Robert Massie Family Care Health Centers Don McBride Access Family Care Lisa Odom Jordan Valley Community Health Center Pat Richards Southern Missouri Community Health Center Richard Sims Missouri Ozarks Community Health Christine Stewart Katy Trail Community Health Robert Walters Central Ozarks Medical Center Cheryl White Southeast Missouri Health Network Karl Wilson, P.h.D. Crider Health Center Joseph Pierle, CEO Missouri Primary Care Association

n October 17, 2011, Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson and State Representative Ellen Brandom celebrated the opening of Benton Medical and Dental Center with a ribbon cutting and open house. The center is the result of an expansion of the SEMO Health Network

intended to create increased accessibility in the Bootheel of Missouri.

After the ribbon cutting ceremony, Danny O’Neill, MPCA’s Director of Government Affairs and Health Center Development, presented Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson with the National Association of Community Health Centers “2011 Community Health Champion Award” for her outstanding leadership in expanding health care access to millions of uninsured and medically underserved Americans. The award is given each year to members of Congress who have worked to successfully increase the number of Community Health Centers around the country that provide quality primary health care to medically uninsured and underserved people.

“It is a great honor having Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson and State Representative Ellen Brandom participate at such an active level with our organization in Southeast Missouri,” says Cheryl White, SEMO Health Network CEO.

For over 35 years, SEMO Health Network has been providing health care in critically underserved areas in Southeast Missouri. SEMO Health Network is a Federally Qualified Health Center and nationally recognized as a Patient Centered Medical Home, providing comprehensive primary care to adults, youth and children. The PCMH recognition has broadened access to primary care, while enhancing care coordination.

Rep. Ellen Brandom talks with Dr. Murphy, Bradley

FNP, and SEMOHN staff

U.S. Representative Jo Ann Emerson (left) and Cheryl White receive a tour of the newly opened facilities

ACCESS Family Care The Dental Team at ACCESS Family Care has been working in collaboration with area schools, obtaining parental authorization to educate and assess the individual needs of students through the mobile dental unit while they are on campus. Routine dental care is administered on site using a mobile dental chair, mobile x-ray equipment and portable sterilization of instruments. Following the assessments; parents are given the option to have the Dental Team’s mobile unit administer treatment or follow up with a family dentist. Advantages include improved learning; decrease in absences, reducing the parent’s need to provide transportation or take time off work and ACCESS serving the community in a positive capacity.

Crider Health Center In November, eight state-of-the-art dental suites opened at Crider Health Center-Wentzville, completing the spectrum of healthcare services offered at this site. “The Wentzville-area community has been eagerly anticipating the addition of dental services at Crider and we are excited to bring this additional service to our patients,” said Dr. Karl Wilson, President and CEO of Crider Health Center. For more information about Crider Health Center’s services, call 636-332-6000.

Katy Trail Community Health Katy Trail Community Health has been providing oral health services in the Pet-tis and Benton County region since November 2008. In 2011 we began working with the Pettis County Health Center to assess emergent dental decay in 8 to 9 year olds through the Pettis County Sealant pro-gram, an effort of the Pettis County Health Center, the State Fair Community College Dental Hygiene Program and Katy Trail Community Health. During the 2008-2009 school year, 12% of students receiving sealants had emergent oral healthcare needs. In the 2010-2011 school year, only 5% of students had emergent oral healthcare needs.

Southern Missouri Community Health Center The 2011 Back to School season meant that Southern Missouri Community Health Center’s Dental staff was busy with dental screenings. The season started off with dentists and assistants participating in back-to-school fairs in August that resulted in 1000 local students receiving free screenings. In September more than 400 Headstart students in West Plains, Willow Springs, and Ava received the free service which included a dental screening for all students and dental varnish for students with parental consent. During October and November the staff visited nine schools in three counties where elementary school students were screened and varnished. Participating students received a toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss.

Swope Health Services Swope Health Services Diabetes Program was recently named an accredited diabetes program by the American Association of Diabetes Educators. This will allow Swope patients increased access to critical diabetes education services to improve self management of their condition. Trends show that diabetes education is moving out of the hospital and into the community where the patient is seeking care. “Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States”, said Dr. William Pankey, Chief Medical Officer of Swope Health Services. “Diabetes prevention and knowing how to live with diabe-tes is key in helping our patients live a healthy lifestyle. This program will aid Swope Health Services in doing that.”

New dental suites at Crider Health Center

ew can forget the unprecedented system of storms that pressed Missouri to its breaking point in 2011. In the forefront of the disturbing images of devastation that plagued family and

neighbors are those of Joplin, Missouri, the small community that was nearly wiped from the map in a span of less than thirty minutes. In the middle of it all, Dr. Debra Davidson of ACCESS Family Care rose to effectively and compassionately meet the many challenges of this great tragedy. The Missouri Primary Care recognized Dr. Davidson’s commitment in September by

presenting her with its most prestigious recognition, the Samuel U. Rodgers Achievement Award. In nominating Dr. Davidson for this honor, ACCESS Family Care’s Executive Director, Don McBride, had much to say:

“Immediately after the tornado, Dr. Davidson left her family secure at home to work with the Joplin Health Department, Jasper County Health Department, and St. John’s Regional Medical Center at the Emergency Operations Center [EOC]. She remained there throughout the night and into the morning, helping to coordinate emergency and non-emergency medical care for tornado survivors.

She remained an integral part of the EOC team for over a week, putting in more than 12-hour days until the EOC was completed and disbanded. Although other healthcare facilities traded out representatives at the EOC, Dr. Davidson remained throughout, adding continuity and ensuring success in placing patients with healthcare needs in the right location. Dan Pekarek, Director for the Joplin County Health Department, told me numerous times how grateful he was for Dr. Davidson’s hard work and dedication to the effort. He said her commitment and attention to detail made the work successful. She even transported tetanus vaccines to various sites throughout the afflicted area so vaccinations could occur closer to the point of need.

“Debra is a hard worker by nature. She puts in lots of hours and the benefit of that is demonstrated by the fact that operations continued glitch free while she served the healthcare community during the emergency situation.

“Debra is an unsung hero and I wanted to take this opportunity in “singing a song of praise” by nominating her for the Samuel U. Rodgers Achievement Award. She made a huge impact and made a difference in many people’s lives - people who will never know what she did for them.

“Debra is a jewel in the crown of ACCESS Family Care. She not only represented ACCESS well, but she represented all Federally Qualified Health Centers, demonstrating the important part they play in serving the community in both good times and difficult times.”

The MPCA congratulates Dr. Davidson on receiving the Samuel U. Rodgers Achievement Award and thanks her for her great service to her community.

“[Debra]’s work serving the tornado ravaged

city of Joplin was exemplary. I believe

she is well deserving of [recognition] after go-

ing above and beyond the call of duty

following the tragedy.”

The Health Center: Anyone who has observed your work in the Ninth Senatorial District – which includes a large part of the urban core of Kansas City – can see your commitment to improving health care ac-cess through the model of the community health center. Can you explain why you have so much faith in this particular model?

Senator Curls: Access to quality health care services is one of the most challenging aspects of life for people coping with financial, cultural, geographic, language or other barriers. Non-profit, community-directed providers such as Community Health Centers fill a glaring gap in the social safety net and dra-matically improve the lives of our citizens. Most importantly, Community Health Centers are open to all residents, regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay.

Elected to the Missouri House: 2007 Elected to the Missouri Senate: 2011 Member: Senate Appropriations Committee Former Member: House Budget Committee

During her first year in the Missouri General Assembly, then Representative Curls supported legislation that provided health centers in Missouri with $60 million for capi-tal improvement projects and provided funding for Missouri’s CHCs to become early adopters of Electronic Health Records. In 2010, funding for the Women and Minority Health Outreach Program was facing elimination, but Representative Curls worked with fellow members of the House Budget Committee to defeat an amendment to strip the program of its funding. She has not ceased to utilize her position to champion funding and policy that supports Missouri Community Health Centers as an integral part of Missouri’s healthcare delivery system by increasing access and driving down cost. Senator Curls received her education from St. Teresa’s Academy in Kansas City and the University of Missouri-Columbia.

hile Missouri Primary Care Association has long fought for and supported the progress of improving health care access in the great state of Missouri, it has not had to fight alone. The MPCA has been supported by individuals in legislative and administrative branches of city, county, state, and federal government. Because of

their demonstrative support of the Community Health Center model, we call these individuals Champions. Recently, The Health Center sat down with two of these individuals, State Senator Shalonn ‘Kiki’ Curls (D-KC) and State Representative David Sater (R-Cassville), to discuss the motivation for their commitment to increase health care access for all, regardless of ability to pay, and to public service with a willingness to help communities and individuals improve health access.

HC: Some could have the perception that Community Health Centers provide low quality services. What would you say to them?

Senator Curls: The dedicated doctors, nurses and staff who operate our Community Health Centers provide comprehensive primary medical and other health care services, including assisting patients access services such as transportation and translation. Community Health Centers can tailor their services to fit the needs and priorities of their communities, which typically have elevated levels of poverty, higher than average infant mortality rates and too few physicians. In Missouri, 21 Community Health Center organizations served nearly 375,000 patients in 2009. As a member of the Missouri Senate Appropriations Committee, I have been proud to support state funding for our Community Health Centers. And as a citizen, I’ve witnessed first-hand the impact Health Center services can have.

HC: How do you answer to the concern that efforts to improve health care access are a financial burden to the taxpayers?

Senator Curls: Contrary to speculation, by reducing the need for expensive emergency, hospital and specialty care, Community Health Centers save our country’s health care system $24 billion a year.

HC: In the midst of the current political and economic climate, there is some trepidation regarding the future of Community Health Centers. Is there anything you would like to say to your fellow Missourians about that?

Senator Curls: As you are aware, next year’s budget promises to be even more challenging than the previous year due in part to the end of federal recovery dollars and the continued sluggish pace of our state and national economies. However, I will do everything in my power as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and as a representative of more than 165,000 Kansas City residents to ensure that state support for our Community Health Centers does not become a casualty in budget deliberations. As a State Senator, I am committed to the improvement of our state and the lives of the people I represent. The efforts of the Missouri Primary Care Association and Missouri’s Community Health Centers are vital to the health of our communities and to our state. Please know you have my full support and gratitude.

(continue to Representative David Sater on the next page)

The HC: It is our understanding that prior to being elected to the Missouri General Assembly, you were a pharmacist who owned and operated your own pharmacy in Southwest Missouri.

Rep. Sater: Yes, and having done so, I understand the importance of providing primary and preventive care as a significant cost savings to our healthcare system. By providing access to these services for Missouri’s underserved populations, Missouri’s Community Health Centers make a tremendous impact on healthcare spending in this State. Keeping underserved patients healthy and providing them with care in an appropriate setting, such as a health center instead of a hospital Emergency Department, is key. The HC: As a Republican legislator, what appeals to you about the Community Health Centers model of care?

Rep. Sater: First, I’m proud to say I have a Community Health Center right in my hometown of Cassville. I’ve witnessed that these Health Centers are private, non-profit health care providers that are governed by their local communities. Also, there is a requirement that health centers have a majority of their board members as patients of the center. This really gives the community and the patients control over their healthcare facilities. They make decisions on what types of services will be offered, how much they cost and the hours the center’s doors will be open. While Community Health Centers do receive some government support, they keep the uninsured out of the emergency room and provide access to high-quality primary care to patients that would otherwise divert treatment until it is too late to fix or more costly.

HC: In the midst of the current political and economic climate, there is some trepidation regarding the fu-ture of Community Health Centers. Is there anything you would like to say to your fellow Missourians about that?

Rep. Sater: Missouri is facing a $600 million revenue shortfall for the coming fiscal year. The Governor and General Assembly are going to have to make incredibly difficult decisions to balance the budget, which we are required to do by our state constitution. As a member of the House Budget Committee, we are going to consider all options and look at every program and department in the State to close this gap. However, I believe that maintaining state funding for Community Health Centers will be a priority of the Missouri House and me as well. I know that investing in this high quality system of primary care prevents improper utiliza-tion of the ER right away, and has long-term savings as well by keeping the uninsured and underserved healthy so that we as a state are not paying for these patients for lengthy, preventable hospital stays.

Elected to the Missouri House: 2004 Member: The House Budget Committee Chaired: House Appropriations Committee on Health, Mental Health, and Social Services; House Appropriations Committee on Health, Mental Health, and Social Services from 2005 through 2010; Health Care Policy 2011 and 2012.

In 2007, Representative Sater championed historic legislation that invested $60 million in Missouri’s health centers for much-needed capital improvement projects, significantly increasing sites and services throughout Missouri. That same year, the Missouri General Assembly included funding for Missouri’s CHCs to become early adopters of Electronic Health Records, increasing access to high-quality primary care services for the underserved. A graduate of the University of Missouri and Kansas City School of Pharmacy, he earned his BS in Biology/Chemistry from Southwest Missouri State University. He is a member and founder of the Pregnancy Care Center in Aurora and has served as President of the American Cancer Society. Apart from his role as a legislator, Rep. Sater’s medical background and passion for the underserved has prompted his participation in mission trips to Honduras to provide medical help to their people.

he 2012 Missouri Legislative Session began with low expectations due to an upcoming November election and a fractured relationship between the House and Senate. Although Missouri’s Constitution requires that a balanced budget be passed each year, a major revenue shortage means high-level scrutiny and debate are guaranteed. And, since many of its legislative priorities fall within the FY 2013 Budget, MPCA will be front and center in that heated debate.

It’s no secret that Missouri’s General Revenue has been hit hard by the national recession. In FY 2009 and 2010, Missouri lost 16% of all General Revenue. Since then, federal stabilization funding has been utilized to prevent significant cuts, but before FY 2013 begins federal stabilization funding will be exhausted and Missouri’s General Assembly will have to balance a budget while facing a $500 million revenue gap. That gap is assuming growth of 4% in FY 2013, an estimate which could easily prove to be too aggressive. Additionally, while revenue finally appears to be growing again, that growth is meager. How meager? For the first six months of the current fiscal year, revenue growth was a mere 1.2%.

In recognition of 2012’s significant difficulties, MPCA will advocate for continued investment in Missouri’s Community Health Centers by highlighting the significant savings created, both immediate and long-term, for MO HealthNet and other vital state programs. Last year, MPCA worked with the Governor, Senate, and House to reduce the amount of General Revenue invested in CHCs’ direct services from $7 million to $3 million. In exchange for this reduction, $1 million of state funding was included in the budget to draw down a federal match of $9 million for a newly minted program (2011) to implement health homes for patients with multiple chronic conditions. At least 20 health centers throughout the state now participate. These centers will go through practice transformation and will have the opportunity to enhance integration and coordination of primary, acute, and behavioral health services that operate under a ‘whole-person’ philosophy of care. This will allow the expansion of the traditional medical home model to build linkages to community and social supports while addressing the needs of patients. Results are lower rates of emer-gency room use, reductions in hospital admissions, less reliance on long-term care facilities, and an improved experience of care and quality outcomes for patients.

Another advocacy priority for the MPCA is the Woman and Minority Health Outreach Program. It is important that this program continue throughout the state, aiding in reduced morbidity and mortality disparities among minority and women populations and providing assistance for eligible individuals to enroll in MOHealthNet and other support services. Additionally, the MPCA will advocate for maintaining $1.5 million in the Budget for the Mental Health and Primary Care Integration Initiative. This funding supports seven partnerships between CHCs and Community Mental Health Centers that

work to increase coordination of physical and mental health care. By identifying

behavioral health disorder early in the primary care setting, the overall quality of life for persons with mental illness may be improved.

Though tough budget decisions loom, MPCA believes that legislators understand the importance that CHCs play in their districts and the vital services that 400,000 of their constituents receive through health centers. Governor Nixon has already demonstrated this by including each of these priorities in his budget recommenda-tions to the General Assembly. Missouri’s Community Health Centers have legislative champions in the House and Senate as well as both sides of the isle. By demonstrat-ing the economic value of retaining these funding priorities, MPCA hopes to enjoy another successful state legislative session.

Maintain $3.02 million in state core funding for FQHCs to maintain and expand services and sites Maintain $1 million in state General Revenue, along with the $9 million federal match to implement health homes for MO HealthNet Patients with chronic conditions Maintain $1,114,750 for the Women and Minority Health Outreach Program Maintain $1.5 million for the Mental Health and Primary Care Integration Initiative.

January National Children’s Dental Health Month American Dental Association www.ada.org/2714.aspx

March Save Your Vision Month American Optometric Association www.aoa.org/x5072.xml National Nutrition Month American Dietetic Association www.eatright.org/nnm March 15, 2012 IT Security Boot Camp www.mo-pca.org/tools/events/event/it-security-boot-camp