Member Perspective: Stimulus Funding At Work

Story developed for the Michigan Nonprofit Storybank.

Since 2006, the number of uninsured patients of Muskegon Family Care, a Community Health Center located in West Michigan, has increased by 59 percent. This Community Health Center (CHC) is one in a network of 32 public and nonprofit organizations, who provide quality, comprehensive, community-oriented primary health care for over 500,000 patients annually at 160 sites across the state. The growing need demonstrated at Muskegon Family Care is not unique to its county or region, but is something that CHCs across the state are seeing.

The Michigan Primary Care Association (MPCA) works to connect and strengthen the network of Community Health Centers in Michigan, and is well aware of the growing health care needs and concerns of Michigan residents. In their effort to promote, support and develop comprehensive, accessible and affordable community-based health care services to everyone in Michigan, health care reform is near the top of MPCA’s agenda.

MPCA has put technology to work for many in the CHC network, which includes the development of VirtualCHC, a high-quality software application for CHCs that uses some of the most advanced online technologies. MPCA advocates that national health care reform implement similar technology to reduce cost and increase service.
“Michigan Community Health Centers provide high-quality, comprehensive services that emphasize primary care and wellness so that families can stay healthy and out of hospitals,” said MPCA Executive Director Kim Sibilsky. “We need to invest in an accessible and affordable community health system that has already been proven to reduce disparities, improve health, and achieve cost savings.”

In Michigan, the number of uninsured now tops 1 million, and over 1.5 million residents lack a health care home. MPCA is taking a leading role in conversations that will continue to shape health care in our nation. Earlier this year, Community Health Centers were among the first recipients of stimulus funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. MPCA has released a report showing how Michigan Community Health Centers are using this one-time funding, which totals nearly $35 million, to help those in need access quality health care that they can afford, expand services, and stimulate and retain jobs.

“The one time funding opportunity offered to CHCs through the stimulus bill is enabling more Michigan residents to access quality, affordable healthcare,” said Dana Hughes, Communications Manager at Michigan Primary Care Association. “Community Health Centers are emerging as health care homes for many more residents. While this funding has created some wonderful opportunities for those in need, continued support of these initiatives is critical so that CHCs can respond to the ever increasing demand for services today and in the future.”

As the cost of health care continues to increase and more and more Americans are losing health care coverage, the need for affordable quality health care is more pressing than ever before. In June 2009, the state’s unemployment rate hit 15.2%. For every 1% increase in unemployment, more than 1 million people lose their health insurance and another million people enroll in Medicaid and CHIP.

The Michigan Primary Care Association has been a MNA member since 1999. For more information about MPCA, or to learn more about the Community Health Center nearest you, visit www.mpca.net. Or check MPCA out on Twitter and Facebook.

Submitted by Brandon Seng, MNA’s Director of Member Services.

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