(A contact by you to the representative from your district could really help this effort—or talk to them over the weekend.)

Sent: Thursday, February 05, 2004 2:53 PM

Subject: Urgent SB 40 Action Alert

        Senate Bill 40 was assigned this morning to the Public Policy, Ethics, and Veterans Affairs Committee.  This will be a tougher battle than if it had been assigned to Public Health.  If one of these committee members is a legislator in your area, please contact them today and ask if they will support SB 40; then please let me know where they stand on SB 40. The Public Policy Committee consists of the following members:

PUBLIC POLICY, ETHICS, AND VETERANS AFFAIRS

     Rep. Mark Lytle, Chair Dem. from Madison, Director of Lytle-Gans-Andrew Funeral Home

     Rep. Robert Alderman, RMM (Rep. from Ft. Wayne,  Head of Security for Perfection Bakeries)

     Rep. Vanessa Summers, Vice (Dem. Indpls., Special Projects Coordinator of Julian Ctr.)

     Rep. Cleo Duncan (Rep. from Greensburg, Retired Sales Rep. from Gray & Gray Specialties)

     Rep. Terri Austin (Dem. from Anderson, Asst. Prof. @ Anderson Un.)

     Rep. Steven Heim (Rep. from Culver, Public Affairs from Miller's Merry Manor)

     Rep. William Cochran (Dem. from New Albany, Real Estate Agent)

     Rep. Daniel Leonard (Rep. from Huntington, Owner of South Side Furniture)

     Rep. David Crooks (Dem. from Washington, Pres. of DLC Media)

     Rep. William Ruppel (Rep. from N. Manchester, Elementary Gym Teacher)

     Rep. Benjamin GiaQuinta (Dem. from Ft. Wayne, Real Estate Agent)

     Rep. Matthew Whetstone (Rep. from Brownsburg, VP of 1st National Bank of Plainfield)

      Rep. Robert Kuzman (Dem. from Crown Point, Attorney)

      Rep. Ronald Liggett (Dem. from Redkey, Owner of Liggett Construction)

Again, your calls and email are invaluable; and we need them to win this battle.  Please let them know there is public support for SB 40.

As always, thanks for your hard work and dedication to making Indiana roadways safer for all who travel them.

Stephanie Berry

Program Coordinator

Phone:  317-962-6102 or 800-280-2998 x6102

Fax:   317-962-3605

        (WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Today, the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) urged the Bush Administration to strongly reconsider the cuts to rural health funding within its Fiscal Year (FY) 2005 budget. The administration has proposed eliminating funding for several successful rural programs and drastic cutbacks in others.

Included within the cuts and reductions are:

        Rural Health Flexibility Grants - Funding eliminated.

        Small Hospital Improvement Program - Funding eliminated.

        Community Access Program -Funding cut by $94 million.

        Rural Health Outreach Grants - Funding cut by $47 million.

      "It appears the Administration is taking a rifle shot approach in cutting rural health funding under this proposed budget," said David Sniff, NRHA President. "No other area within the Federal Health Resources and Services Administration received this magnitude of a cut. Furthermore, the stated goal of limiting domestic spending growth to one percent was totally ignored when it comes to rural health."

     The NRHA supported the FY 2004 appropriation in rural funding passed by Congress just last month, and also supported the recently passed Medicare and Prescription Drug Modernization Act of 2003. The Medicare prescription drug bill contained a number of provisions designed to bring rural providers closer to a level playing field with their urban counterparts. The proposed budget cuts undermine many of these provisions mere months after they were enacted.

     "We believe this was a mistake by the Administration," said Sniff. "This budget actually eliminates rural programs just authorized by the President in the Medicare bill last fall. I don't believe that was the intention of the White House, and I know that is not the intent of Congress."

      The NRHA is a national nonprofit membership organization that provides leadership on rural health issues. The Association's mission is to improve the health and well-being of rural Americans and to provide leadership on rural health issues through advocacy, communications, education and research. The NRHA membership is made up of a diverse collection of individuals and organizations, all of whom share the common bond of an interest in rural health.

     (Editor’s Note:  IRHA is a member of the Indiana Cancer Consortium.  I wanted to share with you the recently adopted resolution on Cancer, Obesity, and Physical Activity.  This is a priority issue in Indiana, which Dr. Greg Wilson has addressed at the Public Policy Forum and in many other forums.  I wanted to share with you this resolution because it states the facts and gives the citation—the best ammunition any of us can have as we educate patients, clients, our children, school board members, and others.  I hope that you will copy and share this within your own organization’s newsletter.  rfs)

Cancer, Obesity, Physical Activity

January 27, 2004

WHEREAS, over 500,000 people in the United States die from cancer each year (1) 

WHEREAS, poor nutrition and physical inactivity are linked to approximately one-third of cancer deaths in the United States; (2)

WHEREAS, obesity accounts for an estimated 14% of all cancer deaths in women and 20% of cancer deaths in men; (3) 

WHEREAS, obese women are two to three times more likely to develop endometrial cancer, and obese post-menopausal women have a 50% higher chance of developing breast cancer.  (4, 5) 

WHEREAS, obese men have a 40% higher risk of developing colon cancer (5) and 27% higher mortality rate from prostate cancer; (6)

WHEREAS, avoiding weight gain has a cancer-preventive effect for colon cancer, postmenopausal breast cancer, endometrial cancer, kidney cancer, esophageal adenocarcinoma, and gall bladder cancer in women.  (4) 

WHEREAS, physical activity reduces the risk of colon cancer, and a sedentary life style may increase the risk for breast and lung cancers.  (7) 

WHEREAS, a high fiber diet rich in fruits and vegetables is protective against colon cancer, and may have preventive benefits for other cancers. (7) 

WHEREAS, there has been a major increase in prevalence of overweight and obesity during the past 20-30 years in both adults and children, with the adverse trends being worse among African Americans, Hispanics, American Indians, Alaskan Natives, and people of low socioeconomic status; (4)

WHEREAS, more than 60% of adults (8) and 15% of children and adolescents are overweight (9)

WHEREAS, overweight adolescents are more likely to become overweight or obese adults (10, 11), particularly if they have at least one obese parent; (11)

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Indiana Cancer Consortium urges its member organizations to support legislation and public policies that will encourage increased levels of physical activity and more nutritional food choices within school systems; support legislation and public policies that help the public achieve and maintain a healthy weight and activity level; and develop organizational policies that promote healthy food choices and activity in the workplace.

1.  American Cancer Society.  (2002). Cancer Facts & Figures 2002. Atlanta, GA.

2.  American Cancer Society.  (March 2002). The American Cancer Society Policy Statement on Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity. 

3.  American Cancer Society.  (April 30, 2003). Major New American Cancer Society Study Links Obesity to Increased Cancer Death Risk. 

4.  Thun, Michael.  (2003). Obesity and Cancer. Presented at the CDC Conference: Comprehensive Approaches to Cancer Control, Atlanta, GA.

5.  American Cancer Society.  (2002).  American Cancer Society Predicts US Cancer Burden for 2001.

6.  Obesity Increases Risk of Death from Prostate Cancer. (May 10, 2001).  Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention (Vol. 10, No. 10: 345-353).

7.  Institute of Medicine, National Research Council. (2003).  Fulfilling the Potential of Cancer Prevention and Early Detection.  National Academies Press.

8.  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics.  http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/pubs/pubd/hestats/over99fig1.htm

9.  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, NHES & NHANES, 1999-2000 data.  http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/pubs/pubd/hestats/over99fig1.htm.

10.  National Institutes of Health.  (June 2002).  Word on Health.

11.  Whitaker, RC, Wright, JA, Pepe, MS, Seidel, KD, Dietz, WH. (1997) Predicting Obesity in Young Adulthood from Childhood and Parental Obesity. New England Journal of Medicine, 337:869-873.

 Obesity Resolution January 04

    Our office is fairly frequently asked for information about practice opportunities in rural Indiana—in fact, we have had two such inquiries recently.  Please let us know if your community has a need for a physician or nurse practitioner.  We currently have an active inquiry from an Indiana native who will complete a Family Practice Residency in July of 2006 and is interested in learning about practice opportunities.  Our policy is to share any information membership makes available to us when we receive such inquiries or to forward information about practitioners interested in rural Indiana when we have their permission to do so.  We do not have the ability to verify references, so that any time we share information, it is the unverified information provided to us.  We urge that you do a thorough job of verifying applicant information, whether the initial contact comes from our office or any other source.   (Experience demonstrates that the best assurance your community has of attracting quality providers is for you to do a thorough background check with original sources.)

Perinatal Outcomes - Continuing Education Course

 sponsored by West Central Indiana AHEC

and

Indiana State University Continuing Education in Nursing Program

      The West Central Indiana AHEC and Indiana State University Continuing Education in Nursing Program invite you to attend a Perinatal Outcomes Course on Wednesday, March 10, 7:45 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the Landsbaum Center for Health Education, 1433 N. 6 ½ Street, Terre Haute.  This conference is open to advanced practices nurses, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, social workers, perinatal consumers/advocacy groups, allied health professionals, and all students in health professions.  This conference is presented in conjunction with the March of Dimes and AWHONN.  For more information on registering for this conference and others sponsored by the West Central Indiana AHEC and the ISU Continuing Education in Nursing Program, please contact Leslie Krockenberger at 812/237-3696 or nukrock@isugw.indstate.edu

 Resource for Providers of Child Care in Rural Communities

Now Available

      Many providers of care for children in rural Indiana reported an interest in learning more about health and safety resources and support according to a 2001 survey by the Healthy Child Care Indiana Initiative.  The majority of the respondents to that survey indicated that developing infectious disease controls, establishing health promotion programs, and securing advice on playground safety were the top consultative service needs.  Training priorities highlighted by rural child care providers were recognizing rashes, serving children with chronic health conditions and child growth and development.  11 percent of the survey respondents indicated they had no source of health and safety training and 48% rated their access to consultation about health and safety as less than adequate or non-existent.  The results of this survey combined with a survey of health services providers in the same year resulted in the development of Indiana’s Child Care Health Consultant Program.  Indiana’s Program is based on the National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultant model and similar programs are currently operating in 39 other states.  Child Care Health Consultants serve as links to existing resources and provide services when there are none available locally. Information about the Indiana model follows.  For more information, to arrange for a presentation about Indiana’s program or to indicate your interest in being a part of this exciting program, please email or call Patricia Cole, Project Director at 812-855-6508 or pacole@indiana.edu. 

Suspected Medicare Fraud and Abuse

Suspected Medicare fraud and abuse can now be reported to a statewide toll-free hotline number through the Senior ESP (Examine Services Provided) project. The number is 1-800-986-3505, which is the toll-free hotline number for the Area Agencies on Aging. All suspected fraud and abuse case information is confidential.

 An example of fraud is when Medicare is intentionally charged for a service that was never performed, such as a laboratory test, or when Medicare is billed for a service that is free, such as a blood pressure check at a health fair. Incidents of abuse happen when suppliers of medical services charge for items or services that are not medically necessary, such as a nursing service administering flu shots at a senior housing complex and visiting each apartment to give the shots, check blood pressures and take temperatures, then charging Medicare for a first-time home visit.

IAAAA Education Institute is in charge of the Senior ESP project that has been in operation for two and a half years. During that time, the project is credited with recovering $4,441 as a result of filing suspected fraud complaints. 

 The Senior ESP project is funded by a grant received from the Administration on Aging and is one of 57 projects operating around the country as part of the Senior Medicare Patrol projects.                   

        The project focus is to train volunteers around the state to help educate more consumers about how to prevent and report suspect Medicare fraud and abuse. Volunteers train others how to read a Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) and the steps to take if billing errors are found, including calling the toll-free hotline to report suspected fraud and abuse.

The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) reports since the inception of the first Medicare Patrol projects in 1997, closed investigations have resulted in the recoupment of $4,679,644 in Medicare funds nationally, and, reportedly, $77,446,583 to other payers.

Contact Carolyn S. Hiatt, Project Coordinator, Senior ESP, 317-202-0500, extension 203

   SAVE THE DATE
2004 Indiana Rural Health Conference

“Visions for Healthier Generations”

     Exchange ideas with statewide colleagues and learn about programs and resources that are creating the foundation for healthier generations in Indiana

       Hotel reservations for Annual Conference at French Lick:  A block of rooms for IRHA is being held at a special rate of $79 per night until May 21, 2004.  When making reservations, please call 1-800-457-4042, press 1, and tell the reservation clerk you are with the IRHA Conference. 

Frank Shelton

 Executive Director

Indiana Rural Health Association

P.O. Box 10366

Terre Haute, IN 47801

Shelton7500@msn.com

 Phone 812/238-4937 or 238-4936

 Fax 812/238-7460

www.indianaruralhealth.org