“Contraceptive Update Webinar”

A two-part series webinar, presented by Michael Policar, MD, MPH.  This webinar is supported with Title X funds and has been developed by the Clinical Training Center for Family Planning in conjunction with other Title X-funded Training Centers. 

You have the opportunity to view this session online at any time until February 10th, 12:00am CST at www.devsys.org.

There are also multiple live Q&A follow-up webinars available in every time zone on February 9 & 10.  Below is the schedule for the Q&A portion.

Sessions	Pacific*	Mountain	Central	Eastern
February 9, 2012	12 pm	1 pm	2 pm	3 pm
February 10, 2012	8 am	9 am	10 am	11 am
February 10, 2012	9 am	10 am	11 am	12 pm
February 10, 2012	10 am	11 am	12 pm	1 pm

 

The Contraceptive Update Webinar will:

• Compare the WHO Medical Eligibility Criteria (MEC) with the USMEC.
• Recommend safe and effective hormonal contraception for breast-feeding women.
• Analyze options for women with problematic vaginal bleeding while using contraceptive implants.
• Compare advantages of using long-acting reversible contraceptives versus other contraceptives.
• Describe the six objectives that guided the development of the revised Title X Family Planning Clinical Guidelines.

Title X Cost: FREE

To register for this two-part series, please visit http://www.devsys.org/courses 

For all other questions, concerns, or technical difficulties:   

Please email jbarber@devsys.org or call 816-561-5050

Good News from the White House -- Religious exemptions under ACA will be kept narrow!

Exciting news released today by the Obama Administration.  After months of pressure from the Catholic Bishops lobby, the administration announced that they will keep the religious exemption for contraceptives in the Affordable Care Act narrow.  This is great news for millions of women and we will be reaching out to press throughout the day.  A release outlining our position on the topic is available here. The official statement from  HHS can be found here.

CA Pregnant & Parenting Teen Resource Guide

The Spanish version of the new resource guide for Pregnant & Parenting Youth in California containing legal information is now available. Univision highlighted the guide when they broadcasted across the State on Monday morning. The guide can be accessed in Spanish and English at: www.pregnantyouth.info

A publication of the national partnership for women & families in cooperation with the National Health Law Program and California’s Health Consumer Alliance. 

Title X Preceptor Class

Title X Agencies

Just a little reminder regarding the upcoming Title X Preceptor Training Class.  Have your providers ever precepted other licensed providers in a family planning skill such as doing a PAP, putting in an IUD or Implanon, doing a pelvic or a male genital exam?  If they become certified Title X Preceptors, your clinic can receive $250/day stipend for each separate skill taught to trainees.   What a great deal!  This class is open to all Title X providers—MD’s, DO’s, NP’s, PA’s and Certified Nurse Midwives, whether they have been precepting for years, or just have a desire to precept other clinical health care providers.

The only costs your agency must cover are travel and dinners, all other costs (hotel, all other meals, the preceptor class, the hands-on clinical skills practicums, a take-home extensive precepting toolkit, and 18 CEU’s) are free.  You may use Title X funds for your costs.  Contact your Area Manager for any questions regarding allocation of Title X funds for this purpose.

The training schedule for 2012 so far:

Milwaukee, WI:  April 18: LARC Training, April 19-21: Title X Preceptor Training

Las Vegas, NV:   May 9: LARC Training, May 10-12: Title X Preceptor Training

For futher information Download Preceptor Training flyer

Contraception Journal January 2012 Highlights

Congratulations to Ron Frezieres and Terri Walsh for their article in Contraception!!  Amazing work!!

Couples' acceptability of the SILCS diaphragm for microbicide delivery

Special Interest Training-Clinical Training Program for Nexplanon

January 25, 2012-Berkeley, CA

Presented by: Patty Cason, RN, FNP-BC 

Sponsored by California Department of Public Health Office Of Family Planning.

This training is available only to U.S. clinicians authorized to perform medical procedures as evidenced by a State License number of a Medical Education (ME) number.  You must be an advance practice clinician or physician in order to attend.  To register for this course, complete registration form and mail or fax to:

Attn: Stacie Pinkett

3600 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 600 or

FAX to (213)368-4428

Governor's Budget Released 3 Days Early

Yesterday afternoon Governor Brown announced his January 2012-2013 budget plan three days early due to an inadvertent leak on the Department of Finance website earlier in the day. The budget estimates a $9.2 billion general fund deficit that is proposed to be bridged with increased taxes and cuts. The tax increase would materialize if voters pass the Governor sponsored November ballot initiative that seeks to raise the sales tax and income tax for high-income earners to yield an estimated $6.9 billion in revenues. The proposed budget also includes a list of trigger cuts if the voters do not approve the tax increase in November. These trigger cuts are almost all in the areas of education and public safety. With or without increased revenue from the governor's tax initiative, the Governor's budget calls for $4.2 billion in cuts.

California Family Health Council (CFHC) along with our statewide coalition of partners is still working to analyze the impact of the Governor's budget proposal but key elements in the Health and Human Services area of the budget that could impact California's low-income patient population and the Title X provider network are below.

The Governor's budget:

• Proposes to transfer Family PACT from the Department of Public Health (DPH) to the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS). The Administration stated this shift is consistent with their goal of placing direct health care service programs with the DHCS to improve service delivery. *CFHC will be exploring any potential impacts this transfer might have on the Family PACT program and will keep you updated.*

• Proposes to create more flexibility in the Medi-Cal delivery system outside of the regulations process. Some of the areas that could potentially see changes are benefits, services, rates methodologies and payment policies within federal requirements. This proposal is slated to achieve $75 million General Fund savings.

• Proposes to reform the payment methodology for federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) and rural health clinics (RHCs) funded under Medi-Cal. Under this proposal, payments made to FQHCs and RHCs participating in Medi-Cal managed care plan contracts will change from a cost and volume based payment to a fixed payment. Additionally a waiver will allow these clinics to perform multiple services on the same day, provide group visits, telehealth, and telephonic disease management. This proposal is slated to achieve $27.8 million General Fund Savings.

• Proposes to expand managed care into rural counties that are now fee-for-service only starting in June 2013. This proposal is slated to achieve $2.7 million in General Fund savings.

• Proposes an annual open enrollment period for beneficiaries to select their preferred plan. Currently Medi-Cal allows beneficiaries to change plans every month. This proposal is slated to save $3.6 million.

• Proposes to reduce Healthy Families managed care rates by 25.7 percent effective October 1, 2013. This reduction will achieve $64.4 million General Fund savings.

Many of the proposals above and other areas of the Governor's budget have yet to be fully flushed out. CFHC will work to obtain clarification and advocate on behalf of California's low-income patient population and Title X provider network. We will continue to provide updates as the budget process moves forward.

In the meantime, if you have any questions please contact Amy Moy, Vice President of Public Affairs, at moya@cfhc.org.

 

Hookup in the NY Times!

The NY Times article below featuring CFHC's hookup program and a link to our redesigned TeenSource website! Sex Education Gets Directly to Youths, via Text.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/31/us/sex-education-for-teenagers-online-and-in-texts.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha3

"Weekly Wrap-Up"

AB 499 to Take Effect on January 1, 2012

This year, among other new laws to be enacted in 2012, AB 499 was passed and signed by Governor Jerry Brown to allow patients 12 years of age or older to consent to medical care related to the prevention of a sexually transmitted disease. This new law will take effect on January 1, 2012.

Prior to the passing of AB 499, patients 12 years of age or older were able to consent to medical care related to the diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases. Starting in the new year, they will also be able to take preventative action against sexually transmitted diseases as well. You can find an AB 499 implementation fact Sheet here.

One of the prevention methods that young adults will be able to consent to is the Human Pappillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. A new report published by the American Journal of Preventative Medicine disclosed findings showing that the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine does not increase risky sexual behavior.

 

2012 Title X Funding Announcement Response

On December 19^th CFHC reported that the final FY 2012 appropriation for Title X is $296.8 million, a $2.6 million (0.8%) cut from FY 2011 funding, representing a $2million cut to the Title X program plus a 0.189% across-the-board cut to all programs within the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), and Education. CFHC has not yet received notice from the Office of Population Affairs (OPA) about how the cut will affect California’s Title X award. As soon as we have confirmation from OPA as to whether our funding will be cut further or will remain the same, we will notify all delegate agencies.

CFHC Response to FDA Hearing on Combined Hormonal Contraceptives

In the November 23^rd “Weekly Wrap Up,” CFHC shared information about an upcoming FDA hearing, scheduled for December 8^th and 9^th, in which an FDA committee would consider the results of a recently released study evaluating the risk of adverse health events associated with the transdermal patch, the vaginal ring, and “third generation” oral contraceptive pills that contain drospirenone. CFHC Response to FDA Hearing

 

NHSC Scholarships for 2012

2012 Loan Repayment Application Now Open!

The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Loan Repayment Program (LRP) opens its 2012 application cycle! The application cycle will be open until May 2012, however providers are strongly encouraged to apply early.

Program Updates
Award amounts for this year’s program have been modified to help ensure communities with the greatest need – those with the highest Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) scores – receive recruitment support to fill much needed clinical positions. Initial awards amounts are as follows:

	2 Years  Full-time	4 Years Half-time	2 Years Half-time
Providers at Sites with HPSA Score 14+	Up to $60,000	Up to $60,000	Up to $30,000
Providers at Sites with HPSA Score 0-13	Up to $40,000	Up to $40,000	Up to $20,000

With continued service, NHSC providers may be able to pay off all of their student loans.

For additional program details, please see the 2012 NHSC Loan Repayment Program At-A-Glance Fact Sheet and the complete Application and Program Guidance