I attended a webinar today on using and maintaining mobility equipment, and I asked what former Scooter Store clients could do with their scooters and chairs that need repairs. The answer: Since the Scooter Store is out of business, clients should contact the ombudsman through whoever paid for their equipment (i.e. Medicare).
Archive | February, 2014
Healthy Michigan Plan
Cheryl Bukoff shared the following email:
Good Afternoon,
Healthy Michigan Plan implementation is well underway and I wanted to take a moment to share several pertinent updates with partners!
- We are sponsoring an additional webinar opportunity for partners across to Michigan to learn more about the Healthy Michigan Plan and ask questions. The webinar will be held March 4th from 3pm-4:30pm and will be focused on the structure and benefits of Healthy Michigan. You can register for the webinar online at https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/887728282.
- MDCH has released the Healthy Michigan Plan handbook which is a consumer-facing resource providing information on plan benefits and more. The handbook is attached and is also available online atwww.michigan.gov/healthymichiganplan.
- MDCH has finalized the Healthy Michigan Plan logo and two versions (one color and one black and white) are attached. MDCH welcomes partner organizations to use this logo on outreach and promotional materials. Your organization does not need to seek specific permission to the use the logos, however we do ask that you follow some basic usage guidelines:
- The logo should be at least 1.5 inches wide so that is it legible.
- The logo should be at least 1/8 of an inch inside the edge of any piece of material so that it does not bleed off the edge.
- The logo should be surrounding by clear space so that nearby text or graphics do not interfere with the logo itself. As a minimum the clear space allotment should be ¼ the height of the logo on all sides.
- The aspect ratio of the logo should not be distorted. For example, the logo’s width should not be altered without also altering the height so that the appearance is consistent.
- There has been a significant amount of discussion recently about when Healthy Michigan Plan enrollment will begin. Previously, the educated assumption had been that while coverage would begin on or around April 1st, Michigan residents would have the opportunity to apply before that date. Recent comments from MDCH have solidified a timeline which focuses on enrollment beginning close toApril 1 (either late March or early April); however, a specific date has not been provided.
- There has also been a significant amount of discussion regarding which online application system will be used for the Healthy Michigan Plan. It is our understanding that the MI Bridges system (www.michigan.gov/mibridges) will be the primary application portal for the Healthy Michigan Plan. The MI Bridges system has and continues to undergo updates to accommodate MAGI eligibility and the new application for Healthy Michigan. If you are unfamiliar with the MI Bridges system and would like to learn more please visitwww.mibenefitsaccess.org/partners.
- The www.healthcare4mi.com application system has also recently completed updates, including a new application process for presumptive eligibility (currently available for children and pregnant women) and a new training program for Qualified Agencies. This system can be used to apply for the Healthy Michigan Plan as well, however it does not offer the breadth of access to benefit programs that MI Bridges does.
- MDCH has begun transitioning ABW (sometimes referred to as County Health Plan Part A) recipients to the Healthy Michigan Plan. Current ABW beneficiaries are receiving notification by mail (an example of the letter is attached) which asks them to select a Medicaid Health Plan and your organization may receive questions from ABW beneficiaries about this process. As a reminder, the listing of Medicaid health plans available by county along with consumer survey and plan quality information are available athttp://1.usa.gov/OeD8M5.
- MDCH will be releasing an updated list of frequently asked questions in relation to the Healthy Michigan Plan, many of which are a result of our original partner webinar. I will be sending the FAQs in a separate emails soon as they have been finalized.
- Finally, MPCA recently posted an article detailing the most recent enrollment data report. You can read the article athttp://bit.ly/1gPf8s8 for an update on Michigan’s progress.
I look forward to participating in the webinar with many of you in March.
On behalf of MPCA, MHA, Enroll Michigan, MAUW and MALPH, thanks again for your continued collaboration!
P.S. As always, please feel free to share the webinar opportunity with all of you colleagues and partners.
Phillip J. Bergquist, CHCEF
Director of Health Center Operations, CHIPRA Project Director
Michigan Primary Care Association
517.827.0473 (office)
517.258.2546 (cell)
pbergquist@mpca.net | @pbergquist
Matt Hamburg’s SC Bio
Matthew Hamburg’s journey back to the city of his alma mater, Kalamazoo, where he is serving as the co-Service Coordinator (with Karen Baker) for Washington Square Co-op¸ has been marked with interesting twists, turns, adventure, and synchronicity. Believing that all things work out in the end and that life leads up to what one is doing now, Matt has a story replete with examples of this happening.
The seeds of his calling to social work were planted during Matt’s career experience prior to his enrollment in the BSW program at Western Michigan University. Among his employment endeavors included almost a decade in the restaurant industry as a professionally trained bar tender and floor manager of a restaurant. Both positions afforded Matt plenty of opportunity to interact with and learn about people, equipping him with insight and building on his interpersonal skills that he would eventually use as a social worker. Matt also received training in Electrocardiograph Technology (EKG) and worked as a door-to-door fundraiser for a non-profit organization.
Not satisfied with the lifestyle of the restaurant and wanting more, Matt enrolled in his local community college. It was a career counselor at the college who both educated and inspired Matt in the direction of social work. This man suggested that Matt enroll in an “introduction to social work” class. Matt’s curiosity about the counselor’s education path to his role informed Matt of the career options with a MSW. One thing led to another, and Matt decided to apply and was accepted into the BSW program at Western Michigan University.
Following graduation, Matt and his girl friend, Kate, embarked on a “6-7 month jaunt” to South America. Having planned and saved for this adventure for over a year and a half, the two covered the continent, visiting Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Patagonia, and Argentina. While overseas, Matt applied and learned of his acceptance as an advanced standing student to U-M’s Social Work program. While still overseas, Matt was in communication with Rachel Jacobsen (who held Brenda’s position as Director of Social Work at the time). He interviewed and was accepted as an intern to work with Rachel on special projects and as a case manager under Cheryl Bukoff’s direction at the Zena Baum Center.
Here’s where Matt’s story takes a key turn. One of the projects Matt was assigned was to help create the CSI Service Coordination program! From the ground up, Matt assisted with the planning, investigating, and the hiring process for the initial CSI Service Coordination Team. Little did Matt know that two weeks after graduating from U-M in August 2012, he would be offered a position as a Service Coordinator, working at Belleville Co-op, where he served for a year and a half.
Though only one month into his position at Washington Square, the easy, comfortable manner I observe in Matt in his office space and in the interactions with other residents speaks of this being the right fit, both professionally and personally. In addition to settling into this new building, Matt also participates in the monthly licensing group with fellow SC’s, with aspirations of sitting for (and passing) the exam this summer.
When not at work, Matt has many and varied interests. A self-professed “foodie,” Matt loves everything about food – its smell, touch, taste. From his homegrown vegetable garden and open air farmer’s markets, Matt lives and appreciates his value of understanding the person in environment approach of social work. An aspiration of Matt’s is to receive formal training in cooking. When not pursuing his passion for all things food, Matt is an avid music lover of many kinds (especially Motown and Folk) and a listener of NPR. His aspirations include continuing to pursue proficiency in Spanish and to travel the world. Self-care practices for Matt include physical exercise, being in nature, and traveling. Matt identifies his favorite movie as The Intouchables, describing it as a “sweet story.”
At the close of our interview, Matt professed what might be a summation of his life philosophy: “I don’t worry too much about too much.” From all the evidence so far in his life, there seems to be no need for worry but much more cause for marvel!
Written by Deirdre Manning
Easy date calculations
The Web site that calculates dates with the click of a mouse is www.timeanddate.com. It makes tracking much, much easier.
Guidelines for FAP, MSP and LIS
This information was shared with us by Lindsay Felsing at MiCAFE. Good reference guide.