3205.0: Monday, October 22, 2001 - 5:15 PM

Abstract #30421

Local Health and Managed Care;Breaking Down Barriers Together

Mark J. Bertler, BA, CAE, Michigan Association for Local Public Health, P.O. Box 13276, Lansing, MI 48901, 517 485 0660, mrmalph@aol.com and Susan P. Garcia, Michigan Association of Health Plans.

In late 1999 the Michigan Association for Local Public Health and the Michigan Association of Health Plans established a workgroup to address the challenges of assuring access to prenatal care for both capitated managed care and fee for service medicaid eligible women.In the Spring of 2000 the partnership was succesful in moving Michigan to establish presumptive eligibility for prenatal care and related services for all medicaid eligible women. In early 2001 the partnership proposed strategies for improving Michigans EPSDT performance.The partnership has established a process for identifying barriers to preventive interventions and care and collaboratively developing solutions to reduce/remove the identified barriers.These solutions often involve key state legislators and legislative committees.The presentation describes lessons learned and stragies developed to further improve access to care and assure healthier outcomes.

Learning Objectives: At the end of the presentation the participants will; 1.Be able to identify opportunities for public/private collaborations 2.Understand the role politics and elected policy makers play in efforts to reduce/remove barriers to access to care. 3.Identify strategies to assure a greater likelihood of success with public/private partnerships. 4.How to set reasonable and attainable goals in public/private partnerships

Keywords: Maternal and Child Health, Public/Private Partnerships

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

The 129th Annual Meeting of APHA