February 2007 News

Michigan Wins $9.2 Million In Federal Medicaid Funds - February 23rd

Clare Physician Has License Summarily Suspended - February 21st

2006 Gatekeeper of the Year Awarded - February 16th

MDCH Seeks Public Comment On Grassy Island Health Consultation - February 14th

PQIP Improves Medicaid Quality Of Care For Individuals With Mental Illness - February 12th

Bloomfield Hills Dentist Loses License - February 5th

MDCH Announces Michigan's Third Annual Black AIDS Awareness Campaign - February 1st

Michigan Wins $9.2 Million In Federal Medicaid Funds

Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today announced that the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) has received more than $9.2 million in federal funding to support the state's continued efforts to enhance health information technology.

"This funding will continue to help us streamline our Medicaid program and save taxpayer dollars as we work to provide critical health care services to Michigan citizens," Granholm said.

The first $5.2 million grant will expedite the credentialing process for health professionals, facilities, and providers by building a database that is accessible by all state organizations that maintain licenses. Creating a single database will reduce the time required to verify credentials for health care providers, and will generate a significant savings for Michigan.

"While we have an obligation to collect and verify credentials, the state-and our partners at the local level-could achieve a significant cost savings across the board if payers, facilities, and providers only have to go through the same process once," said Janet Olszewski, MDCH Director. "This new grant will use a One Source process for certifying or licensing members of the health care community."

Since July of 2006, MDCH's Bureau of Health Professions has managed the licensing process for 21 health professions, or a total of 375,000 health professional licenses, in Michigan. Each health profession has a board that governs the licensing requirements for that profession.

The second grant-worth $3.92 million-will allow MDCH to expand its efforts to automate and update its extensive birth records database so Department of Human Service (DHS) workers can verify Medicaid eligibility with increased accuracy.

When completed, the database for the DHS Medicaid eligibility intake worker interface will improve birth fact and citizenship validation from 70 percent to more than 90 percent. The system also will link birth and death records, so efforts to provide a false identity to DHS workers would almost be eliminated. The system also should raise DHS online case verification rates, Olszewski said.

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Clare Physician Has License Summarily Suspended

The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) has summarily suspended the medical license of Osvaldo Orengo, M.D. The MDCH Bureau of Health Professions orders a summary suspension when it believes that the public's health, safety, and welfare warrant emergency action.

Orengo's license was summarily suspended based on his alleged sexual misconduct with multiple female patients.

On January 30, 2007, MDCH issued an order immediately suspending Orengo's medical license. An administrative hearing will be scheduled to address the status of Orengo's license.

For more information on disciplinary actions taken by the health professional licensing boards within MDCH, please go to http://www.michigan.gov/mdch, and click on Health Systems and Health Profession Licensing.

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2006 Gatekeeper of the Year Awarded

In cooperation with Consumers Energy, Michigan's Commission on Services to the Aging has selected Christopher Harbert as the 2006 Gatekeeper of the Year.

Working as a Customer Service Representative for Consumers Energy in Grand Rapids, Mr. Harbert received a call from a customer notifying Consumers Energy that a payment was in the mail. While talking with the customer, Mr. Harbert learned of possible neglect. Mr. Harbert connected the customer with the Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan, Inc who assisted the customer in receiving meals-on-wheels, transportation to appointments, and home health care visits.

"Mr. Harbert's efforts to protect a local older adult are extraordinary," said Sharon L. Gire, Director of the Michigan Office of Services to the Aging. "The Gatekeeper program shows the potential in all of us to look out for our elderly family and neighbors."

The Gatekeeper program was initiated by Consumers Energy in Michigan in 1987 as a way to identify elderly community members in need of assistance. Each month, employees of Consumers Energy are nominated for identifying and assisting an at-risk older adult who is age 60 and older and in need of assistance. The Michigan Office of Services to the Aging honors one employee each month, and then a Gatekeeper of the Year is selected from the monthly winners.

Mr. Harbert was presented with a plaque and a congratulatory letter from Governor Granholm at the February 6, 2007 meeting of the Michigan Commission on Services to the Aging.

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MDCH Seeks Public Comment On Grassy Island Health Consultation

A Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) public health consultation indicates that an island in the Detroit River currently poses no apparent health hazard, but future use of the property will determine if the property continues to remain safe.

The draft Public Health Consultation for Grassy Island-now available for public comment-found that contamination at the island currently poses no apparent public health hazard.

Grassy Island is a former diked disposal facility in the Detroit River in Wayne County near Wyandotte. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers placed dredged sediments from the River Rouge onto the facility. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages the island as part of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge.

Grassy Island is contaminated with metals, PCBs, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. It is not open to the public currently, but may be in the future. Due to minimal exposure, there is no apparent public health hazard currently.

If the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service open the island to public use in the future, the Service should prevent unacceptable exposures to the soil, the consultation said. If hunting is allowed on the island, contaminant levels in resident waterfowl and game should be assessed. There are physical hazards present on the island, such as steep dike walls, that should be addressed before allowing public access. Lastly, the Service should regularly assess dike integrity.

MDCH invites the public to review the Public Health Consultation and offer comments on it. Copies of the Public Health Consultation are available for public review at Bacon Memorial Library, 45 Vinewood, Wyandotte. Electronic copies are also available on the MDCH website at www.michigan.gov/mdch-toxics, under Health Assessments and Related Documents.

The MDCH Division of Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology conducted the Public Health Consultation for Grassy Island under a cooperative agreement with the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). Information concerning the human health effects of exposure to environmental contaminants can be found on the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) web page, www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaq.html.

Information and comments should be addressed to Christina Bush, MDCH, Division of Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology, Capitol View Building, P.O. Box 30195, Lansing, Michigan 48909. Comments may be sent via e-mail to bushcr@michigan.gov. People may also call the toll-free telephone number, 1-800-648-6942 (1-800-MI-TOXIC). Comments on the Public Health Consultation must be received by April 9, 2007. All comments received will be evaluated and considered and responses will be provided in the final version of the consultation.

For questions about Grassy Island in general, please contact Stephanie Millsap of the US Fish and Wildlife Service at 734-692-7628 or at stephanie_millsap@fws.gov.

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PQIP Improves Medicaid Quality Of Care For Individuals With Mental Illness

LANSING-The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) has announced marked improvements in the quality of care provided to Medicaid patients with mental illness through the Pharmacy Quality Improvement Project (PQIP).

"We know that educating physicians on prescribing patterns for drugs that treat mental illness is an excellent way to improve the overall quality of mental health treatment within our Medicaid program," said Janet Olszewski, MDCH Director. "Through this project, many opportunities for coordination of care have been identified, resulting in improved quality of care and enhanced quality of life for persons with mental illness."

The PQIP-first launched in May 2005-is a three-year educational program that analyzes the prescribing of mental health medications for Medicaid adult and child members and identifies prescribing patterns that do not follow accepted evidence-based treatment guidelines.

An impact analysis was performed comparing claims cost before and after a PQIP intervention between May 2005 and January 2006. The results showed a 22 percent reduction in claims and a 21 percent reduction in costs were both realized during the time period.

In the PQIP, physicians are provided with educational materials as well as opportunities for peer-to-peer consultations. Goals identified for the project include improving continuity of care, eliminating redundant treatments, coordinating care among providers, and decreasing risks associated with inappropriate use of prescription drugs.

The project is a collaborative effort involving the MDCH Mental Health and Substance Abuse Administration and the Medical Services Administration, in partnership with Comprehensive NeuroScience, Inc. (CNS) of White Plains, N.Y. Eli Lilly and Company is providing funding in support of this independent program. The MDCH Mental Health Advisory Committee, composed of medical directors from the Medicaid Health Plans and the Prepaid Inpatient Health Plans, serves as an advisor to the project.

The PQIP process includes a monthly review by CNS of Medicaid patient pharmacy claims data to identify prescribing and utilization trends for mental health and opiate medications. Researchers look at categories such as multiple medications being prescribed in the same therapeutic class, prescribing above or below FDA-recommended dosing levels, failure of patients to fill their prescription in a timely fashion, and patients with two or more physicians prescribing the same medications during the same time period.

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Bloomfield Hills Dentist Loses License

The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) has summarily suspended the dentistry license of Surabhi Desai, D.D.S., based on his felony conviction in the United States District Court, Western District of Michigan. Desai failed to report his conviction to MDCH as required by the Public Health Code.

On May 3, 2006, Desai was convicted of one felony count of Health Care Fraud. As a result, Desai was sentenced to 15 months in prison, to be followed by supervised release for two years with terms, was ordered to pay an assessment, fine and restitution in the amount of $197,124.19.

On January 23, 2007, MDCH issued an order immediately suspending Desai's license pursuant to the Public Health Code, which provides for the mandatory summary suspension of a health professional's license upon the conviction of a felony. An administrative hearing will be scheduled to address the status of Desai's dentistry license.

For more information on disciplinary actions taken by the health professional licensing boards within MDCH, please go to http://www.michigan.gov/mdch, and click on Health Systems and Health Profession Licensing.

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MDCH Announces Michigan's Third Annual Black AIDS Awareness Campaign

In an effort to improve the overall health of all Michigan residents, the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) is debuting its third annual Black AIDS Awareness Campaign in February.

"We cannot ignore that the disproportionate burden of HIV/AIDS is on African Americans," said Dr. Kimberlydawn Wisdom, Michigan Surgeon General. "This campaign highlights the importance of prevention and the need for those at risk to get tested."

The campaign begins February 1, continues through March 18, and includes the Seventh Annual Observance of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness and Information Day on February 7, the Second Annual National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day on March 10, and the 18th Annual Black Church Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS March 4 through 10.

MDCH data clearly illustrates the impact of AIDS on African Americans. While representing only 14 percent of Michigan's general population, 58 percent of persons living with HIV/AIDS are African American.

The rate of persons living with HIV infection is almost nine times higher among African Americans than among whites in Michigan. MDCH estimates that 1 in 100 African American males and 1 in 260 African American women in Michigan may be infected with HIV with the Detroit Metro Area housing 64 percent of those HIV positive while representing only 45 percent of the general population. As of October 1, 2006, the city of Detroit has an estimated prevalence rate of 6,890 per 100,000.

"Michigan has had two very successful campaigns involving many community-based agencies and local health departments, and we are hoping to build on that success," said Loretta Davis-Satterla, Director of MDCH's Division of Health, Wellness, and Disease Control. "By combining education and awareness, we hope to curb the rising epidemic within the African American community."

Events are planned across Michigan to raise awareness and promote HIV testing among Michigan residents. Panel discussions, speakers, rallies, community forums, health awareness fairs, and HIV counseling and testing are among the many events that are included in this campaign. A list of the events can be found at www.mihivnews.com. To find an HIV testing site in your area, or to obtain additional information on HIV/AIDS, please call the Michigan AIDS Hotline at 1-800-872-AIDS (2437).

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