Dear Leaders, Partners, and Supporters, As Aunt Martha’s continues our year-long celebration of “50 years of leading the way,” we are excited to announce that on Friday, April 1st, 2022, Aunt Martha’s and the Institute of Medicine of Chicago will be co-hosting a free workshop on Value-Based Care Principles and Implementation Strategies with sessions from a highly regarded Harvard University researcher and researchers from Health Management Associates (HMA) Community Partners! Please plan to join us for the workshop and cocktail reception as we come together to re-envision systems that are holistic in care, that generate better outcomes for their patients and clients, and in doing so, create systems that reduce costs. Our keynote speaker, Dr. Junaid Nabi, Senior Researcher in Health Care Strategy at Harvard University Business School, will join us to offer a workshop on value-based care (VBC) principles and implementation strategies with a question and answer session to follow. Dr. Nabi is a physician and health systems researcher who looks at how value-based care strategy can transform care delivery and promote equity across the value chain. This workshop will introduce principles of value-based care designed exclusively for our guests by Dr. Nabi, including invitees from health care, managed care, child welfare, community/social services, policy makers, and policy shapers. The practical steps to be discussed require no background in value-based care. To paraphrase Dr. Nabi’s approach, in order to deliver high-value care, it takes partnering across expertise and industry to create a solution that addresses such complex problems. Following this session, Health Management Associates (HMA) will present the findings of their yearlong evaluation of real-world application of value-based care in the child welfare setting – Aunt Martha’s Integrated Care Center (ICC). At the ICC, Aunt Martha’s has taken value-based principles and applied them within a child welfare setting. The HMA report details the outcomes for youth at the ICC and its return on investment for the State of Illinois, offering the first case study on value-based care within Illinois’ child welfare system. HMA will address the results of this study, including metrics to understand how youth are getting better and an analysis of the savings generated. A question and answer session will also follow their presentation with the HMA researchers and a panel of Aunt Martha’s practitioners who have implemented this work, moderated by the President of the Institute of Medicine of Chicago (IOMC), Dr. Cheryl Whitaker. Let’s think differently about what’s possible; how can we reengineer systems of care to ensure every single patient and client within the health care, child welfare, and other systems have the care they deserve? How can we be more cost effective? Whether you represent a hospital system, Federally Qualified Health Center, child welfare provider, or are a partner in this work, please join us to consider these questions – and to begin to answer them – the afternoon of Friday, April 1, 2022 at the Gleacher Center on the University of Chicago’s downtown campus. The schedule is as follows:   ·        1:30-3PM – Value-Based Care Session with Dr. Junaid Nabi ·        3-3:15 PM – Break ·        3:15-4 PM – Q&A with Dr. Junaid Nabi ·        4-4:25 PM – HMA Report Presentation ·        4:25-5 PM – Q&A Panel moderated by Dr. Cheryl WhitakerM MD, MPH, FACP                                President of IOMC Board of Governors HMA Researchers -Dr. Charles Barron – Aunt Martha’s Chief Medical Officer -Dr. Wanda Parker – Aunt Martha’s Vice President of Clinical and Therapeutic Services -Philoniese Moore – Senior Vice President of ICC/CQC Operations, ·        5-6:30 PM – Cocktail Hour Reception While admission is free, space will be limited, so we ask that you register no later than Friday, March 18, 2022 to secure your seat. Additional details and registration can be found online here. I look forward to these discussions, and to building a bright future together for the youth who come into our care. Sincerely, Raul Garza President & CEO, Aunt Martha’s Health & Wellness Vice President, Board of Governors, Institute of Medicine of Chicago  ###

White House COVID Plan Stresses 'New Moment' in the Pandemic

Congressional funding necessary to step up access to treatment, enhanced

surveillance

Normal was the watchword, as White House officials unveiled an updated National COVID Preparedness Plan on Wednesday, which included increased access to treatment, enhanced surveillance, keeping schools open, and vaccinating the world. [MedPage 3.3.3022]

White House COVID Response Coordinator Jeff Zients emphasized that this was a "new moment" in the fight against the virus, with a new plan that expanded on the future COVID strategy that President Biden touched upon in his State of the Union address on Tuesday.

However, Zients prefaced his remarks by saying it requires "additional congressional support and funding." Indeed, a statement released by the White House said that, "to fully execute on this plan requires Congress doing its part to invest in tools that work."

HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra made a rare appearance at the briefing, though when asked about his role in the pandemic, he reiterated that "HHS is a part of that team" assembled by the president to combat COVID, and that their efforts are "all about getting the job done."

Full article here>

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The CDC no longer recommends universal COVID-19 case investigation and contact tracing, instead encouraging health departments to now prioritize those efforts for high-risk settings. [Becker's Hospital Review 3.2.2022]

The guidance, updated Feb. 28, comes nearly two years after the agency called for 100,000 U.S. contact tracers to mitigate virus spread.  

Now the CDC is pushing health departments to focus solely on high-risk settings, such as long-term care facilities, jails and prisons, and shelters. Case investigation and contact tracing are separate processes, and decisions to begin either should be made separately, according to the CDC. Investigations should focus on COVID-19 cases and close contacts with exposures in the previous five days for groups at increased risk. Health departments should also offer COVID-19 vaccinations, education and other prevention strategies as part of case investigation and contact tracing efforts.

"The updated guidance is in response to changes in the nature of the pandemic and the increasing availability of new tools to prevent transmission and mitigate illness," Kristen Nordlund, spokesperson for the CDC, said March 1. She said the change was driven by the dominance of variants with short incubation periods and rapid transmissibility, along with high levels of immunity from infection or vaccines and the wide availability of vaccines for most ages.

"This is a big change," Crystal Watson, DrPH, senior scholar at Baltimore-based Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, told The New York Times March 1. "It does reflect what's already happening in states and localities, particularly with omicron. There was no way contact tracing could keep up with that. Many of the cases are not being reported, so there's no way of knowing the incidence."

Full article here>

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The Institute of Medicine of Chicago is pleased to host 'The Intersection of Education and Community Engagement ' with Rosalind Franklin University.

This is a four-session series addressing interprofessional education, pathways to health careers, the intersectionality of education and community engagement with in-depth research, and the pursuit of achieving health equity.  Over 20 speakers are involved in the full series. 

The first virtual session is Friday, April 1st at Noon. Check out the full agenda and to register here. 

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Effective February 28, the City has lifted the mask mandate and proof of vaccination requirement for certain public spaces. 

Activities can resume without wearing a mask indoors, except where required by federal, state, or local rules and regulations, or when as otherwise required by any particular business establishment.

Visitors to City of Chicago public buildings will not be required to wear a mask. 

Masks will continue to be required in the following settings:

·    Healthcare settings

·    Congregate settings (long-term care facilities, correctional facilities, shelters, etc.)

·    Public transportation (airplanes, trains, buses, taxis, ride-hail, maritime transportation, trolleys, etc.): Follow federal guidelines

Businesses can make independent decisions to continue to implement public health measures, including requiring masks and proof of vaccination. Optional signage is available by visiting COVID-19 Communication Resources. Signage may serve as informational messaging, and is not required. 

Many Chicagoans may continue to wear masks for a variety of reasons. The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) recommends Chicagoans who may be immunocompromised or have a family member who is immunocompromised still wear a mask, as well as residents who are unvaccinated.

Please be kind and considerate of your fellow Chicagoan’s choice as to whether or not to wear a face mask.

Visit the COVID-19 Dashboard  for data on key metrics.                                                        ###

Chicago - With Chicago violence at a fever pitch, a new study looked at the  mental health of young men of color. [Fox32  2.21.2022]  Video Link

The study, conducted in part by Anne and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, is trying to make health care better for everyone.

The study recruited young African American and Hispanic men to conduct their own research, among their peers, to determine what was impacting their mental health the most. They found systematic inequity and the normalization of trauma were the leading factors to a worsening mental state.

"Our mental health system is really based on focusing on one kid at a time. I think it's really important to learn from this research that we need to think about programs that live and exist in the community and meet people where they are," said Dr. John Walkup, with Lurie Children's Hospital.

Full article here> 

Download report here

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More survivors and first responders could receive mental health support after natural disasters, under a bill spearheaded by U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill. [Health News Illinois 2.24.2022]

 

Now, the Federal Emergency Management Agency provides short-term mental health and trauma support for survivors and first responders after major disaster declarations. But, the support isn’t available following emergency declarations. Durbin’s bill would change that. 

 

“Whether it’s tornadoes, wildfires, hurricanes or mass violence, victims and first responders should be able to access the same mental health resources in the aftermath of tragedies,” Durbin said in a statement. 

 

Over the last decade, there have been more than 4,000 emergency declarations in 37 states, according to FEMA’s database.

 

That includes the tornadoes that struck central and western Illinois in December, leaving six dead and others injured. Because it was declared an emergency, and not a major disaster, the state was unable to seek reimbursement from FEMA for its mental health support program. 

 

“Overall, this bill recognizes that post-trauma services may also be needed for those affected by smaller-scale disasters,” a statement from Durbin’s office said. 

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The Top 10 list includes:

• How cybersecurity attacks can disrupt care and patient safety.
• Supply chain shortfalls and risks to patients.
• Damaged infusion pumps and the medication errors they may cause.
• Inadequate emergency stockpiles and the impact of that during a public health emergency.
• Telehealth workflow and human factors shortcomings that can cause poor outcomes.
• Poor duodenoscope reprocessing ergonomics and workflows.

Download the Executive Brief here.

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The omicron subvariant BA.2 should still be classified as an omicron sublineage rather than getting its own name, the World Health Organization said Feb. 22.

The WHO's statement comes about a week after Japanese scientists published research on BA.2's genetic differences from its parent strain, which they said warrant it being labeled as a separate variant of concern with its own Greek letter.

The WHO's Technical Advisory Group on SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution met Feb. 21 to discuss the latest evidence on omicron, including the new research from Japan. 

"Based on available data of transmission, severity, reinfection, diagnostics, therapeutics and impacts of vaccines, the group reinforced that the BA.2 sublineage should continue to be considered a variant of concern and that it should remain classified as omicron," the WHO said.

Public health officials worldwide should continue to monitor BA.2 as a distinct sublineage of omicron, the group said. 

View WHO's full statement here.

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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has recently given new flexibilities to Medicare Advantage (MA) plans to provide supplemental benefits that address long-term services and supports (LTSS) needs and social determinants of health (SDOH) among their members. However, limited information is available about the extent to which plans have provided or plan to provide these expanded supplemental benefits. Furthermore, Medicaid managed care plans may be concurrently offering similar benefits to Medicaid beneficiaries. This potential duplication is particularly relevant for dual eligible beneficiaries accessing services from Medicare and Medicaid managed care plans. This report synthesizes information gathered from an environmental scan and case studies to provide an overview of early implementation of the expanded supplemental benefits.

This research was conducted under contract #HHSP233201600021I between HHS’s ASPE/BHDAP and Research Triangle Institute. Please visit https://aspe.hhs.gov/topics/long-term-services-supports-long-term-care for more information about ASPE research on long-term services and supports (LTSS), or BHDAP at https://aspe.hhs.gov/about/offices/bhdap.

Available Report

• Comparing New Flexibilities in Medicare Advantage with Medicaid Long-Term Services and Supports: Final Report

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