IN THIS ISSUE:

1. Case Tip: Beware of the Modern Day Debtors Prison
2. Comment Sought on MCW BC/BS Annual Report by January 22
3. Public Health Legal Preparedness Materials on Asthma Medication in Schools Available
4. Annual Health Fact Book Released
5. Health Insurance Coverage in America Publications Updated
6. Report on Medicaid Reimbursement for Nutritional Products Available
7. HealthWatch Updates and Contacts
8. Suggestions for the Update? Contact Us!

1. CASE TIP: BEWARE OF THE MODERN DAY DEBTORS PRISON

As medical bills pile up you may find that your credit report, and an attendant bad credit score can prevent you from renting an apartment, getting a loan or a credit card.  What is worse is that your credit report can be full of errors and incorrect information. Unfortunately credit reports are the modern day electronic version of the old debtors prison.  These "electronic handcuffs" can put your financial life on hold.  Be sure to get a copy of your credit report if you are denied credit and make sure there are no errors or incorrect information.  You have a right to challenge incorrect information on you credit report.  For detailed information on your rights check the Federal Trade Commission website: www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/credit/index.html

2. COMMENT SOUGHT ON MCW BC/BS ANNUAL REPORT BY JANUARY 22

The Medical College of Wisconsin, one of two Wisconsin medical schools receiving over $600 million in endowment funding in the Blue Cross/Blue Shield asset conversion initiative for public health, has released its 2004 "Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin" annual report. As MCW is subject to a public comment period before an upcoming Wisconsin United for Health Foundation meeting, persons or organizations wishing to comment on the report should forward any comments, in writing, addressed to Wisconsin United for Health Foundation, c/o Charles I. Henderson, Davis & Kuelthau s.c., 111 East Kilbourn Avenue, Suite 1400, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53202, by January 22, 2005.

To consider the MCW report, the WUHF will meet at 9:30 AM at the Madison Concourse Hotel, 1 W. Dayton St., on Feb. 3. The report is for the period ending June 30, 2004. The WUHF will consider comments in connection with releasing additional funds to MCW to distribute for public health purposes. The Annual Report to be considered by the Foundation can be accessed via the MCW website at: http://www.mcw.edu/display/router.asp?docid=7997

Similarly, the University of Wisconsin Medical School's BC/BS annual report is due to WUHF later in 2005. WUHF will solicit public comment on that report, and will hold a public meeting after that report is received.

3. PUBLIC HEALTH LEGAL PREPAREDNESS MATERIALS ON ASTHMA MEDICATION IN SCHOOLS AVAILABLE

Right to Carry and Self-Administer Asthma Medication in Schools -- Legislation is a list of selected asthma-related legislative measures addressing the right to self-administer asthma medication and carry inhalers in schools. The list of materials, prepared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Public Health Law Program, presents
information on the federal Asthmatic Schoolchildren's Treatment and Health Management Act of 2004, as well as asthma-related legislation for 23 states. The list includes links and brief descriptions of sample legislation, information on how to obtain the most current status of federal and state asthma-related legislation, and links to state
legislatures' home pages. Other asthma-related information is also provided. The list is available at http://www.phppo.cdc.gov/od/phlp/Asthma_school.asp

4. ANNUAL HEALTH FACT BOOK RELEASED

The Annual Health Fact Book, published by the federal DHHS, has been released and is full of interesting facts about health trends in the US. The report, ``Health, United States 2004,'' presents the latest data collected by CDC, the National Center for Health Statistics and dozens of other Federal health agencies, academic and professional health associations, and international health organizations. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/

5. HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE IN AMERICA PUBLICATIONS UPDATED

Two Kaiser publications provide  2003 data on health insurance coverage in America and particularly focus on the characteristics of America's growing uninsured population. Forty-five million Americans were without health insurance in 2003 and since 2000 the number of uninsured under the age of 65 has grown by more than five million.  The fact sheet is available at http://www.kff.org/uninsured/1420-06.cfm and the chartbook is available at http://www.kff.org/uninsured/7153.cfm

6. REPORT ON MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT FOR NUTRITIONAL PRODUCTS AVAILABLE

The Children with Special Health Care Needs Program in Washington State recently produced a report to document the costs and health/nutrition outcomes of providing medical nutrition products and nutrition services by a certified dietitian to children with special health care needs covered by the Washington Medicaid program. The report, Medicaid Reimbursement for Medical Nutrition Products and Nutrition Services for Children with Special Health Care Needs: A Washington State Case Studies Report, recommends supporting a reimbursement system for medical nutrition products and medical nutrition therapy (MNT) for children with special health care needs. Seventeen case studies are included. To download a copy of this publication, go to:
www.doh.wa.gov/Publicat/publications.htm

7. HEALTHWATCH CONTACTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

If you are interested in joining your regional HealthWatch committee, or want more information about their work, please contact the following people:

Southern Region:  Barbara Katz, ABC for Health, Inc., 608.261.6939 ext 207, barbk@safetyweb.org

Southeastern Region:  Brad Holman, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, 414.266.3189, bholman@chw.org

Northern Region:  Deb Blackstone, Family Resource Connection, 715.365.8030, dblacks@shsmh.org

Northeastern Region:  Steve Gerczak, St. Vincent Hospital, 920.433.8154, sgerczak@stvgb.org

Western Region:  Rose Marsh, Chippewa County Dept of Public Health,
1-800-400-3678, rmarsh@co.chippewa.wi.us

8. SUGGESTIONS OR TIPS FOR THE UPDATE? CONTACT US!

We need your help to develop content and tips for our CKSN Update. Please let us know about your ideas or success stories.  Email your suggestions to barbk@safetyweb.org

The CKSN Update is a bi-weekly electronic newsletter of the Covering Kids with Special Needs project that ABC for Health, Inc. is implementing with its partners, the Title V Children with Special Needs Regional Centers and Family Voices – Wisconsin.  If you
would like to submit news and information in future CKSN Updates, please send it to the attention of Barbara Katz.  All submissions should be limited to 150 words.

ABC for Health is a Wisconsin-based, nonprofit public interest law firm dedicated to linking children and families, particularly those with special health care needs, to health care benefits and services.  ABC for Health's mission is to provide information,
advocacy tools, legal services and expert support needed to obtain, maintain and finance health care coverage and services.

Barbara Katz, moderator
Parent Consultant
ABC for Health, Inc.
608.261.6939      ext. 207
barbk@safetyweb.org