Not much longer until Spring! Find an event of interest this month and join us!

In Case You Missed It…

1. Grant Available for Behavioral Health Initiatives

The Michigan Health Endowment Fund has announced an opportunity for grants of up to $500,000 for behavioral health initiatives.  Some key information about the grant follows:

• Grant Range – Up to $500,000

• Concept Papers Due – March 15, 2021

• Applications Due – April 22, 2021

• Awards Announced – August 12, 2021

• Download more information on this initiative here. There is also information specific to FAQs available.

The Behavioral Health Initiative looks to improve health outcomes, reduce health disparities and promote health equity, and decrease overall healthcare costs, particularly for Michigan children and older adults.  The proposals should prioritize one of the following areas:

• Strengthening school-based mental health capacity

• Implementing innovative care delivery models

• Developing and strengthening local systems of care

• Using innovative technology to improve care

• Implementing team-based approaches to care

2. Open Board Position for Fiscal Year 2021-2022

The HIMSS Michigan Chapter has an open position for Communications Chair for the fiscal year 2021-2022.  This is an excellent opportunity for members who would like to contribute to providing timely Chapter information to our members across the state of Michigan.  The position provides the volunteer with a broad understanding and engagement of all Board activities over time and the opportunity to share the information of interest to our constituents.  This role will focus on supporting other Board members who identify new information to be shared with membership in the form of newsletters, website updates, social media, membership surveys, event registration, and any related materials to complement planned Chapter activities.  If you seek to apply your Communications skills and are interested in collaborating with Board activities that span advocacy, membership, programs, finance, student engagement, and more, submit your Communications experience and contact information to Dara Barrera, Chapter President, for consideration.  Please submit your interest by no later than April 15, 2021 for consideration.

Events Month-at-a-Glance

• March 17, 12 p.m.-1 p.m. – Webinar: The Sharing & Exchange of Behavioral Health Information

• March 23, 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. - Connecting Michigan for Health and More, Introduction to Healthcare Technology 3.0 – Exploring the New Paradigm

• March 29-30, 2021 from 12 noon to 5 p.m. each day – Virtual 2021 ONC Annual Meeting

1. Webinar: The Sharing & Exchange of Behavioral Health Information, March 17, 2021

• Date / Time: Wednesday, March 17, 2021, 12 pm-1 pm

• Registration: Register roday for this free webinar by clicking here. 

• Speaker: Haley McCrary, MPH, Project Manager, Behavioral Health, Altarum

Webinar Topic

Sharing protected health information (PHI) is an important part of delivering quality health care. However, physical and behavioral health providers in Michigan still struggle to navigate the laws that govern the exchange of behavioral health (BH) information. Altarum, with funding from the Michigan Health Endowment Fund, has been helping the state overcome these barriers. Working with clinicians, payers, and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), Altarum’s team of public health professionals, BH specialists, regulatory analysts, graphic designers, and implementation experts have created the tools and resources clinicians need to increase information sharing. The Altarum team has also uncovered and analyzed important data on what motivates payers and providers to share information electronically, what stops them from sharing, and what resources they need to increase sharing. In this presentation, we will share the lessons the Altarum team has learned about increasing the exchange of physical and behavioral health information statewide.

Speaker Biography

Haley McCrary, MPH, is a Project Manager for Behavioral Health at Altarum. Her expertise is in evaluating health education and behavioral change efforts in rural, domestic, and international settings. In addition, she has specialties in Quantitative Research and Mixed-Methods Evaluation specific to Behavioral Health. McCrary holds a master's degree in public health from the University of California, Davis.

2. Connecting Michigan for Health and More: First Event on March 23, 2021

Michigan Health Information Network Shared Services (MiHIN) is excited to announce an all new virtual Connecting Michigan for Health and More event series for 2021!  The 2021 series of five virtual events  includes a combination of full-day conferences and half-day workshops which aim to bring together leaders in healthcare, legal policy, interoperability, and so much more.

Throughout the year, we will explore the new paradigm of Healthcare Technology 3.0 and its implications for the ongoing evolution of healthcare delivery, experience, cost, and outcomes.  Topics will include, but are not limited to, social determinants of health, CMS/ONC final rules, eConsent, and virtual care.

2020 has been a “perfect storm” across the healthcare continuum.  Many of the issues and topics that have been top of mind in healthcare for the last few years will still be pertinent in 2021 but must now be viewed in the context of all that transpired in the previous year.  

• Date / Time: Tuesday, March 23 from 8 am to 3:30 pm (Eastern) – Introduction to Healthcare Technology 3.0 – Exploring the New Paradigm 

• Registration: Click here to register.   Fees range from $25 to $425 per event over the course of the year.

• Keynote Speakers: 

  • Opening Speaker - Dr. Geeta Nayyar, M.D., M.B.A., Executive Medical Director, Salesforce

  • Closing Speaker - Melissa A. Kotrys, MPH, Chief Executive Officer, Health Current 

• Agenda for March 23^rd Event: Download a copy of the agenda today. 

Next Scheduled Virtual Events for 2021 Connecting Michigan for Health and More

• April 8 – Social Determinants of Health Workshop 

• June 24 – Virtual Care (Telehealth & Patient Reported Outcomes) Workshop 

• October 12 – Sharing Psychiatric ADT and Treatment Center Notifications Workshop 

• November 9 – Summary of Healthcare Technology 3.0 – Exploring the New Paradigm 

3. 2021 Virtual ONC Annual Meeting

• Dates / Times: Monday, March 29, and March 30, 2021 from 12 noon to 5 pm (Eastern) each day 

• Topics include: health IT, healthcare, public health, and technology 

• Registration: Click here to register today. 

• Agenda: Not available yet. When registering, you can receive email updates.

• Social Media: #ONC2021 

Chapter Sponsors 

We would like to thank our Chapter Sponsors who make our events and efforts possible through their generous support. For any questions or information about Sponsorship opportunities, contact Mr. Dan Boyle.