Methodist Healthcare Ministries

1. Methodist Healthcare Ministries “Serving Humanity to Honor God”

2. The Roles of Foundations and Not-for-Profit Organizations in Building Coalitions, Advocacy and Implementing Programs to Improve Oral Health in Texas Presented by Kevin C. Moriarty, CEO Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. San Antonio, Texas Texas Oral Health Summit: Advocacy, Equity & Access Austin, Texas September 9-10, 2004

3. Building a Brighter Future • At Methodist Healthcare Ministries (MHM), we believe the best way to nurture the youngest among us is to reach out to the communities they call home. That’s why we fund and operate clinics in under-served neighborhoods and schools. It’s why we offer programs designed to help parents influence their children’s lives in positive ways. And it’s the reason we sponsor Wesley Nurses, who act as health and wellness advocates for the communities.

4. METHODIST HEALTHCARE MINISTRIESMission and Key Objectives “Serving Humanity to Honor God” To serve by improving the physical, mental and spiritual health of those least served in the Southwest Texas Conference area of the United Methodist Church. KEY OBJECTIVES: • Facilitate access to primary care • Develop and deliver appropriate healthcare education • Impact healthcare policy through advocacy • Diversify and expand revenue sources • Ensure a spiritually-based dimension in programming • Develop parenting and family support programs • Build appropriate partnerships, through facilitation, leadership, and/or collaboration • Preserve, enhance, strengthen, develop and integrate the Methodist Healthcare System as a part of Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ charitable purpose and mission

5. MHM Service Area For under-served residents in South Texas, MHM has truly filled an important and under-served need. Since its inception in 1995 as a faith-based organization, MHM has invested a total of $87 million in our communities making us the largest non-public source for community health care in San Antonio and South Texas.

6. “Serving Humanity to Honor God” • With every new year, we strive to touch even more lives. It all goes back to fulfilling our mission. “Serving Humanity to Honor God.” That means offering help to those in need even before they ask. Methodist Healthcare Ministries

7. Methodist Healthcare Ministries - 72 County Programs/Partnerships Sterling Coke Reagan Tom Green Irion Mills  Concho  San Saba Lampasas McCulloch Schliecher Menard Crockett Burnet Llano  Mason Kimble Sutton   Gillespie Blanco 2  Travis Hays Kerr Val Verde Bastrop Edwards Kendall Comal Fayette Real Bandera Caldwell . (11) Guadalupe  Colorado     Bexar  Gonzales Kinney  Lavaca Uvalde (3)  Medina 10 Wilson  DeWitt   Jackson Maverick Karnes Frio  Atascosa Victoria Zavala Goliad  La Salle Calhoun Dimmit Live Oak McMullen Bee Refugio  Wesley Nurse Sites Volunteer Health Ministries San Patricio Jim Wells Aransas 2   Duval Webb Nueces MELD Parenting Sites  3   Kleberg PHP Parenting Sites Jim Hogg  Zapata Clinic Sites Brooks Kenedy  School Based Clinic Sites Starr  Willacy Funded Organizations Hidalgo  6 Cameron 5 

10. MHM Dental Care 2004 Funding MHM Dental Clinics $1,700,000 External $1,600,000 2005 Funding MHM Clinics $1,850,000 External $2,050,000 2004 Client Visits (Estimate) MHM 13,100 External 37,040 (inside Bexar County) 15,500 (outside Bexar County 21,540

11. Clinic Services • MHM owns and operates clinics at three locations in San Antonio. Services include medical care provided by board certified family practice physicians, dental services, provided by dentists and dental hygienists, social services and case management provided by licensed social workers and pharmaceutical assistance. Services are provided on a sliding scale fee basis to low income, underserved clients who are not eligible for any medical assistance programs. Case management and social services are provided free of charge.

12. MHM and Advocacy Participating Partnering Pro-active

13. MHM Future: big picture • Health connected to disparities in: Housing Education Economic Development

14. MHM and CHIP • Committed to Restore CHIP • Campaign long- term • Educating legislature and community • An economic tool • Maximize federal dollars

15. MHM CHIP Campaign • Share advocacy materials • Templates allow for organizational logo • Provide technical assistance • Unified message • Include religious groups and others

16. TEXAS IS ONE OF FEW SCHIP THAT DOES NOT OFFER DENTAL Texas experienced the largest SCHIP enrollment decline in the nation between June 2003 and December 2003. 500,000 children lost dental benefits in 2003. "Nationally, One-half of all CHIP enrollment declines occurred in Texas" Source: Kaiser Foundation, July 2004

17. Children’s Oral Health Under Medicaid • States are required to provide the EPSDT (Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment) benefit to all Medicaid-eligible children. (Source: Center for Policy Alternatives, 1999) • Nationally, only 20% of all eligible children receive this benefit each year. • (Source: Center for Policy Alternatives, 2003)

18. States with Best Practices • Dental participation in Medicaid is a barrier nationwide (only 16% of dentists participate). • Vermont has 77% participation due to streamlining of claims processing. • Vermont also allocated additional funds to increase Medicaidreimbursement rates for participating dentists by 17%. • Source: National Conference of State Legislatures

19. States with Best Practices • A dental professional shortage is a barrier to care nationwide. • Several states recently enacted bills to expand the scope of practice for dental hygienists (including dental screenings for children). • These states include Nevada, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. • Source: National Conference of State Legislatures

20. States with Best Practices • Other strategies include creating school-based dental clinics and forgiving loans for new dentists. • These and the other reforms listed show the commitment and creativity of the states in dealing with the problem. • Texas is not one of these states. • Source: National Conference of State Legislatures

21. CHIP CAMPAIGN ACTIVITIES • 15,000 POSTCARDS DELIVERED • representing 65% of Texas Counties • over 1,000 zip codes • From urban, suburban and rural counties ALL TEXAS DENOMINATIONS SIGNED “RESTORE CHIP” RESOLUTION

22. MHM AND NEXT CHIP ACTIVITIES Legislative Budget Board (LBB) to restore “dental, mental, and vision” CHIP benefits Collecting letters/postcards to deliver to LBB in October

23. RESTORE CHIP NOW! Dear Legislative Budget Board Member, The 78th Legislature made many deep, painful cuts to programs that serve Texas’ poor, and among the worst were the reductions in the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). • More than 24% of Texas children are uninsured. Texas ranks 50th, the worst nationally. • There is OVER $500 million now that can be transferred to CHIP through a budget executive order by the Legislative Budget Board. They will meet in October. • It would take $93 million to restore the state Legislative cuts from CHIP for the current biennium. • Texas will forfeit more than $256 million in federal CHIP matching funds if the program is not restored. I urge you to Restore CHIP now! Name_________________________________________________________ Street_________________________________________________________ City ______________________________ Zip_______________________ Phone____________________________ Email_____________________ Signature______________________________________________________