Winter 2007 General Membership Meeting

Healthcare Access Programs: Connecting People to Care

The Greater Southern Brooklyn Health Coalition (GSBHC) held its Winter 2007 meeting on February 27 at Brooklyn Borough Hall.

Welcome and Update: GSBHC President Sharon Browne welcomed close to 90 representatives of member organizations and guests. GSBHC is organizing a conference based on the Healthy People 2010 framework, which is a set of national objectives to reduce the most preventable threats to health. Now in 2007, we have only a few years left to meet those objectives. GSBHC therefore put together a very distinguished Planning Committee and subcommittees, who determined that we should focus on health communication to address Brooklyn's most pressing health needs before 2010. New Strategies for a Healthier Brooklyn 2010: Closing the Communication Gap will take place on September 20, 2007. In partnership with an array of hospitals, medical facilities, CBOs, academic institutions, and government offices, the conference will provide community leaders with best practices, skills, and policy recommendations for improving communication and thereby decreasing health disparities. Currently, we are putting together a Sponsors and Exhibition Subcommittee. If you are interested in participating, please contact Kimberly George, Executive Director, at 718-462-8654 ext. 214.

Partnership for Prescription Assistance: Rick Deyulio gave a presentation on the PPA, which offers a single point of access to more than 475 public and private patient assistance programs, including more than 180 programs offered by pharmaceutical companies. To download his presentation, please click here. Or visit their website at www.pparx.org.

Together Rx Access : Amy Niles and Ernest Jackson spoke about this prescription access plan that has few eligibility requirements and does not require supporting documentation in order to enroll. View the presentation here or visit their website at www.togetherrxaccess.com.

Medicare Plan D: Betty Duggan at the Medicare Rights Center gave a briefing on Medicare in 2007. To view the presentation, please click here.

Child Health Plus and Family Health Plus: Tom Early, Executive Director of Health Plus, gave an update on the New York State health plans for kids and families.

As you know, GSBHC relies on its members to help make its work a success and have the most impact for the communities we serve. Included on this site is a membership form that we are asking EVERY organization to complete. Membership to GSBHC will allow you to partnership in upcoming programs for the year, be eligible to receive mini-grants and subcontracts, join in collaborative efforts, receive technical assistance, participate in the HITE project, and much more. Please renew your membership today by clicking here.

Thank you and we hope to see you at our next membership meeting and in September at New Strategies for a Healthier Brooklyn 2010!