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Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Members of Utah's African American community meet to discuss community issues
OHD is sponsoring a community-based effort among U.S. born African Americans in Utah to gather and discuss ways to address needs within the community.
A group of 19 community members met on June 13 to determine whether a community-based participatory approach would be possible and sustainable. The group is discussing ways to gather the community to address health and other related issues, connect with others in the community, gather resources and identify strengths to address common concerns.
The group hopes to identify three priorities areas of focus. A listserve of contacts will be developed in an effort to share resources and let community members know of relevant community events and services.
For more information contact Tashelle Wright at tashellewright@utah.gov or disparities@utah.gov.
OHD's Bridging Communities and Clinics Program in full swing this summer
OHD is now in its fourth year of the Bridging Communities and Clinics Project (BCC)- an effort that links underserved communities with medical homes. The BCC Outreach Team offers health screenings at events hosted by multicultural, community-based organizations. The team provides free screening tests for blood glucose, cholesterol and other health risk factors, along with individual referrals to affordable primary care services. The Outreach Team follows-up with screening participants to assist with scheduling appointments, basic health questions and assistance with language barriers.
The BCC Outreach Team has been hard at work this summer. Interns have braved the heat and participated in many community events already, including CommUNITY Fair, Project Cornucopia by Granger Christian Church and Juneteenth Festival. BCC efforts are successful for many reasons, but primarily because community members have been receptive to the screenings. “Many people at the community events are really interested in learning about their cholesterol and glucose levels,” said Brittney Okada, Outreach Team member. “For a lot of them it is their first time being screened, so it is a great opportunity for us to share with them how to improve their health and also link them to a nearby clinic that can help them too.”
Here are a some events where BCC will offer screenings:
For more information about the BCC program, contact disparities@utah.gov.
The BCC Outreach Team has been hard at work this summer. Interns have braved the heat and participated in many community events already, including CommUNITY Fair, Project Cornucopia by Granger Christian Church and Juneteenth Festival. BCC efforts are successful for many reasons, but primarily because community members have been receptive to the screenings. “Many people at the community events are really interested in learning about their cholesterol and glucose levels,” said Brittney Okada, Outreach Team member. “For a lot of them it is their first time being screened, so it is a great opportunity for us to share with them how to improve their health and also link them to a nearby clinic that can help them too.”
Here are a some events where BCC will offer screenings:
- Wednesday, June 17 | 2-5 pm |Refugee Health Fair | Catholic Community Services 745 E. 300 S., Salt Lake City
- Wednesday, June 17 | 2-5 pm | Centro Hispano 817 S Freedom Blvd, Provo
- Saturday, June 20 |10 am – 2 pm | Project Cornucopia |Granger Christian Church 4100 S 3232 W, West Valley City
- Saturday, June 20 | 3 – 6 pm | Juneteenth Festival | Weber State Shepherd Union 3850 University Circle, Ogden
- Tuesday, June 30 | 4 - 7 pm | Centro Hispano 817 S Freedom Blvd, Provo
- Saturday, August 1 |12 – 3 pm | Chinese Community Health Fair |Master Lu’s Health Center 3300 S. State, Salt Lake City
- Wednesday, August 12 | 5 – 7 pm |Granite School District Refugee Family Fair| Granite School District 2500 S. State, Salt Lake City
- Saturday, August 15 | 8 am - 12 pm | Shoes for School | Hillsdale Elementary 3275 W. 3100 S. West Valley City
- Monday, August 17 |5 – 8 pm | Shoes for School | Hillcrest Elementary 651 E 1400 S, Orem
- Saturday, September 5 |10 am – 2 pm | Festival Latinoamericano |Utah County Courthouse 51 S University Ave., Provo
- Saturday, September 19 | 10 am – 2 pm | Ventanilla de Salud | Consulate of Mexico 1380 S. Main, Salt Lake City
- Saturday, September 26 | 8 am – 1 pm | Midvale Family Health Fair | Copperview Recreation Center 8446 Harrison, Midvale
- Saturday, October 17 | 10 am – 2 pm | Semanas de Salud | Consulate of Mexico 1380 S. Main, Salt Lake City
- Monday, November 9 | 6 - 8:30 PM |Pacific Islander Health Expo| Sorenson Multicultural Center 855 W. 1300 S., Salt Lake City
Monday, June 29, 2015
Oral Health Outreach Education and Materials
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| Special Olympics 2015 |
The Oral Health Program at the UDOH wants to share with their partners free oral health education materials. The Pregnancy and Oral Health handout from the National Maternal Child and Oral Health resource center was translated into Spanish and is now available online. Look to the left column and you will find other related topics for oral health. Here is the link: http://mchoralhealth.
Thursday, June 25, 2015
Statement by HHS Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell on the Affordable Care Act
 News Release | |
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, June 25, 2015
Statement by HHS Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell on the Affordable Care Act
Over six million Americans and their families will sleep easier knowing they will still be able to afford health coverage. Millions more won’t have to worry about an upward spiral in their premiums because of today’s decision, even if they didn’t buy their insurance through the Marketplace. And the law’s financial assistance will be available in the next open enrollment so that others can benefit as well.
The Affordable Care Act is working to improve access, affordability and quality.
That is the story I hear as I travel across this country. People’s lives have been changed and even saved because they have health insurance—many for the first time. They have coverage that can keep them healthy and provide quality care when they are sick.
The Affordable Care Act also strengthens protections for almost every American with health insurance. People with pre-existing conditions can no longer be denied coverage or charged higher premiums. Critical preventive services, like immunizations and certain cancer screenings, are available at no additional cost. Since parents can keep their children on their health insurance policies up to age 26, young Americans can stay in school or find their first job without worrying about their coverage. And your health premiums can no longer be higher just because you are a woman.
I hope that this positive decision will do what the American people want us to do -- focus on the substance and turn to building on the progress we have made. They want us to move forward to provide more Americans with affordable access to quality coverage and create a health care system that improves the quality of care and spends our dollars more wisely.
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Like HHS on Facebook, follow HHS on Twitter @HHSgov, and sign up for HHS Email Updates
Follow HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell on Twitter @SecBurwell
Follow HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell on Twitter @SecBurwell
Medicare & Medicaid are turning 50: Share your story!
As the 50 year anniversary of Medicare
and Medicaid approaches, the Centers for
Medicare and Medicaid Services is looking
for stories about how these programs
have changed the lives of Americans
across the nation.
One of the goals for the anniversary is to
illustrate the faces of Medicare and Medicaid
beneficiaries. Personal stories play an
important role in bringing public policy to
life. They show how our health care programs
change the lives of real families and
impact communities across the country.
In the coming months, we plan to share beneficiary stories in a number of ways. Stories will be used to help bring life to speeches and content on our websites. Some beneficiaries will be invited to share their stories at events or be interviewed for videos.
ICMS is seeking help collecting the stories of beneficiaries, partners, and providers in the community. For the past 50 years, Medicare and Medicaid have been protecting the health and well-being of millions of families, changing their lives, and improving America’s economic security. The story of Medicare and Medicaid’s success starts at the local level, and we want to make sure your community is included. Please share your story on or before June 26, 2015.
You can submit a story to CMS by using the following link: http://www.medicare.gov/anniversary/share-your-story.html.
One of the goals for the anniversary is to
illustrate the faces of Medicare and Medicaid
beneficiaries. Personal stories play an
important role in bringing public policy to
life. They show how our health care programs
change the lives of real families and
impact communities across the country.In the coming months, we plan to share beneficiary stories in a number of ways. Stories will be used to help bring life to speeches and content on our websites. Some beneficiaries will be invited to share their stories at events or be interviewed for videos.
ICMS is seeking help collecting the stories of beneficiaries, partners, and providers in the community. For the past 50 years, Medicare and Medicaid have been protecting the health and well-being of millions of families, changing their lives, and improving America’s economic security. The story of Medicare and Medicaid’s success starts at the local level, and we want to make sure your community is included. Please share your story on or before June 26, 2015.
HHS Region VIII Newsletter
You can submit a story to CMS by using the following link: http://www.medicare.gov/anniversary/share-your-story.html.
Supreme Court Rules ACA Subsidies Are Legal
The 6-3 ruling stopped a challenge that would have erased subsidies in at least 34 states for individuals and families buying insurance through the federal government’s online marketplace. Such a result would have made coverage unaffordable for millions and created price spirals for those who kept their policies, many experts predicted.
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| photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images |
Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the opinion for the court, joined by frequent swing vote Anthony Kennedy and the liberal justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan.
The case hinged on tax credits created by Congress to help middle-income consumers buy insurance through online marketplaces, also known as exchanges.
The subsidies are available through an exchange “established by the state,” according to the law.
Justice Antonin Scalia agreed. Writing the dissenting opinion, he asserted: “Today’s interpretation is not merely unnatural; it is unheard of. Who would ever have dreamt that ‘Exchange established by the State’ means ‘Exchange established by the State or the Federal Government’?”
Pulling the subsidies would have undermined the insurance market in those states to the point of likely failure, experts said. Unable to afford the coverage, many consumers would have dropped out. Those remaining would probably have been older and sicker, driving up premiums to unsustainable levels.
Read the entire article at http://khn.org/news/high-court-upholds-health-law-subsidies/
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Announcing Promoting Healthy Choices and Community Changes: An E-learning Program for Promotores de Salud!
 Promotores de salud are culturally and linguistically competent messengers, advocates, and educators due to their intimate knowledge of their community's culture and needs. Thus, promotores de salud are well positioned to effect positive health changes in their communities. By delivering health education that aligns with individuals' cultural beliefs and language preferences, promotores de salud can empower community members to make changes in their lives and in their communities to enjoy better health. Promoting Healthy Choices and Community Changes builds upon this capacity of promotores de salud to empower community members. It is designed for any promotor de salud, regardless of years of experience or the type of outreach in which they are engaged (for example, nutrition, cancer, women's health). Think Cultural Health has produced a creative and practical program, based on expert and target user feedback. We hope that you will find this e-learning program a valuable and engaging tool for advancing health equity, improving quality of care, and reducing health disparities. Promoting Healthy Choices and Community Changes is available at https://promotores.thinkculturalhealth.hhs.gov. Please e-mail us at Promotores@ThinkCulturalHealth.hhs.gov with any questions or feedback. Think Cultural Health is an initiative of the Office of Minority Health of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
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¡Anunciando Promoviendo Decisiones Saludables y Cambios en la Comunidad: Un Curso de Aprendizaje en LÃnea para Promotores de Salud!Think Cultural Health se complace en anunciar el lanzamiento de Promoviendo Decisiones Saludables y Cambios en la Comunidad: Un Curso de Aprendizaje en LÃnea para Promotores de Salud. Este curso gratis de aprendizaje se ofrece exclusivamente en lÃnea, en español y en inglés, y busca desarrollar la capacidad de los promotores de salud para promover cambios que conducen a la buena salud, al nivel individual y comunitario. Promoviendo Decisiones Saludables y Cambios en la Comunidad está compuesto por cuatro unidades que les proporcionará a los promotores de salud las herramientas necesarias para convertirse en agentes de cambio, tanto al nivel individual como al nivel de la comunidad. Por cada unidad completada los participantes recibirán un Certificado de Finalización. Los promotores de salud son mensajeros, defensores y educadores culturalmente y lingüÃsticamente competentes debido a sus conocimientos profundos de la cultura y las necesidades de su comunidad. Por lo tanto, los promotores de salud están bien posicionados para efectuar cambios de salud positivos en sus comunidades. Al proporcionar educación sobre la salud que se alinea con las creencias culturales y las preferencias de idioma de los individuos, los promotores de salud pueden empoderar a los miembros de la comunidad para hacer cambios en sus vidas y en sus comunidades, para poder gozar de una mejor salud. Promoviendo Decisiones Saludables y Cambios en la Comunidad desarrolla aún más esta capacidad de los promotores de salud para empoderar a los miembros de la comunidad. Está diseñado para todos los promotores de salud, independientemente de la cantidad de años de experiencia que tengan o el tipo de actividades de extensión que realicen (como por ejemplo nutrición, cáncer, salud de la mujer). Think Cultural Health ha producido un programa creativo y práctico, basado en los comentarios de expertos y usuarios. Esperamos que este programa de aprendizaje en lÃnea le resulte una herramienta valiosa y cautivante para avanzar la equidad de salud, mejorar la calidad de la atención y reducir las disparidades en la salud. Promoviendo Decisiones Saludables y Cambios en la Comunidad está disponible en https://promotores.thinkculturalhealth.hhs.gov. Si tiene preguntas o comentarios, envÃenos correo electrónico a Promotores@ThinkCulturalHealth.hhs.gov. Think Cultural Health es una iniciativa de la Oficina de Salud de las MinorÃas del Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de EE.UU. (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services). |
Friday, June 19, 2015
June 27 - National HIV Testing Day
In honor of the National HIV Testing Day on June 27, 2015, the Communicable Disease Prevention Program of the Utah Department of Health, Local Health Departments and Community Based Organizations are joining the national effort to promote awareness and the importance of HIV testing.
Find locations in Utah where Free or Low Cost HIV testing services are being provided and/or are holding special events.
You can also find additional information, articles and materials at:
http://aids.gov/news-and-
http://hivtest.cdc.gov/
http://aids.gov/
Contraception Initiative & Medicaid.gov
Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) added a contraception initiative to the Quality of Care section on Medicaid.gov.
CMS has established a Maternal and Infant Health Initiative (the Initiative) for the Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) programs. Under the Initiative, CMCS will promote the use of effective methods of contraception in order to improve pregnancy timing and spacing and in turn, the health outcomes for both women and children.
To get more information about the initiative, visit http://www.medicaid.gov/
Thursday, June 18, 2015
Colorado ‘Tummy Mommy’ Story May Cause Confusion
Hospitals in Utah Only Safe Newborn Drop Off
Unable to raise her, Halle Burke’s biological mother turned to Colorado’s Safe Haven law and handed over the infant to firefighters shortly after her birth in 2003. A loving family adopted and raised Halle. The girl is now looking for her birth mother to tell her ‘thanks’ for making the decision to safely drop her off. Halle wants her birth mother to know she has a wonderful life thanks to her selfless act to give her up.
Halle’s story is an example of how Newborn Safe Haven laws can help moms and babies. But the Utah Department of Health and the Utah Fire Marshal want to remind moms that Utah’s Newborn Safe Haven law only allows moms to drop off babies in hospitals.
“This story has a nice outcome,” says, Coy Porter, Utah’s Fire Marshal, “but Utah has many rural fire stations and many lack the personnel to cover stations every hour, every day.” He added, “It would be tragic if a baby was left, unattended at a fire station. People must understand dropping off a newborn must be done at a Utah hospital.”
Passed in 2001, the Utah Newborn Safe Haven law allows anyone to anonymously drop off a newborn at any Utah hospital with emergency medical services, no questions, no police and no judgment.
“Every state has a newborn safe haven program,” said Utah Rep. Patrice Arent, sponsor of the legislation passed in Utah. “And each state has safe drop off locations. We want to make sure newborns are not left in unsafe places like garbage cans and that newborns end up with a loving family. As Fire Marshal Porter stated, in Utah there are many fire stations in rural areas that are not always staffed 24/7. For that reason, fire stations were not included in the legislation as drop off locations. We also want to assure anyone thinking of dropping off a newborn that their identity will be kept confidential by hospital staff.”
The Utah Safe Haven hotline number is 866-458-0058 and is staffed 24/7. For more information, please visit www.utahsafehaven.org. The website offers details on the law, provides helpful answers to frequently asked questions, lists contact information for hospitals, and provides a link to crisis and respite nurseries across Utah.
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June 25 - Men's Health Webinar: Advancing Health Equity for Boys and Men of Color
Webinar: Advancing Health Equity for Boys and Men of Color
Thursday, June 25, 3:00 – 4:30 pm ET
Where we are born, live, work, play and age has a profound effect on our health throughout our lives. It is critical that policies to reduce health disparities address these social determinants of health in order to advance health equity.
During Men's Health Month, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Minority Health is hosting a webinar, "Advancing Health Equity for Boys and Men of Color," to bring greater awareness to issues impacting health and opportunities for minority men. Leading experts will examine strategies across public health, education, employment and justice sectors that seek to improve health outcomes for boys and men of color.
Who should attend:
Community-based and nonprofit organizations, public health and health care providers, national advocacy organizations, policy makers and others who provide services to minority men and/or have an interest in men's health.
Speakers and Presenters:
J. Nadine Gracia, MD, MSCE
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health and Director, HHS Office of Minority Health
Rashida Dorsey, PhD, MPH
Director, Division of Policy and Data, HHS Office of Minority Health
Marc Mauer, MSW
Executive Director, The Sentencing Project
Roland Thorpe, Jr., PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Health, Behavior, and Society, and Director of Program on Men’s Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Victor Rios, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Sociology, University of California Santa Barbara
Register for the webinar: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7082837669305931778
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
Free Legal Services
IMMIGRATION AND OTHER LEGAL ADVICE
First Tuesday of every month, 5:00–6:30 p.m.
Get free, safe, personalized advice about immigration, family law, and general legal issues.
Get free, safe, personalized advice about immigration, family law, and general legal issues.
CLEARING YOUR CRIMINAL RECORD
First Thursday of every month, 5:00–6:30 p.m.
Receive individualized help in overcoming legal barriers to employment, such as a criminal record or outstanding warrants.
LDS Welfare Square Employment Resource Center
780 W 800 S
Salt Lake City
801.240.7240
sponsored by
University of Utah SJ Quinney College of Law
Pro Bono Initiative
LDS Welfare Square Employment Resource Center
Receive individualized help in overcoming legal barriers to employment, such as a criminal record or outstanding warrants.
LDS Welfare Square Employment Resource Center
780 W 800 S
Salt Lake City
801.240.7240
sponsored by
University of Utah SJ Quinney College of Law
Pro Bono Initiative
LDS Welfare Square Employment Resource Center
Have a healthy summer with preventive care
Have a healthy summer with preventive care
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The official first day of summer is right around the corner. As we enter a new season, it’s important to be proactive with your health. One simple way to manage your health is to practice preventive care.
Preventive services include:
These services are used to prevent illnesses, disease, and other health problems, or to detect illness at an early stage when treatment is likely to work best.
The HealthCare.gov Team
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Monday, June 15, 2015
Marketplace Enrollment Maps
After the end of the second open enrollment period, new county-level estimates revealed how many Americans had picked plans on the health insurance marketplaces.
The maps show the distribution of consumers in a state who enrolled in marketplace plans through federally facilitated, partnership, and supported state-based marketplaces during the 2014 open enrollment period. All maps are interactive and clicking on a county within a state displays more information on the number and proportion of consumer who enrolled there.
About the Maps
We welcome and encourage you to use this information to better understand where consumers enrolled in marketplace coverage in your community.
The maps and data are presented here to help facilitate outreach during the next enrollment period, and they are not meant to measure the exact number of people who enrolled.
What do these maps show?
The maps show information on the number of individuals who enrolled in marketplace plans between November 15, 2014, and February 22, 2015, in the 35 states with federally facilitated, partnership, and supported state-based marketplaces (in other words, states where consumers enrolled in marketplace plans through HealthCare.gov).
Where do the data in these maps come from?
The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE), in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), released data on the number of consumers who selected marketplace plans by ZIP code for states with federally facilitated, partnership, and supported state-based marketplaces. These estimates are available on ASPE’s website.
Enroll America converted these ASPE ZIP code enrollment data into county enrollment numbers for easier interpretation. Click here for more information on our methodology.
What do these maps not show?
The maps do not show information on consumers enrolled in health coverage through state-based marketplaces, public insurance programs (including Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program [CHIP], and Medicare), or other private insurance (including off-marketplace non-group insurance and employer-sponsored coverage).
The maps do not show information on changes in enrollment that occurred after February 22, including consumers who enrolled in a marketplace plan through a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) or who discontinued their marketplace plan after February 22.
The maps do not show information on ZIP codes with 50 or fewer enrollments (approximately 4 percent of enrollments). ASPE excluded these numbers for privacy reasons and we followed their lead in our analysis.
Lastly, the maps do not show information on the prior insurance status of enrollees, and cannot be used to estimate a decrease in the number uninsured individuals.
And if you want to see maps showing enrollment numbers from the first open enrollment period in 2014, check them out here.
New E-learning Program for Promotores de Salud
You are Invited to Attend the
Stakeholder Call to Announce a New
E-learning Program for Promotores de Salud
Speakers:
Stakeholder Call to Announce a New
E-learning Program for Promotores de Salud
June 23, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. EST
Toll Free Number: 888-989-3422; Participant Passcode: 1071091
Speakers:
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Minority Health will host a stakeholder call to announce Promoting Healthy Choices and Community Changes: an E-learning Program for Promotores de Salud.
This new e-learning program is designed to build the capacity of promotores de salud to promote individual- and community-level changes toward better health. It is available in both Spanish and English at no cost to participants. The e-learning program will provide promotores de salud with basic knowledge to: promote healthy choices at the individual and community levels; apply basic principles and strategies to motivate behavioral changes among the community members they serve; and empower those individuals to create change in their communities.
You are invited to join this stakeholder call to learn about Promoting Healthy Choices and Community Changes. Registration is requested.
J. Nadine Gracia, MD, MSCE, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health and Director of the HHS Office of Minority Health
Ken Johnson, JD, Senior Public Health Advisor, HHS Office of Minority Health
Liliana Rañón, Associate Director, Asian American/Pacific Islander & Latino Affairs, HHS Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs
Brendaly RodrÃguez, MA, Manager, Community Engagement and Cultural Diversity Program, University of Miami Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Co-chair, Florida Community Health Worker Coalition, and Member, HHS Promotores de Salud Initiative Steering Committee
Still not covered? You've got options.
Even though open enrollment is over, you may still have options to get health coverage this year through the Marketplace, depending on your circumstances.
See if you can still get 2015 health coverage: If you experience a life change like having a baby, moving, getting married, or losing previous health coverage, you may be able to sign up for health insurance this year through a Special Enrollment Period from the Marketplace.
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Did you know? If you’re eligible for Medicaid or CHIP, you can enroll at any time. These programs are open year round.
We care about your health. If you’re not covered yet for 2015, take a minute to answer a few questions and find out if you qualify to enroll in coverage today.
-The HealthCare.gov Team
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SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH JOINS 3rd ANNUAL GLOBAL CLIMB OUT OF THE DARKNESS
Climb Out events will
be held worldwide to raise awareness of maternal mental health disorders
On June 20, 2015, Salt Lake City,
Utah will host its own Climb Out of the Darkness as part of the world’s largest
event raising awareness of maternal mental illnesses such as postpartum depression (PPD), anxiety, OCD and psychosis.
As part of the Climb, survivors all over the world –
dubbed Warrior Moms – are organizing to climb, hike or walk at a local mountain
or park to symbolize their collective rise out of the darkness and stigma of
maternal mental illnesses, as well as to raise funds for Postpartum Progress, a non-profit organization and online community of support
resources for women around the world.
The
Salt Lake City Climb will be held at Ensign Peak, 1002 N Ensign Vista Drive on
June 20th at 10AM. All participants must register beforehand at www.climboutslc.com.
Sponsorships from local businesses are also being accepted. Please contact
local Climb Leader, Lindsay Aerts, at 435-760-2572 or Lindsay.meintel@gmail.com
for more information on sponsorships that will help support the Climb.
“This
event is so important to our overall cause and our growing community of Warrior
Moms, as it grants both the visibility that they so richly deserve,” said
Katherine Stone, Founder, Postpartum Progress. “Your local Warrior Mom is
rallying together friends, family, the healthcare community and other survivors
to celebrate their journeys rather than feel ashamed of them, therefore
reducing the stigma associated with these health issues. We hope that at least
one mom who is currently suffering feels empowered to get the help she needs
from our efforts – that would make it worth it for us.”
This
is the third annual Climb Out of the Darkness, always held around the longest day of the
year to shine the most possible light on maternal mental illness. In 2014, more
than 1,500 participants joined Climbs in 7 countries around the world, up from
200 participants in the inaugural 2013 Climb.
The 2015
goal is to raise more than $200,000 to support Postpartum Progress, and as of May
12, 2015 over $67,000 has been raised. As of now, Team Salt Lake City has
raised $185. Funds raised from this event will allow the
organization to create new educational materials to be used by obstetricians,
pediatricians and others, as well as new materials to help educate the media on
the public health impact of postpartum depression and related illnesses on
mothers and children.
For
questions about the Climb Out of the Darkness, visit http://postpartumprogress.org/climb-out-of-the-darkness/cotd-faq/ or contact the Salt Lake
City Climb Leader, Lindsay Aerts, at 435-760-2572 or by emailing
Lindsay.Meintel@gmail.com.
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DID YOU KNOW…
• Postpartum depression, which affects 1 in every 7 women, is the most common complication of childbirth.
• Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders like postpartum depression are temporary and treatable with professional help.
• Only 15 percent of women will seek help for their disorder - this means there are 500,000-750,000 untreated moms suffering without treatment for their PPD each year.
• Ninety-five percent of respondents to an audience impact survey reported that Postpartum Progress helped them learn more about mood and anxiety disorders during pregnancy and the postpartum period; 79 percent reported Postpartum Progress helped them recognize they were suffering from a maternal mental illness.
• Ninety-seven percent of impact survey participants felt less alone in their experience thanks to Postpartum Progress.
• Eighty-six percent of audience survey respondents reported that Postpartum Progress led them to share their story of maternal mental illness more openly with others.
Thursday, June 4, 2015
WHITE HOUSE REPORT: Consequences of Medicaid Expansion Decision in Utah
U.S. Department of Health & Human Service
www.hhs.gov/news
Twitter @HHSMedia
Twitter @HHSMedia
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, June 4, 2015
WHITE HOUSE REPORT: Consequences of Medicaid Expansion Decision in Utah
Details the major implications for the health of Utah’s citizens and economy
Today, the White House Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) released estimates of the health and economic benefits if Utah decides to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.
As Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers Jason Furman wrote, the report “leaves no doubt that the consequences of States’ decisions are far-reaching, with major implications for the health of their citizens and their economies.”
Utah’s decisions to expand Medicaid would have major health benefits for its low-income citizens, including:
· Greater insurance coverage: Expanding Medicaid will increase the number of the State’s citizens with insurance coverage. The report cites estimates that if Utah expanded Medicaid, an additional 68,000 people would have insurance coverage in 2016 [Table 1].
· Improved access to care: Expanding Medicaid improves access to needed medical services, including primary and preventive care. The report estimates the number of additional Utah citizens that would get their cholesterol checked and receive a mammogram or pap smear each year [Table 2]. It also estimates the number of additional people who would receive all needed care and have a usual source of clinic care if Utah expanded Medicaid [Table 3].
· Better health: By improving access to care, expanding coverage through Medicaid improves mental and physical health. The report estimates that if Utah expanded Medicaid, 9,000 additional individuals would report being in good (or better) health and 6,000 fewer individuals would experience symptoms of depression [Table 4].
· Greater financial security: Expanding Medicaid reduces the risk of financial hardship due to sickness. The report estimates that if Utah expanded Medicaid, 9,700 fewer people will have trouble paying other bills due to the burden of medical costs [Table 5].
The report also finds that Utah’s decision to expand Medicaid would generate important economic benefits:
· A higher standard of living: States that expand Medicaid bring billions of dollars into their economies. That funding boosts the standard of living of the State’s citizens both by improving the lives of the newly-insured and by reducing the burden of uncompensated care for providers, taxpayers, and the privately insured. The report estimates that by not expanding Medicaid, Utah will miss out on $240 million in federal funding in 2016 [Table 6].
· Lower uncompensated care: Uncompensated care costs would be $70 million lower in 2016 if expanded coverage was fully in effect in Utah [Table 6].
“The administration is willing to work with any state interested in expanding Medicaid, said Vikki Wachino Acting Director, Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services. “We are committed to supporting state flexibility and working with states on innovative solutions that expand Medicaid to low-income individuals in accordance with the law’s goals and consumer protections, while securing quality, affordable health coverage and growing a state’s economy.”
Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, states have new opportunities to expand Medicaid coverage to individuals with family incomes at or below 133 percent of the federal poverty level (generally $32,253 for a family of four in 2015). Health care costs for people made newly eligible through the Medicaid expansion is paid for with 100 percent federal funds in calendar years 2014‐2016, 95 percent in calendar year 2017, 94 percent in calendar year 2018, 93 percent in calendar year 2019, and 90 percent in calendar years 2020 and beyond.
A separate report released today by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) shows that 12.2 million additional Americans nationwide, including 7,171 people in Utah, now have affordable health coverage through Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) in March 2015 compared to before the start of the first Marketplace open enrollment period in October 2013. This monthly report also shows a state by state breakdown in enrollment increases as of March 2015.
To date, 28 states plus DC have expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. However, 22 States—including many of the States that would benefit most—have not yet seized this opportunity (although Montana has passed legislation to expand Medicaid and is working with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to implement its expansion). Researchers at the Urban Institute estimate that, if these States do not change course, 4.3 million of their citizens will be deprived of health insurance coverage in 2016.
The full CEA report provides a detailed discussion of the evidence and methodology used to produce these estimates and State-by-State tables breaking down these and other consequences of Medicaid expansion. It is available for download here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/
The monthly HHS report on state Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) data is available here: http://medicaid.gov/medicaid-
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