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A community rallied to share flu shot experiences. Then the government stopped the study
Lauran Neergaard, The Associated Press, May 3
This winter, Denver pediatrician Dr. Joshua Williams launched a campaign about trust and vaccines in a historically Black community. With a grant from the National Institutes of Health, he partnered with a local organization to host workshops bringing volunteers together to discuss how influenza and the flu vaccine had impacted their lives. Their stories were turned into two to three minute videos which were then sent out to hundreds of families who receive care at two Denver Health clinics. However, no one will know the results of those efforts. The current administration canceled the project before the data could be analyzed.
As Republicans eye sweeping Medicaid cuts, Missouri offers a preview
Bram Sable-Smith, KFF Health News, May 7
The possibility of sweeping federal cuts to Medicaid is concerning to Missourians who have felt the impacts of cuts before. In 2005, Missouri adopted some of the strictest eligibility standards in the nation, reduced benefits, and increased patients’ copayments due to state budget shortfalls. More than 100,000 people lost coverage as a result. Now, the state is at risk of losing an estimated $2 billion a year in federal funding due to potential cuts to Medicaid. “We’re looking at a much more significant impact with the loss of federal funds even than what 2005 was,” said Amy Blouin, president of the Missouri Budget Project. “We’re not going to be able to protect kids. We’re not going to be able to protect people with disabilities from some sort of impact.”
From the foundation: Medicaid: What’s at stake? Part 2: Economic outcomes
Gaby Molina, Connecticut Health Foundation, May 6
Medicaid provides millions of people with crucial health care coverage – and it also provides significant economic benefits. Medicaid’s benefits are felt by those who are covered by the program, the providers who treat them, and communities and states as a whole. For members, Medicaid can offer protection from the financial strain of medical debts and out-of-pocket costs. Research has also shown that investment in Medicaid has a positive impact on states’ economies. This blog post contains more resources on the economic outcomes of Medicaid.
Connecticut’s aging population faces health challenges, disparities rise
Cris Villalonga-Vivoni, CT Insider, May 2
Nearly a quarter of Connecticut’s population is 60 years old or older, according to a new report. It is an increase from previous years. The report examines the health of older adults in the state and found significant differences between communities. Researchers said those differences were potentially due to systemic disparities, such as access to housing and safe walking paths. The majority of older adults in Connecticut identify as white, but the population is slowly becoming more diverse. The report also highlighted the disparities that exist between racial groups, like access to care.
How Utah dentists are preparing patients for the first statewide fluoride ban
Hannah Schoenbaum, The Associated Press, May 6
Dentists in Utah are bracing for an increase in tooth decay among the state’s most vulnerable people due to a first-in-the-nation ban on fluoride in public drinking water. The ban is in effect despite warnings from many dentists and national health experts, who say removing fluoride will harm tooth development, especially in young patients without access to regular dental care. For some low-income families, public drinking water containing fluoride may be their only source of preventative dental care. Some clinics say they are preparing for their months-long waitlist for children’s procedures to grow significantly, as well as their need for volunteer dentists.