Breathe at Your Own Risk: The Top 5 Threats of Worsening Air Quality

https://ift.tt/oLAn18l

Air pollution is a serious global issue that affects the health and well-being of millions of people worldwide. Inhaling pollutants can contribute to a wide range of health problems, and in some cases, can lead to premature death.

Worsening air quality is a growing concern that affects all of us. In this article, we will explore the top 5 threats of worsening air quality and discuss what steps can be taken to reduce air pollution and improve air quality.

Global Air Quality Trends

Overview of global air quality trends

Air quality is a global issue that affects both developed and developing countries. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 90% of the global population is exposed to air pollution that exceeds WHO air quality guidelines.

Leading causes of air pollution

There are numerous causes of air pollution. The primary contributors include industrial and transportation emissions, agricultural practices, and residential energy use.

Major contributors to air pollution in urban areas

Urban areas are particularly vulnerable to air pollution due to a higher concentration of people and activities. The primary contributors to air pollution in urban areas are traffic emissions, industrial activity, and heat emissions from buildings.

Current status of air quality in major cities worldwide

Many of the world’s major cities are experiencing worsening air quality. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), some of the most polluted cities in the world include Delhi, Beijing, and Mexico City. However, cities in developed countries such as Los Angeles and London also experience high levels of air pollution.

The Top 5 Threats of Worsening Air Quality

Particulate Matter (PM)

What is Particulate Matter?

Particulate matter (PM) is a mixture of tiny particles and droplets that are suspended in the air. These particles can come from various sources, including combustion processes, manufacturing processes, and natural events such as dust storms and wildfires.

How does PM affect human health?

PM can penetrate deep into the lungs and can cause a wide range of health problems, including respiratory and cardiovascular disease. Exposure to high levels of PM can also lead to premature death.

Sources of PM pollution

PM pollution can come from both human-made and natural sources. Human-made sources include transportation, industrial activities, and fossil fuel combustion. Natural sources include dust storms and wildfires.

Health risks associated with high levels of PM exposure

Exposure to high levels of PM can result in an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, respiratory diseases such as asthma and lung cancer, and premature death.

Ozone (O3)

What is Ozone?

Ozone (O3) is a gas that forms when pollutants from human activities, such as industrial and transportation emissions, react with sunlight.

How does Ozone affect human health?

Ozone can irritate the lungs, causing coughing, wheezing, and difficulty breathing. Exposure to high levels of Ozone can also lead to permanent lung damage.

Sources of Ozone pollution

Ozone pollution is primarily caused by emissions from transportation and industrial activities.

Health risks associated with high levels of Ozone exposure

Exposure to high levels of Ozone can result in respiratory problems such as coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath.

Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)

What is Nitrogen Dioxide?

Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) is a gas that is formed during the combustion of fossil fuels.

How does NO2 affect human health?

NO2 can cause respiratory problems, such as coughing and wheezing. Exposure to high levels of NO2 can also lead to asthma and other respiratory problems.

Sources of NO2 pollution

NO2 pollution is primarily caused by transportation emissions and industrial activity.

Health risks associated with high levels of NO2 exposure

Exposure to high levels of NO2 can result in respiratory problems such as coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath.

Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)

What is Sulfur Dioxide?

Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) is a gas that is often released during industrial activity and the burning of fossil fuels.

How does SO2 affect human health?

SO2 can irritate the respiratory system, causing coughing and shortness of breath. Exposure to high levels of SO2 can also lead to bronchitis and other respiratory problems.

Sources of SO2 pollution

SO2 pollution is primarily caused by industrial activity and the burning of fossil fuels.

Health risks associated with high levels of SO2 exposure

Exposure to high levels of SO2 can result in respiratory problems such as coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath.

Carbon Monoxide (CO)

What is Carbon Monoxide?

Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless gas that is produced by the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels.

How does CO affect human health?

CO prevents the body from receiving the oxygen it needs, which can lead to headaches, dizziness, and other health problems. In severe cases, exposure to high levels of CO can lead to death.

Sources of CO pollution

CO pollution is primarily caused by transportation emissions and the burning of fossil fuels.

Health risks associated with high levels of CO exposure

Exposure to high levels of CO can result in headaches, dizziness, and nausea. In severe cases, exposure can lead to death.

Impacts on Vulnerable Populations

Who are the most vulnerable populations to the effects of air pollution?

The most vulnerable populations to the effects of air pollution are children and infants, elderly adults, and people with existing health conditions.

How do children and infants, elderly adults, and people with existing health conditions face higher risks from air pollution?

Children and infants, elderly adults, and people with existing health conditions are more susceptible to the health effects of air pollution due to their weaker immune systems.

What steps can be taken to protect these vulnerable populations?

To protect vulnerable populations, it is crucial to reduce air pollution. This can be done by reducing emissions from transportation and industrial activity and promoting the use of clean energy sources.

Global Efforts to Reduce Air Pollution

Overview of global efforts to reduce air pollution

Many countries around the world have implemented policies and programs to reduce air pollution. These efforts include the promotion of clean energy, the use of public transportation, and the implementation of industry-specific emissions standards.

Examples of countries implementing successful air pollution reduction strategies

China has made significant strides in reducing air pollution by implementing measures such as increasing the use of clean energy and restricting vehicle usage in certain areas. The European Union has also implemented strict emissions standards for automobiles and energy production.

The role of individual actions in reducing air pollution

Individual actions, such as reducing energy consumption, using public transportation, and reducing vehicle usage, can have a significant impact on reducing air pollution.

How can governments and individuals work together to reduce air pollution and improve air quality?

Governments can promote the use of clean energy sources and implement policies and programs to reduce emissions. Individuals can reduce their energy consumption and reduce their reliance on fossil fuels.

Summary

Air pollution is a significant global issue that affects the health and well-being of millions of people worldwide. The top 5 threats of worsening air quality include Particulate Matter, Ozone, Nitrogen Dioxide, Sulfur Dioxide, and Carbon Monoxide. Vulnerable populations such as children and infants, elderly adults, and people with existing health conditions are particularly susceptible to the health effects of air pollution. Governments and individuals can work together to reduce air pollution and improve air quality.

FAQs

What are the major sources of air pollution?

The major sources of air pollution include industrial activity, transportation emissions, and residential energy use.

Can air pollution cause long-term health problems?

Yes, exposure to high levels of air pollution can lead to long-term health problems, including respiratory and cardiac disease.

What steps can I take to protect myself from air pollution?

To protect yourself from air pollution, it is recommended to reduce energy consumption and limit exposure to outdoor air pollution by staying indoors during peak pollution hours.

What is the best way to reduce air pollution?

The best way to reduce air pollution is to reduce emissions from industrial and transportation sources and promote the use of clean energy sources.

Is air quality improvement possible, or has the damage already been done?

Air quality improvement is possible through the adoption of clean energy sources and the reduction of emissions.

Conclusion

Reducing air pollution and improving air quality is essential to protect human health and the environment. Governments and individuals both have a role to play in reducing emissions and promoting clean energy sources. A collective effort is needed to address the top 5 threats of worsening air quality and protect vulnerable populations.

source https://financetin.com/the-top-5-threats-of-worsening-air-quality/financetin.com

Read More

1 in 5 U.S. adults say they’ve had a family member killed by a gun, new study finds

https://ift.tt/vRIs3TO

Nearly one in five American adults say they have had a family member who was killed by a gun, including suicides, according to a new study from the Kaiser Family Foundation. Roughly the same number (21%) said they have been personally threatened with a gun, the study found.

People of color were more likely to report witnessing gun violence or having family members who were killed by guns. More than one-third of Black adults said they had a family member who was killed by a gun, compared with 17% of White respondents and 18% of Hispanic adults who participated in the study.

Three in ten Black adults and one in five Hispanic adults said they had personally witnessed someone being shot, according to the study. A little more than one in five (22%) of Hispanic adults said they had seen someone being shot.

Black adults were also more likely to report feeling unsafe in their neighborhoods.

“While most adults overall say they feel either “very” (41%) or “somewhat” (41%) safe from gun violence in their neighborhoods, significant shares say they feel “not too safe” (13%) or not safe at all (5%),” KFF said in a statement announcing the results of the study. “One in six Black adults (17%) don’t feel at all safe in their neighborhoods, far greater than the share of White (2%) or Hispanic (9%) adults.”

Black (32%) and Hispanic adults (33%) were also a little more than three times more likely to report worrying daily or almost daily that a family member will become a victim of gun violence than White adults (10%).

The study found that 41% of all adults said they lived in a household with guns. Of those with guns in the home, 75% said the guns were “stored in ways that don’t reflect some common gun-safety practices,” KFF said. 

“Specifically, about half (52%) say that a gun in their home is stored in the same location as ammunition; more than four in 10 (44%) say that a gun is kept in an unlocked location; and more than a third (36%) say that a gun is stored loaded,” KFF said.

---

If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or a suicidal crisis, you can reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988. You can also chat with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline here.

For more information about mental health care resources and support, The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) HelpLine can be reached Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.–10 p.m. ET, at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or email info@nami.org.

Trending News

Thanks for reading CBS NEWS.

Create your free account or log in
for more features.

Source link

source https://financetin.com/1-in-5-u-s-adults-say-theyve-had-a-family-member-killed-by-a-gun-new-study-finds/financetin.com

Read More

Preventive care court ruling unlikely to spark big changes

https://ift.tt/5C6VQIe

Health insurance companies are now free to require cost-sharing for preventive services, but don’t expect that to happen any time soon.

Since a federal judge struck down an Affordable Care Act requirement that patients have access to certain services at no cost, the health insurance sector made clear that nothing would change in the short term, even though the ruling took effect immediately. Industry organizations such as AHIP and insurers such as Elevance Health and Kaiser Permanente swiftly issued statements assuring their members that preventive care would continue to be covered without cost-sharing.

The Justice Department plans to appeal the judge’s decision. And it may seek a stay in the meantime that would restore the preventive medicine rules, so the judiciary likely will be considering this case for months, at least. Whatever the final outcome, health insurance companies are not expected to reimpose cost-sharing for many, if not all, preventive care, said Paul Schuhmacher, a principal at the consulting firm Aarete.

Following the court ruling and eliminating no-cost access to preventive medicine would upset policyholders and attract unwanted attention, Schuhmacher said. “A bad PR move is something that would have huge negative effects to their company and their bottom line,” he said.

Plus, several major insurance companies belong to conglomerates that also offer patient care at clinics and pharmacies—such as CVS Health’s Aetna and MinuteClinic—that benefit from providing more services. “Most payers have very good profits. They’re not looking for that type of disruption to their business,” Schuhmacher said.

The no-cost preventive care guarantee has proven popular and has little impact on insurance company finances because the expenses are factored into members’ premiums. ACA-mandated preventive services account for just 3.5% of private health insurance companies’ annual spending, the Health Care Cost Institute reported last year.

According to the Health and Human Services Department, 150 million people have insurance plans subject to the preventive care policy. The Kaiser Family Foundation reports that 60% of people with private health insurance receive preventive services such as cancer tests, depression screening and the HIV prevention medication known as PrEP each year.

In fact, it was common before the ACA for at least some preventive care to be covered without cost-sharing, said Sabrina Corlette, a professor and co-director of the Center on Health Insurance Reforms at Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy.

“Insurers generally lobbied against the law writ large,” Corlette said. “But I think there were other provisions that worried them more than this one.”

Employers, who provide health benefits to the majority of Americans, likewise don’t plan to cut back on preventive coverage regardless of the legal dispute.

According to an Employee Benefit Research Institute survey from October, 80% of businesses don’t intend to scale back these benefits even if the courts decide they can. Employers cited retention and recruitment, negative health outcomes, health inequities and low costs as reason to maintain the benefit. Requiring out-of-pocket spending would save employers less than 0.5% on healthcare spending, according to a separate Employee Benefit Research Institute report.

If the court decision stands, health insurance companies can pick and choose what preventive services to cover without cost-sharing, rather than adhere to those recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, said Lynn Blewett, a health policy and management professor at the University of Minnesota.

Insurers are less likely to indefinitely cover the costliest preventive services or treatments that are from single sources, such as Gilead’s PrEP drug Truvada (also knowns as emtricitabine-tenofovir), and more likely to cover those widely available, Schuhmacher said. Complicating the cost analysis is that Americans don’t tend to remain with the same insurer long enough for the financial benefits of prevention to accrue to the companies that paid for early interventions, he said.

Insurance companies also would be swayed by patient advocacy groups, Blewett said. Organizations representing the interests of HIV/AIDS patients, for example, would emphasize importance of cost-free screenings and treatments and highlight research showing that any amount of cost-sharing discourages use, she said. “It’s one of the key ways we prevent transmission of HIV. It’s a prevention strategy for the whole country,” she said.

Health insurance companies will offer previews of their plans when they begin filing rate notices to state regulators next month. And some states have levers to pull to restore at least some of the no-cost services covered under the ACA. At least 15 have laws of their own, according to a report Corlette co-authored. States, however, generally don’t have regulatory authority over large-group health plans governed by the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.

Source link

source https://financetin.com/preventive-care-court-ruling-unlikely-to-spark-big-changes/financetin.com

Read More

FDA-Approved Drugs Not Recommended for Use or Reimbursement in Other Countries – Healthcare Economist

https://ift.tt/eUCdGvh

Pham et al. (2023) uses data on regulatory decisions and health technology assessments (HTAs) in Australia, Canada, and the UK and compares them to the drugs that are FDA-approved in the US. They find that:

The FDA approved 206 new drugs in 2017 through 2020, of which 162 (78.6%) were granted marketing authorization by at least 1 other regulatory agency at a median (IQR) delay of 12.1 (17.7) months following US approval. Conversely, 5 FDA-approved drugs were refused marketing authorization by an international regulatory agency due to unfavorable benefit-to-risk assessments. An additional 42 FDA-approved drugs received negative reimbursement recommendations from HTA agencies in Australia, Canada, or the UK due to uncertainty of clinical benefits or unacceptably high prices. The median (IQR) US cost of the 47 drugs refused authorization or not recommended for reimbursement by an international agency was $115 281 ($166 690) per patient per year. Twenty drugs were for oncology indications, and 36 were approved by the FDA through expedited regulatory pathways or the Orphan Drug Act.

The full article is here.

Source link

source https://financetin.com/fda-approved-drugs-not-recommended-for-use-or-reimbursement-in-other-countries-healthcare-economist/financetin.com

Read More

Pear Therapeutics files Chapter 11, lays off 170 employees

https://ift.tt/ryMcwKO

Pear Therapeutics filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Friday and said it has eliminated most of its workforce.

The filing, in bankruptcy court in Delaware, comes just three weeks after the digital therapeutics company, said it was exploring strategic alternatives and might need to restructure or fold if it did not find a financial lifeline.

In the bankruptcy petition, the company listed $65.6 million in assets and $51 million in debt. The largest unsecured creditor is Perceptive Advisors, owed $10.4 million.

Boston-based Pear’s board authorized eliminating approximately 170 employees, or 92% of its full-time staff, according to a Wednesday Securities and Exchange Commission filing. The job cuts, which were completed Thursday, resulted in a one-time charge of approximately $1.2 million, primarily tied to severance payments, the company said.

The company said it will retain approximately 15 employees to work through the bankruptcy process and continue marketing efforts. Pear said it will seek buyers interested in specific assets or the entire company. 

Founded in 2013, Pear targeted clinician-prescribed therapies to target opioid use disorder, chronic insomnia and substance use.

The company went public in December 2021 in a $1.6 billion deal with special purpose acquisition company Thimble Point Acquisition Corp. Pear’s shares have dropped from a high of $6.48 per share on May 5, 2022 to  22 cents on Thursday.

Source link

source https://financetin.com/pear-therapeutics-files-chapter-11-lays-off-170-employees/financetin.com

Read More

Digital health startups Done, Bicycle pivot following DEA proposal

https://ift.tt/hAuldnN

The trying circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic underscored the demand for mental healthcare, and a relaxed regulatory environment inspired entrepreneurs and investors to dive into virtual behavioral health services. Now, the circumstances have changed, forcing these young companies to make difficult pivots to new models.

The federal public health emergency declaration is set to expire May 11, and along with it many of the regulatory flexibilities that enabled companies such as Bicycle Health, Done, Ophelia Health and ReKlame Health to gain business. In addition, law enforcement agencies took notice of rising prescriptions for controlled substances—which are popular as drugs of abuse and frequently diverted to the illegal market—and started cracking down on telehealth providers. Cerebral and Done, for example, have been under federal investigation since last year.

The pandemic was never going to last forever, but at least some in the digital behavioral health sector believed the favorable regulatory environment would.

“The industry almost assumed that these flexibilities would be permanent after the [public health emergency] ends,” said Ankit Gupta, founder and CEO of Bicycle Health, which offers remote prescriptions for buprenorphine (also known as Belbuca, Buprenex, Butrans, Probuphine, Sublocade, Suboxone and Subutex) to treat opioid use disorder.

Digital mental health providers that sprang up or expanded during the public health crisis filled a need for patients unable or unwilling to make in-person visits. Research and digital health venture firm Rock Health estimates that digital mental health companies have attracted nearly $60 billion from investors since 2020.

The authorities helped this trend along by waiving or easing regulations governing such as patient privacy and prescriptions for controlled substances including Adderall (also known as amphetamine/dextroamphetamine salts) for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and the anti-anxiety drug Xanax (also knowns as alprazolam).

Now, the federal government is poised to restrict online prescribing, which means digital-first companies must offer in-person services or risk going out of business. These companies, which have limited funds and leaders with little to no experience managing in-person healthcare, will have to adapt. That could prove difficult for some.

“We can’t build brick and mortar locations. We’re in too many places, too many counties. We don’t have the money to do that,” said Zack Gray, co-founder and CEO of Ophelia Health, which specializes in prescribing opioid use disorder medications.

The executives who run these companies argue that stricter regulation would be bad for patients, as well as for their businesses. “Discontinuing a patient’s medication is extraordinarily dangerous because they’re going to experience cravings and withdrawal, they’ll be tempted to go to the black market, and they’re at high risk of overdose and death,” Gray said.

“The challenge that they’re facing is figuring out how to quickly transition those models that they built and scaled so quickly during the pandemic, so that they can survive and thrive in the post-pandemic landscape,” said Jeremy Sherer, digital health co-chair at law firm Hooper, Lundy & Bookman. “Part of it is just the nature of startups. You have companies that succeed and companies that fail.”

Enter the DEA

Losing the ability to prescribe medicines remotely would significantly hamper these companies, and that’s just what the Drug Enforcement Administration has in mind.

The DEA proposed a rule in February that would restore the pre-pandemic requirement that patients visit clinicians in person to obtain prescriptions for drugs such as Adderall and Ritalin (also known as methylphenidate) for ADHD and buprenorphine.

Under the draft regulation, 30-day prescriptions for Schedule III to Schedule V controlled substances would be available through telehealth, but patients must make in-person appointments to get refills. Patients whose treatments begin before the end of the public health emergency could wait six months before physically visiting a prescriber under the proposal.

“It makes sense that the DEA would be trying to limit over-prescribing of controlled substances based on their mission and their current investigations,” said Libby Baney, a partner at Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath who specializes in health information technology law. Even as companies transition to hybrid models, the DEA will remain skeptical of digital health companies prescribing controlled substances, she said.

Pivoting operations

The comment period on the DEA’s proposal closed last Friday, leaving companies wondering whether the agency will modify the rule to address their concerns. This uncertainty has companies questioning their next steps. Candace Richardson, an investor in digital health start-ups at venture capital firm General Catalyst, said the regulation will test these companies’ operational readiness.

“The advice I’ve been giving is to have contingency plans, be prepared to shift, figure out what changes you can wait on doing until maybe next year versus what you need to do now,” Richardson said.

ReKlame Health founder and CEO Evans Rochaste said he is waiting for the final rule. ReKlame Health, which launched in 2020, provides prescribing services aimed at people of color with ADHD, depression, addiction and other conditions in New Jersey, New York and Florida.

Ophelia Health is making contingency plans, but leasing and staffing physical clinics isn’t feasible for the company, which launched in early 2019 and has been operating exclusively via telehealth since the pandemic began, Gray said. The first priority is getting current patients connected to in-person visits, he said. Looking ahead, the company will have to create a process to bring on new patients, and is partnering with a network of DEA-registered providers, he said.

Bicycle Health has a physical location in each of the 32 states where it operates, Gupta said. But the company would be have a hard time accommodating its 20,000 patients in person, and is encouraging them to visit primary care providers. For patients who don’t have one, the company is building partnerships with local clinicians.

Bicycle Health expects to lose 5% of its existing patients and attract 20% fewer new patients as a consequence of the DEA regulation, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Brian Clear said.

Done, an ADHD treatment provider founded in 2019, has made a push to open more physical offices but real estate and labor costs are obstacles, said Done Senior Executive Leader Sean Arroyo. The company expects to have 45 locations in 18 states as of this month and plans to open another 40 offices within the two months, he said.

“In January, we started to make a really hard push knowing this was going to be a transition that had to happen and started making investments because you can’t turn things on in 30 days,” Arroyo said. “The technology that it takes to build, the personnel that it takes to hire in the environment that we’re in—it’s just expensive.”

Source link

source https://financetin.com/digital-health-startups-done-bicycle-pivot-following-dea-proposal/financetin.com

Read More

High inflation and housing costs force many Americans to delay needed care

https://ift.tt/hAuldnN

At a health-screening event in Sarasota, Florida, people gathered in a parking lot and waited their turn for blood pressure or diabetes checks. The event was held in Sarasota’s Newtown neighborhood, a historically Black community. Local Tracy Green, 54, joined the line outside a pink-and-white bus that offered free mammograms.

“It’s a blessing because some people, like me, are not fortunate, and so this is what I needed,” she said.

Green wanted the exam because cancer runs in her family. And she shared another health worry: Her large breasts cause her severe back pain. A doctor once recommended she get reduction surgery, but she’s uninsured and said she can’t afford the procedure.

In a 2022 Gallup Poll, 38% of American adults surveyed said they had put off medical treatment within the previous year due to cost, up from 26% in 2021. The new figure is the highest since Gallup started tracking the issue in 2001. In a survey by KFF released last summer, 43% of respondents said they or a family member delayed or put off health care because of costs. It found people were most likely to delay dental care, followed by vision services and doctor’s office visits. Many didn’t take medications as prescribed.

The Newtown screening event — organized by the nonprofit Multicultural Health Institute in partnership with a local hospital and other health care providers — is part of an effort to fill the coverage gap for low-income people.

Green explained that her teeth are in bad shape but dental care will also have to wait. She lacks health insurance and a stable job. When she can, she finds occasional work as a day laborer through a local temp office.

“I only make like $60 or $70-something a day. You know that ain’t making no money,” said Green. “And some days you go in and they don’t have work.”

If she lived in another state, Green might be able to enroll in Medicaid. But Florida is one of 10 states that haven’t expanded the federal-state health insurance program to cover more working-age adults. With rent and other bills to pay, Green said, her health is taking a back seat.

“I don’t have money to go to the dentist, nothing,” she said. “It’s so expensive. Now, to get one extraction, one tooth pulled, it’s like $200-$300 that you don’t have. So I don’t know what to do. It’s like fighting a losing battle right now.”

In the KFF poll, 85% of uninsured adults under age 65 said they found it difficult to pay for health care. Nearly half of their insured counterparts said they struggled with affordability as well.

The U.S. inflation rate hit a four-decade peak last year, and parts of Florida, including the Tampa metro area, often fared even worse.

“We see an increasing desperation,” said Dr. Lisa Merritt, executive director of the Multicultural Health Institute.

The nonprofit, which helps people access low-cost care, is based in Newtown, where, inland from Sarasota’s lavish beach communities, many residents live below the poverty line, lack insurance, and face other barriers to consistent and affordable care.

“It’s very difficult for people to be concerned about abstract things like getting screenings, getting regular health maintenance, when they’re contending with the challenges of basic survival: food, shelter, transportation often,” Merritt said.

Merritt and her team of volunteers work to build trust with residents who may not be aware that support is available. They help people apply for low-cost insurance coverage, free medication programs, and other resources that can reduce treatment costs. Volunteer Bonnie Hardy said the people she serves have many financial worries, but one thing tops the list.

“Right now? A place to stay,” said Hardy. “Housing is horrible.”

High housing costs have started to ease in recent months, but data shows rent in Sarasota has risen nearly 47% since the pandemic began in 2020. Hardy helps people find housing and connects them with programs that cover costs like utilities and security deposits. The goal is to stabilize their lives, and she said that can improve health.

“Because they’re more comfortable now,” she said. “They feel like, hey, the rent is paid, I can let my guard down, maybe I can go get the medical attention I need.”

Research shows putting off health care can lead to bigger problems. The Gallup Poll found 27% of respondents delayed treatment due to costs even for “very or somewhat serious” conditions.

Some people may be holding off on treating medical issues because of health care debt. An investigation from NPR and KHN found about 100 million people in America had medical debt. About 1 in 8 of them owe more than $10,000, according to a KFF poll.

Treating cancer or chronic conditions like diabetes early can save lives and be less expensive than treating advanced-stage illnesses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Doctors at the health screening event in Newtown said it’s critical to help residents obtain preventive care. At the health fair, substitute teacher Crystal Clyburn, 51, got a mammogram on the mammography bus and had her blood pressure checked.

Clyburn doesn’t have health insurance and said she relies on free events to stay on top of her health.

“I just try to take advantage of whatever that’s out there, whatever that’s free,” she said. “You have to take care of yourself because you can look healthy and not even know you’re sick.”

After the cuff came off, a doctor told Clyburn her blood pressure was a little high but not high enough that she needed to take medication. Clyburn smiled, thanked him, and left relieved to know that the cost of prescription drugs was one expense she wouldn’t have to worry about.

This article is from a partnership that includes WUSF, NPR, and KHN.

KHN (Kaiser Health News) is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues. Together with Policy Analysis and Polling, KHN is one of the three major operating programs at KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation). KFF is an endowed nonprofit organization providing information on health issues to the nation.

Trending News

Source link

source https://financetin.com/high-inflation-and-housing-costs-force-many-americans-to-delay-needed-care/financetin.com

Read More