Happy Thursday Healthcare Advocates
I would like to encourage comments and suggestions from you if you have time. If there is a special topic you’d like to see please let me know. Please use the comment button below.
COVID Update - New Variant Spreading
A variant of the COVID virus is spreading and is increasing the number of people becoming ill quickly. It is moving so fast the this week, Lionsgate films, in Santa Monica, California, has now implemented a mandatory M95 mask policy to try and keep their staff healthy.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Wednesday the new BA.2.86 lineage of coronavirus may be more capable than older variants in causing infection in people who have previously had COVID-19 or who have received vaccines. The CDC said it was too soon to know whether this might cause more severe illness compared with previous variants. But due to the high number of mutations detected in this lineage, there were concerns about its impact on immunity from vaccines and previous infections, the agency said.
Remember that states that ignored these warnings for masks and vaccines had the highest illness and death rates. Pay attention, get vaccinated and have masks ready.
Preventable Deaths - Black Women & Infants
We have covered the disgraceful state of maternal mortality and children dying before their 1st birthday before. Maternal mortality in the US is about 32 women dead for every 100,000 live births and infant mortality is 5.4 deaths for every 1000 live births.
If you happen to be Black it is far worse. The rate of Black women dying is about 70 for every 100,000 live births and Black infant mortality is 10.4 for every 1000 live births.
For reference the maternal mortality in Germany is about 4 and infant mortality is about 2.1. It is similar in other industrialized nations where everyone has access to healthcare.
How can it be that Black women and children fare so badly? There are a variety contributors to the problem. One of which is bias that is heavily present in the medical community. Remember that we wrote about this in an article about diversity. One of the sad studies mentioned found that those entering the medical profession came to the table with heavy bias. About 1/3 believed myths about Black people such as they don’t feel as much pain as others. So there is built in racism.
Regardless of income or insurance status, studies show, medical providers often dismiss Black women’s questions and concerns, minimize their physical complaints, and fail to offer appropriate care. Check the like for scientific evidence. By contrast, a study of 1.8 million hospital births spanning 23 years in Florida found that the gap in mortality rates between Black and White newborns were halved for Black babies when Black physicians cared for them.
There are also social determinants of health. Income, housing, food, health insurance, etc. These can affect maternal and infant mortality when early prenatal care is not provided or available.
Ok Recap, Black women are treated worse than White by the medical community. That’s a fact. Black pregnant women die at a higher rate than White women. That’s a fact. Black babies die at a higher rate than White. That’s a fact.
The culprits are inherent racism, not listening to women, social determinants of health and insufficient diversity of the healthcare provider population.
Medical and nursing schools need to continue diversity awareness and making sure that they are inclusive. Perhaps they could teach doctors and nurses to do a better job of listening to women. But the social determinants of health won’t get better by itself. It needs legislation to make it happen. The Black Momnibus bill in the House of Representatives addresses has 13 bills to address the social determinants of health that can help keep women and babies alive. Let’s let our legislators know that they can see lives. And we want them to save lives.
ACTION
Let’s let our legitators know that this situation is unacceptable and that we want them to pass the Momnibus bill to increase the odds of survival for women and babies. You can find their contact information here.
You can also use your cell phone to send the email below. Just text to 50409 SIGN PSAXZR.
“I am your constituent and I strongly urge you to pass the Black Momnibus bill to improve the social determinants of health for women. Black women in the US have a maternal mortality rate of 2.5 times that of White women and Black infants die at twice the level of White infants. Let’s make sure women can get the care they need as soon as possible. You can save lives. Save lives and enact the Black Momnibus bill now.”
Find My Elected Officials
Contact the White House https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
Contact State and Federal Representatives
https://www.commoncause.org/find-your-representative/addr/
Important Healthcare Resources
League of Women Voters Healthcare Reform Toolkit
Our Newsletter resources including reproductive healthcare
Healthcare Advocacy Reading List
Organizations to Contact
National Nurses United Medicare4All
Physicians for a National Health Plan
Reproductive Health
NARAL - Pro Choice America
Planned Parenthood
Miscarriage and Abortion Hotline has references about where to procure abortion medications. They also assist women in the process of self managed abortion or miscarriage by phone or text and will respond in an hour. Details and hours of operation at their website.
United State of Women Reproductive health page (bottom of the page) has important resources such as medical support, access to Telehealth, prescriptions by mail, and legal support references.
Practice careful communications - The Digital Defense Fund has a number of tips to keep texts, calls, and internet use private. Here is their site.
If you need financial help with an abortion try abortionfunds.org
Claims Denials and Appeals & What to Do
Appeal a Healthcare Decision
Appeal/Negotiate a Hospital Bill
Save Democracy
Chop Wood, Carry Water by Jessica Cravens
RESISTBOT
Link to the RESISTBOT site to learn more
Link to Chop Wood, Carry Water Resistbot write up