RSV; Tele-health; Nutrition Help Needed
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A Good Day To Advocate for Better Healthcare
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RSV Vaccine Results
Since their introduction last year, researchers have been monitoring the real-world impact of the new respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines.
RSV is a significant cause of severe respiratory illness among older adults, especially those with underlying health conditions. Worldwide, RSV causes millions of infections, hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations, and tens of thousands of deaths annually in adults aged 60 and older. In the US, adults over 65 experience high rates of RSV-related hospital visits, intensive care unit admissions, and deaths. Older people with RSV are at higher risk of severe illness compared to those with influenza or COVID.
A recent study published in The Lancet assessed the effectiveness of RSV vaccines using data from a large electronic health record network involving the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and multiple US healthcare systems. The study found that RSV vaccines were 80 percent effective in preventing hospitalization, ICU admission, and death among adults aged 60 and older. Vaccine effectiveness was consistent across age groups, including those 75 and older, and among immunocompromised individuals. The study did not find evidence of waning vaccine protection within the season.
However, the uptake of the RSV vaccine in the 2023-2024 winter season was low. An estimated 24 percent of US adults aged 60 years and older received the vaccine, compared to influenza vaccination rates, which approach 50 percent each year for the same group. (Science Daily)
I am shocked a little. Only 50% of seniors get a flu shot??? RSV was not covered by traditional Medicare last year so perhaps that explains the low uptake ($300). If you can get vaccinated and avoid having to go to the hospital.
Tele-Healthcare Works Well
A University of Michigan study suggests that policymakers can rest easier about one of the top worries regarding telehealth, which is that virtual care will drive up the use of tests and scans that patients don’t need, wasting money and resources.
In fact, the study published in the JAMA shows that low-value care didn’t rise faster at primary care practices that used telehealth the most, compared with those that used it the least.
And in some cases, the high-telehealth-use practices saw a faster drop in low-value care.
The study, focused on eight low-value tests, scans and procedures that experts agree aren’t needed in certain groups of patients.
This included blood tests to screen for prostate cancer risk in men over age 75, CT scans for people with uncomplicated sinus infections or back pain, Pap smears to look for early signs of cervical cancer in women over age 65, and colon cancer screening in people over age 85.
While some have worried that such low-value care might rise when physicians and other providers see more patients virtually and can’t conduct physical exams, the study showed this did not happen.
Another fear about virtual care: that the rate of in-person visits would increase because of a need for follow-up appointments to address something identified in virtual visits. Good news data from 2022, the rate of in-person visits decreased in the telehealth era.
Apparently people were behaving rationally. (Whew!)
Nutrition Is Part of Healthcare
I am writing about this because the Trump administration will be looking to give money to the wealthy by cutting services to the poor. One of the places they would like to cut are nutrition assistance. The House version of the Farm Bill that passed out of the Agriculture Committee earlier this year calls for a $30 billion cut to SNAP over the next decade.
In fiscal year 2022, children made up about 40% of all Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants. Children under 5 made up nearly 12% of participants and school-age children made up 28% of participants.
In FY 2023, SNAP served an average of 42.1 million participants per month. Federal SNAP spending totaled $112.8 billion and benefits averaged $211.93 per participant per month. ( USDA Website) Did you catch that? There are 335,000,000 of us and 42,000,000 need nutrition assistance - 12.5%.
According to the National Council on Aging, approximately three out of five seniors who qualify for SNAP are not receiving benefits, meaning a significant portion of eligible seniors are missing out on food assistance; this translates to around 5 million people nationwide. This is a little complicated but many of those 5 million choose not to apply because they are embarrassed to ask for help. It was certainly that way in my family.
Qualify for Nutrition Assistance
Here is the federal website to help determine if you or someone you know may qualify. There is also a link there to find a food bank that can help with donated food.
There is a link on the federal website to each state’s program and those program’s have a phone number listed. There are three tests to qualify. Gross monthly income must fall below a threshold, you must not have significant assets, and net income must be below a certain threshold.
Personal ACTION
If you know someone who might qualify for nutrition assistance help them get help. Find a food bank for them and make sure they are eating and apply for SNAP for them.
Nationwide ACTION
Contact your federal representatives and let them know NOT TO CUT NUTRITIONAL ASSISTANCE as we head to funding discussions. Here is a link to their contact info, https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials. OR
Send the text message SIGN PYJYBI to RESISTBOT at 50409 to send this email to your Congressperson and Senators. Or via Apple Messages / MESSENGER]
“I am your constituent and I see that the House version of the Farm Bill has $30 billion in cuts to nutrition assistance (SNAP) over the next decade. Do you know how many people rely on nutritional assistance? 12.5% of us. 42,000,000 of us every month and a large number of them are children. And if that weren’t bad enough there are 5,000,000 elderly that qualify for SNAP but aren’t getting benefits.
There are a few things I want from you.
Recognize that we have a poverty problem in this country - 42,000,000 don’t have enough money for food.
Encourage seniors to get the food assistance they need. Be creative - make applying easier, advertise, get it on the news - do something.
DO NOT IMPLEMENT ANY CUTS TO SNAP IN THE FARM BILL.
Thank you."
RESOURCES
Find My Elected Officials
Contact State and Federal Representatives - phone and email
Healthcare Advocacy (Us) Website
Our Newsletter resources including reproductive healthcare - Healthcare Advocacy Reading List
Important Healthcare Resources
League of Women Voters Healthcare Reform Toolkit
Organizations to Contact
National Nurses United Medicare4All
Physicians for a National Health Program
One Payer States
Healthcare Now
Reproductive Health
NARAL - Pro Choice America
Charley. chatbot abortion resource - make sure to use a secure incognito browser if you live in a state that has banned abortion
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
Disinformation Management
Cybersecurity Infrastructure Security Agency
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
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