Missouri Foundation for Health ha publicado dos informes que revelan los importantes obstáculos a los que se enfrentan los habitantes de este estado para acceder a una atención médica asequible. El primer informe "Speak Up MO" recoge experiencias de los habitantes en materia de asistencia médica, mientras que el segundo, <<"Medical Debt in Missouri", se centra en las soluciones políticas.

Los resultados resaltan las disparidades en el acceso a la atención y la carga financiera de los crecientes costos. Las alarmantes estadísticas muestran que uno de cada cinco habitantes declaró no tener seguro médico en algún momento del año pasado. SamanthMissouri Foundation for Health ha publicado dos informes que revelan los importantes obstáculos a los que se enfrentan los habitantes de este estado para acceder a una atención médica asequible. El primer informe "Speak Up MO""Speak Up MO" recoge experiencias de los habitantes en materia de asistencia médica, mientras que el segundo, "Medical Debt in Missouri," se centra en las soluciones políticas. Los resultados resaltan las disparidades en el acceso a la atención y la carga financiera de los crecientes costos. Las alarmantes estadísticas muestran que uno de cada cinco habitantes declaró no tener seguro médico en algún momento del año pasado.

Samantha Bunk trabaja en las políticas para la fundación y advierte de que el elevado costo de atención médica está causando más dificultades para los habitantes de Missouri.

"Cuando no puedes pagar tu atención médica, obviamente puede afectar cosas como pagar tu vivienda, las necesidades básicas como comida, facturas, cosas así, y luego cuando comenzamos a hablar de la deuda médica, que fue el otro informe, eso también afecta de otras maneras," dice Bunk.

El 22% de los habitantes de Missouri afirma tener dificultades para conseguir un préstamo para comprar un coche, y uno de cada cinco tiene dificultades para solicitar un apartamento o hipoteca. La fundación tiene previsto trabajar para resolver estos problemas con políticas basadas en evidencia y estrecha colaboración con las comunidades.

Los informes revelan que alrededor de dos tercios de los encuestados encontraron que acceder a la atención médica física era "muy" o "algo fácil". Sin embargo, los resultados ponen de manifiesto disparidades entre los distintos grupos ya que las mujeres, las personas LGBTQ+ y las personas con discapacidad tienen más dificultades para recibir la atención que necesitan. Bunk señaló que los residentes en zonas rurales son los que encuentran mayores obstáculos para acceder a una atención médica asequible.

"Obviamente, hay menos instalaciones de atención médica," asegura Bunk, "uno de los problemas es tener que viajar distancias más largas, y luego, cuando se trata de deudas médicas, también registramos tasas más elevadas en nuestras encuestas."

La fundación publicará su próximo informe sobre bienestar económico y finanzas personales y se espera que a finales de este otoño se publique un informe de seguimiento sobre compromiso cívico.

a Bunk trabaja en las políticas para la fundación y advierte de que el elevado costo de atención médica está causando más dificultades para los habitantes de Missouri.


"Cuando no puedes pagar tu atencion medica, obviamente puede afectar cosas como pagar tu vivienda, las necesidades basicas como comida, facturas, cosas asi, y luego cuando comenzamos a hablar de la deuda medica, que fue el otro informe, eso tambien afecta de otras maneras."

El 22% de los habitantes de Missouri afirma tener dificultades para conseguir un préstamo para comprar un coche, y uno de cada cinco tiene dificultades para solicitar un apartamento o hipoteca. La fundación tiene previsto trabajar para resolver estos problemas con políticas basadas en evidencia y estrecha colaboración con las comunidades.

Los informes revelan que alrededor de dos tercios de los encuestados encontraron que acceder a la atención médica física era "muy" o "algo fácil". Sin embargo, los resultados ponen de manifiesto disparidades entre los distintos grupos ya que las mujeres, las personas LGBTQ+ y las personas con discapacidad tienen más dificultades para recibir la atención que necesitan. Bunk señaló que los residentes en zonas rurales son los que encuentran mayores obstáculos para acceder a una atención médica asequible.

"Obviamente, hay menos instalaciones de atencion medica, uno de los problemas es tener que viajar distancias mas largas, y luego, cuando se trata de deudas medicas, tambien registramos tasas mas elevadas en nuestras encuestas.
"

La fundación publicará su próximo informe sobre bienestar económico y finanzas personales y se espera que a finales de este otoño se publique un informe de seguimiento sobre compromiso cívico.

Missouri Foundation for Health ha publicado dos informes que revelan obstaculos importantes que enfrentan los habitantes de Missouri para acceder a una atencion medica asequible. Tania Gomezdaza informa.

Soy Tania Gomezdaza

Contactar a Bunk a traves de la representante de comunicaciones Molly Crisp, mcrisp@mffh.org
Informe "Speak up Missouri", https://shorturl.at/CoWgP, Informe "Medical Debt in Missouri", https://shorturl.at/ZnBwF

Holiday travel is in full swing and for many, so is the stress. The American Heart Association of Missouri has health tips for anyone with heart disease or other chronic health conditions.

Medical professionals emphasized holiday travel requires planning. They suggested starting with a checklist: Consult your doctor, stock up on medications and prepare any medical equipment.

Dr. Georges Chahoud, cardiologist with SSM Health and board president for the American Heart Association-Metro St. Louis, offered advice for travelers with pacemakers and similar devices.

"If they are traveling, especially on an airplane, they have to make sure that they have enough time because they have to go through a special security check, since they have those devices," Chahoud explained. "It's recommended that they don't go through the metal detector; they can be 'wanded.'"

The American Heart Association also noted flights over four hours increase blood clot risk, so wearing compression socks is recommended. Research shows 6% to 7% of travelers deal with some kind of illness during or after their trips.

In a Heart Association survey, 69% of respondents said they struggle with eating healthily during the holiday season.

Chahoud, who is regional director of the Heart Failure Clinical program at SSM Health-St. Louis and Southern Illinois, and director of Cardiology Services at SSM Health-St. Joseph Hospital in Lake St. Louis, emphasized the problem can be exacerbated if you are traveling.

"They may indulge more in alcohol use, which can induce some heart problems, especially with irregular heart rhythm and A-fib," Chahoud pointed out. "Diet is quite important for patients with heart failure, especially as it pertains to those patients that don't watch the salt in their food."

He stressed the importance of seeking immediate medical attention if you experience symptoms of heart issues, such as chest pain or shortness of breath. Check for medical facilities available at your destination and know your health insurance coverage.

Maryland is facing a significant shortage of behavioral health professionals and a new report from the Maryland Health Care Commission offered some suggestions to fix the problem.

All but two counties in Maryland are labeled as a partial or complete mental health shortage area. Years of underinvestment and high rates of burnout for behavioral health specialists has caught up with the state. The report found a 50% shortage in the number of professionals needed to adequately care for Maryland's population.

Tiara Fennell, assistant clinical professor and clinic director of the Center for Healthy Families at the University of Maryland-College Park, said behavioral health professionals have long been undervalued, which can lead to burnout. The COVID-19 pandemic, she added, is also partly to blame.

"A lot of it has nothing to do with their intent or their desire to help people," Fennell explained. "It's because of their desire to want to be able to take care of themselves. One of the major things that is a deterrent is people not getting paid enough."

The report showed 45% of behavioral health professionals currently working in Maryland are expected to either retire, leave the state or exit the profession in the next five years.

To tackle the shortage, the Maryland General Assembly passed a Behavioral Health Workforce Investment Fund in 2023 and commissioned a report on how to spend the money. The report recommended focusing on investments in behavioral health. It suggested implementing more "earn while you learn" programs, with paid apprenticeships, fellowships and stipends to lessen the costs of college. More flexible schedules and mentorship programs were also recommended to address the nonfinancial issues of burnout.

Fennell pointed out many behavioral health internships are unpaid and she believes efforts to increase pay and reduce work loads for these professionals will boost recruitment and retention.

"That would make a huge difference getting people interested in this type of work," Fennell contended. "Also, maintaining that workforce -- and having people want to be there long-term, and spend the majority of their employment history -- however long that will be, working in this space."

The Behavioral Health Workforce Investment Fund will allocate more than $148 million over the next five years.


get more stories like this via email

The excitement of the holiday season is celebrated with family get-togethers. But for Alzheimer's patients, large groups can produce fear and confusion. The disease causes brain cell deterioration and the ability to rapidly process information diminishes daily.

Macie P. Smith, a licensed social worker and gerontologist, advised paying attention to nonverbal cues when a patient appears agitated.

"If you're going to have a small, intimate gathering, I also recommend doing name tags," Smith suggested. "Go ahead and put the person's name and the relationship to the person on the shirt, so that way they won't have to guess and wonder and try to figure out who this person is. It just helps with the ease of engagement."

Reminiscing over the family photo album is a traditional holiday favorite. Despite the best intentions, Smith explained, asking an Alzheimer's patient to identify a relative can be frustrating. The questions cause them to use brain cells that are severely impacted and could produce combativeness and aggression. She recommended singing or playing music as better choices.

The Alzheimer's Association Illinois chapter reported 311,000 caregivers cook meals, assist with basic hygiene and monitor medication intake. The needs of patients are unpredictable, leaving them with sporadic break times.

Additional stress from gift shopping and work obligations underlines the importance for a caregiver to routinely nurture their physical and mental well-being. Smith advised using a calendar for scheduling enjoyable activities.

"I've asked caregivers, 'So, what do you like to do?' They don't know, or they don't remember, because they have been so engulfed with caring for someone else and depleting everything that they've had, they've lost a sense of self," Smith observed.

For unmanageable situations, Smith recommends contacting a professional respite care service through your local department on aging. The agencies offer vouchers to pay a certified person to sit with your loved one. Another choice is asking for help from a church member, trusted neighbor or a Medicare or Medicaid-funded adult day service.


get more stories like this via email