The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released an updated version of the Marketplace enrollment manual. The manual is designed to provide guidance for users on eligibility and enrollment activities with the federally facilitated Marketplaces (FFM), the federally facilitated Small Business Health Options Program (FF-SHOPS), and to state-based Marketplaces and SHOPs that use the federal eligibility and enrollment platforms (SBMs-FP). The topics covered by the manual include the initial open enrollment periods and important dates, premium payments, direct enrollment, and special enrollment periods. Open Enrollment for 2017 begins November 1, 2016 and ends on January 31, 2017. Outside of the Open Enrollment period, individuals can enroll in a health insurance plan ...
Latino children are disproportionately affected by high rates of obesity. In the U.S. today, nearly 40% of Latino kids (ages 2-19 years) are overweight or obese. Among 2-5 year olds, nearly 30% of Latino kids compared to only 21% of non-Hispanic white children are obese. According to a 2011 report from the Children's Hospital Association of Texas (CHAT), nearly 1/2 of all Latino children in Texas are overweight obese. To learn more about childhood obesity in Texas read the full report ...
Regardless of weight status, proper nutrition-starting as early as breastfeeding-has long been associated with positive health outcomes. A new study, published in July 2016, in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, UCSF, found that exclusive breastfeeding rates among Latino infants ages 4-6 weeks is associated with longer Telomeres when the children were evaluated at age 4 or 5. Additionally, children who drank soda four or more times weekly showed a much faster rate of telomere shortening than children who drank less or no soda. What are telomeres and what role do they play in our health? Telomeres are the protective bits of DNA that cap the ends of chromosomes in cells and are measured in white blood cells. As we age, our white blood cells aren't as effective at ...
Breastfeeding rates are low along the El Paso/Juarez border. Ruth Lawrence, MD, Summit Chair and former editor-in-chief of Breastfeeding Medicine, gave a presentation developed by Rosalba Ruiz-Holguin, MD, MPH, project coordinator and chair of the Alliance for Border Collaboratives/Binational Breastfeeding Coalition in El Paso, Texas, at the Eighth Annual Summit on Breastfeeding. In this video, Lawrence addresses some barriers that breastfeeding mothers face, including: less schooling, no prenatal care, no education about breastfeeding, no maternity leave, low incomes, no access to healthcare, having a C-section, unsupportive husbands, cultural beliefs, and having lived in the U.S. for more than 5 years. Experts in the field, as well as many non-traditional partners, must address ...
Sustainable development is essentially about ecology, economy, and equity. The World Breastfeeding Week 2016 aims to firmly anchor breastfeeding as a key component of sustainable development. World Breastfeeding Week is coordinated by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) and global network of individuals and organizations concerned with the protection, promotion, and support of breastfeeding worldwide. Breastfeeding is one element in getting us to think about how to value our wellbeing from the start of life, how to respect each other and care for the world we share. Access and download WABA's World Breastfeeding Week 2016 free materials in English, Spanish, and many other languages to be prepared to talk breastfeeding and sustainable development: Poverty ...
Researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and Carnegie Mellon University encourage anyone who is hungry to order their food before they get hungry. Why? In a recent study, researchers found that temptations for unhealthy foods that are high in calories often happens when people are ordering food on impulse or in the moment. The study examined two studies of 690 employees online lunch orders, and 195 university students catering lunch options, where a cut of at least thirty calories consistently. Researchers explained that this can help restaurants and other food providers generate health benefits for customers by offering an opportunity online to order food in advance. To learn more about this study, click ...
The U.S. Department of Education has compiled a checklist of 7 things every high school graduate needs to do before leaving for their first semester of college. Make sure your school has your financial aid ready. Many students fill out an application for financial aid. Early and/or mid-summer is an opportune time to check with the financial aid office to make sure all your paperwork is complete. It is also important to make sure that you have enough money to cover any gaps between the cost for school and your financial aid award. Find a part-time job. If this is something you’d be interested in, it would be a good idea to start checking out opportunities in the area of campus before classes start. Working during school can not only provide extra income, but I can also teach ...
A new study from researchers at Tufts University and the University of Cambridge reports that eating more unsaturated fats or saturated fats in place of dietary carbohydrates lowers blood sugar levels and improves insulin resistance and secretion. According to the Mayo Clinic, healthy fats consist of mainly monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fats, like certain types of fish and nuts, as well as room temperature oils like olive oil, safflower oil, and peanut oil. Fats to avoid are found in beef, butter, shortening and pork. The findings of the study looked at 102 randomized controlled trials of over four thousand adults, who had meals that varied in types of amounts of fat and carbs. The study revealed that for each five percent of dietary energy switched from carbs to saturated ...
Every one of us can help achieve health equity. How can YOU help your community be healthy right from the start? Protect, promote, and support breastfeeding. Start by watching the W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s video created for the 2016 First Food Forum. Explain why breastfeeding matters in a relevant and linguistically appropriate manner
Help establish Baby-Friendly Hospitals
Help pass laws for paid family leave, and break time and clean space at work to pump
Encourage early childcare providers to support nursing mothers
Help create local farmers markets and safe places to walk, bike, and play Learn more about Baby-Friendly Hospitals here. Spread the word about how every one of us can help create a culture where breastfeeding is the ...
