Since the Affordable Care Act (ACA) came into law, millions of Americans have obtained coverage. Millions also no longer face denials or higher costs because of their medical histories. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) found that, between 2010 and 2014, the share of uninsured Americans with pre-existing conditions fell by 22%. “Today, thanks to Affordable Care Act protections, the uninsured rate is at its lowest level in history and millions of Americans with pre-existing conditions like asthma or cancer no longer have to worry about being denied coverage because of their medical history,” said HHS Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell in a statement. “This is clear and measurable progress, and we shouldn’t turn the clock back to a time when people were denied ...
In November 2015, the Unicode Consortium approved 51 new emoji's, and breastfeeding is one, according to Forbes. Based on requests and popular demand, the Unicode Consortium decides which emojis will be available for mobile devices, laptops, desktops and wearables. Interventions or policies aimed at improving breastfeeding rates among Latina mothers may be critical to promoting physical and mental health; however, Latina moms often face social, political, environmental, and cultural barriers to reach their own breastfeeding goals. In order to build a culture of health it is critical to support breastfeeding and empower women to live healthier lives. The emoji should be available in 2017. Spread the ...
Barriers to health have long existed for Latinos due to numerous factors, including economic concerns, and a lack of access. Often times, Latinos have not been able to get the treatments that they need for many serious medical conditions, especially mental or behavioral issues. A new policy from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) looks to help ease this burden. CMS has adopted a new policy on “Collaborative Care,” adding behavioral health care management and consultations with a mental health specialist to primary care. It will now be easier for all patients to get all of the treatment that they need. Collaborative Care, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, has been found to improve quality of care, patient satisfaction, and both physical and ...
The National Parks Service is $12 billion behind in needed repairs to park infrastructure, such as deteriorating trails, buildings, and structures in our national parks. In December 2016, the House and the Senate approved the National Park Service Centennial Act (H.R. 4680) to help address the $12 billion maintenance backlog by leveraging federal funds with private dollars for visitor-oriented projects; establishing dedicated funding for an endowment; and providing educational programs and opportunities for youths to serve and learn. Public-private partnerships have been successful in leveraging funds over the last two years. Congress committed to a federal match of $25 million, which raised twice that in private donations for the National Park Service (NPS). Parks play a vital ...
Healthcare truly begins during childhood. For many Latinos, developing healthy habits can be difficult as many barriers are in place that prevent them from receiving and obtaining quality healthcare. Recently, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced $17 million in funding for the Federal Home Visiting Program. The mission of the program is to give pregnant women and families, particularly those considered at-risk, necessary resources and skills to raise children who are physically, socially, and emotionally healthy and ready to learn. The funding will support the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), which operates the program. “These funds aim to develop and implement innovations targeted to home visiting program delivery needs and to generate ...
If you had grown vegetables as a kid, you might be more likely to eat your greens, reports a new study. The study put on by researchers from the University of Florida interviewed over 1,300 students and found that 30% of those who gardened as a child ate 2.9 cups of fruits and vegetables a day versus those who only may have watched parents garden, eating 2.4 cups of fruits and vegetables per day. "Hands on experience seems to matter," Anne Mathews, UF/IFAS assistant professor told Newswise. Other studies show that Latino kids are more likely to be advertised unhealthy foods and have access to unhealthy fast food and tobacco outlets within walking distance of their schools. Farm-to-school, school gardens, and agriculture or STEM farming in schools may help increase more ...
Residents in Columbia, Missouri (3.4% Latino) can now alert Parks and Recreation staff to maintenance and other issues through an online tool. Park and trail users can report a problem, pin the location, and upload a photo to an interactive map here. They can also follow their report to track progress. Access to safe parks plays a huge role in overall health and wellness by promoting physical activity and improving mental health. Unfortunately, Latinos are disproportionately burdened by lack of access to healthy resources like safe places to walk, bike, and play. Technology can play a major role in identifying reducing social and environmental barriers, such as broken fences, poor lighting, litter, and crime. Ensuring that residents have the power to identify and ...
Education has long been considered key in attaining financial and professional success in life and it is also tied closely into maintaining physical and mental health. Latinos have long lagged behind other races and ethnicities in the United States in terms of educational attainment. In the past decade, that has changed dramatically. In a survey conducted recently to gauge issues of importance among Latinos for the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election, over 80% cited education as being important. For many Latinos, economic barriers or obstacles still play a substantial part in furthering education. While the rate of Latino high school dropouts has declined and college enrollment has increased, Latinos still trail other groups in earning bachelor’s degrees. In a 2014 National Journal poll, ...
According to a new study from the Columbia University Medical Center, most Americans – including a majority of Latinos – who screen positive for depression don’t receive treatment for it. Also, many who do receive treatment, don’t appear to have the disorder. “Over the last several years there has been an increase in prescription of antidepressants,” said Mark Olfson, lead author of the study. “In that context, many people assumed that undertreatment of depression is no longer a common problem.” Olfson found the opposite was true after analyzing the data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Surveys in 2012 and 2013. Asked if they had been screened for adults, 8.4% of the more than 46,000 adults answered in ways suggested they had depression. Only 28.7% who appeared ...
