Health care coverage

Chuck Todd comes clean on Obamacare

Quick note. . .how YOU can help!

From: Keith Ackerman Sent: Friday, February 28, 2014 9:37 AM To: 2CitySquare Management Subject: Need of reading glasses for our Homeless Neighbors Folks, As Larry and I were out at the Corner yesterday across from The OC, we discovered that there is a huge need for reading glasses. We were surprised by the feedback we got about how many folks truly need them. As a result, we are trying to gather up some reading glasses to distribute, so if any of you have access to any, please send them our direction. They will go to great people who will be truly appreciative. Thanks, Keith Keith A. Ackerman, LMSW Chief Operations Officer CitySquare 511 N. Akard Street Ste. 302 Dallas, TX 75201 P: 214 823 8710 F: 214 824 5355 www.CitySquare.org

Good news on CitySquare pharmacy!

[CitySquare's South Dallas health clinic is a winner! Read on. . .]

CitySquare Leadership Team (and all):

 Our clinic pharmacy had a surprise visit yesterday from the Texas State Board of Pharmacy. The state inspector showed up at about 10a. m.– completely unannounced. These visits are anticipated but it is always nerve-racking when they actually happen.

 For a historical perspective:  we were officially inspected by the State Board of Pharmacy about 6-7 years ago.

 Congratulations are in order – they passed us with flying colors!

 I am so proud and pleased to report that we received 0– repeat zero –actionable items for the future. This is wonderful news.

 WAY TO GO CITYSQUARE CLINIC PHARMACY! 

 Very special thanks to: Crystal Maturino, POR pharmacy assistant, and Oneyda de la O, LVN, for doing everything right–i.e. greeting the inspector, checking his credentials, contacting our Pharmacist (Carlos Alvarez) and answering all his questions prior to Carlos arriving and retrieving all requested information during the survey.

 Sincere thanks to both of you. Carlos– thank you so much for ensuring our success with this inspection. Without your counsel and oversight we would not be where we are today. We appreciate you. Carlos told me that it is not unusual for pharmacies to receive 1 or 2 items that require a written action plan. We received no action items. Wow! Outstanding.

 I know you will all echo my sentiments to this great team for all their hard work and dedication in the CitySquare pharmacy! Congratulations to clinic team!

Affordable Care Act and health coverage

On next Tuesday, October 1, 2013, Americans without health insurance coverage will be able to enroll for coverage under provisions of the Affordable Care Act.

The process is fairly simple. 

You can apply online at www.healthcare.gov.

The enrollment process is easy to understand.

The website lets you know what you will need to do to sign up.  You'll be able to shop various health insurance options to find what's best for you!  The program will be very beneficial to persons who currently have no health coverage or who battle "pre-existing conditions." 

If you have questions, call 1-800-318-2596. Information is available 24/7 in 140 languages.

You'll even be able to enter into a chat online, if that is more to your liking!

The essay that follows is a mind-twister for certain!  What you read may surprise you, unless you have a degree in public health.  Much food for thought on how to intervene for life and health in the really tough parts of a city like mine.  Reactions, as always, welcomed!

Why We Need to Treat America's Poorest Neighborhoods Like Developing Countries

The average life expectancy in Japan right now, home to one of the healthiest, longest-living populations in the world, is about 83 years. That's four years longer than in the United States, a decade longer than in much of North Africa, and as many as 30 years longer than some war-torn parts of the world like Sierra Leone.  

These global patterns are well-known, but we seldom look at our own communities in the same way.

"Most people appreciate at a country level that there are huge disparities in health between the U.S. and, for example, countries in Africa," says David Fleming, the public health director and health officer for Seattle and King County. "I think what is not as obvious to most people is that you don’t need to go any further than your front door, and most of us are living in communities where those same profound differences occur across much smaller geographic areas."

In fact, that area may span the distance of a stop or two on the subway, or another exit off the highway. In New Orleans, for instance, a couple of miles down Interstate 10 can mean the difference in 25 years in life expectancy. . . .click here to read more.

Children's health in Texas

Eight per cent of children in the U. S. have no health insurance coverage.  That compares to Texas with 14% of its children uninsured.

Here's some even more shocking news:  According to the good folks at Children's Medical Center, 5 North Texas counties have twice the national average with it comes to uninsured children.

Here's the harsh reality:

Fannin County (Bonham) 16.3% uninsured children

Collin County (McKinney, one of the wealthiest counties in the nation) 16.7% uninsured

Denton County (Denton)  17.4% uninsured

Grayson County (Sherman) 19.1% of children have no health coverage

Cooke County (Gainesville) almost 1/4 of children with no coverage at 23.9%

The character of a people must include some measure of just how much they value their children, all of their children. 

We can do better. 

Where's the leadership? 

Evidenced-based care

On Thanksgiving day, while walking down a very uneven sidewalk toward the park with the grandchildren, Brenda tripped and fell.  She broke her fall by stiff-arming the sidewalk.  She bumped and scratched her face and badly bruised her hand.  She shook off her injury and went on to the park! 

The next day, after a short visit with her doctor, she went to a local hospital emergency room to have her hand checked out.  After a lengthy wait and a couple of rounds of X-rays, she learned that no bones were broken.  During the exam, the examining nurse practitioner (she never saw a physician) questioned her about the scratch on her face, finally suggesting an MRI to make sure there were no broken bones in her face.  Brenda assured her that such a procedure was not necessary and that another X-ray would suffice, if even was really necessary. 

She left glad to know that there were no broken bones and with her hand and arm wrapped up to the elbow.  She also wondered if the attending staff was guilty of over prescribing treatment. 

In a "fee for service" health care system like we now experience, her suspicions make a lot of sense. 

Then, on Sunday morning, The Dallas Morning News carried a front page story on evidence-based medicine and cost sharing and the move of the Baylor Health Care System to such a strategy for providing care to its patients (by the way, the ER Brenda visited was not a Baylor hospital!). 

No one wants to talk rationally about health care realities these days.  But, in view of rising costs and our return in health and wellness benefits for what we pay, the time has come for serious discussions.  From the report it sounds as if Baylor will lead the way in that much-needed conversation.  Good for them! 

Be sure and read the story, "Baylor will try new Rx," by clicking here.

Health care reform and faith

Here's the first section of Jim Wallis' recent essay, A Faith Declaration for Health-Care Reform. I believe the statement is very important.

Over the course of the health-care debate, voices of faith have been raised about the moral values at stake beneath the policy discussions. As bills are finalized and moved through both chambers of Congress, now more than ever we need to remind ourselves of the values that move us to reform. From the Bill of Rights to the abolition of slavery, from women’s suffrage to the civil rights movement, those who have raised the question of values have often changed our country for the better. Change can be scary in uncertain times, but it always comes when a nation chooses hope over fear.

Unfortunately, God sent Moses down from the mountain with only the Ten Commandments, and not a health-care bill ready to be passed out of committee. There is no one “right” religious position on how health care should be provided. But I believe there are some fundamental moral and biblical principles on which to evaluate any final legislative agreement, principles on which many people of faith -- even politically diverse people -- might agree. After the heat of the summer’s confrontations over health care, it’s time for a cooler fall debate. It’s time for a re-set of the health-care debate, and a return to some basic principles could help.

To read his "Five Principles of Faith for Health-Care Reform" and his entire statement click here.

Reactions welcome.

What some United Methodists are doing concerning health care reform. . .

Go here to check out what groups of United Methodists are up to in regard to the health care reform debate.

Love to know what you think!