Category: Health News

Chief Chat: Collaborations establish up well being workforce | Information

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1 of the finest achievements of Cherokee Nation has been constructing the largest wellbeing treatment procedure in Indian Country. Our environment-course facilities receive much more than 1.5 million affected person visits just about every 12 months, and we have strategically constructed health and fitness facilities all around our 7,000-square-mile reservation so that no Cherokee on the reservation is much more than 30 minutes absent from treatment.

However, the greatest amenities can do us no great if they are not filled with caring, really skilled, culturally knowledgeable doctors, nurses, medical doctor assistants and other health treatment staff members. To enable meet up with our workforce desires, we associate with the Health and fitness Assets and Services Administration, a federal agency that focuses on education health and fitness pros and improving entry to wellness providers, especially in rural communities and other large-need to have regions.

In 2021, HRSA founded the Tribal Advisory Council to be a forum for tribally elected leaders and HRSA team to collaborate on improving health in Indian Nation. I symbolize the Oklahoma area on the HRSA TAC and was elected as its to start with chair. Not long ago, we hosted a conference of the TAC in our cash of Tahlequah.

Around two times, other tribal leaders on the TAC and I talked over Native well being troubles with HRSA leadership, which include the health workforce, maternal and kid wellness, rural health and fitness plan, and far more. We heard about courses by our neighbor tribes, including the Chickasaw Nation pediatric mental wellness care program and the Choctaw Country rural opioid response software.

We also brought in leaders from the OSU Faculty of Osteopathic Drugs at Cherokee Country to go over what we are carrying out with a HRSA grant to fund medical residencies in tribal facilities. We developed this health-related school in Tahlequah, the 1st and only tribally affiliated medical university in the U.S., since we know that medical practitioners are likely to commit their professions inside of 90 miles of the place they comprehensive their residencies.

The initially course of 54 students started in tumble 2020 and will be graduating in May possibly 2024. For the up coming stage in their professions, these learners will start out residencies at different hospitals and clinics. We are hopeful that lots of will remain inside Cherokee Country, no matter if at our tribal facilities or at other hospitals and

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Local foundations sign up for to support mental wellness schooling in Virginia | Information

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Let’s talk Medicare Advantage – NC Health News

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By Thomas Goldsmith

Privately run Medicare Advantage insurers attract more enrollees each year with prominent advertising and enticing perks. But the program, with about 1 million North Carolina enrollees, faces challenges on specifics from federal regulators, the courts and Congress about the profits it makes, its consumer advertising and some of its internal practices. 

As federal regulators are taking aim at aspects of Medicare Advantage, such as allegedly fraudulent billing practices, a report from the U.S. Senate Finance Committee is one of the sources that lists complaints calling its marketing misleading. Those problems have been seen in North Carolina, as well as across the country.

“The North Carolina Department of Insurance shared that its Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) had received a number of complaints involving dually eligible beneficiaries who had their enrollment changed to a different [Medicare Advantage] plan even though neither the beneficiary, family member, or power of attorney had been engaged in an enrollment discussion with the plan or an agent,” the August 2022 report reads.

(Dually eligible beneficiaries are eligible for Medicaid, the health insurance that covers low-income people, and for Medicare, which is mostly for people older than 65.) 

Now, federal regulators are proposing new rules to curb such deceptive practices. Regulators say the rules are necessary to make sure potential Medicare Advantage customers can receive accurate information about the plans and their differences from traditional Medicare.

In addition to restricting the advertising that draws millions of enrollees to Medicare Advantage, the federal Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services is working with the federal Department of Justice to crack down on billing practices that they contend can unnecessarily increase company profits by billions annually.

Recently announced moves by CMS to improve the accuracy of billing by Medicare Advantage companies won praise late last week in a joint letter from a group of more than three dozen leading figures from public health, public policy, health care and clinical care.

“CMS has taken a strong and appropriate approach to improving the accuracy of payment in the MA Program,” said Dr. Don Berwick, a former administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services who signed the letter. 

Additional signers included faculty from Yale, Harvard, Stanford, Southern California, Pennsylvania and New York universities, as well as former officials of CMS, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation and the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, known as MedPac,

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Gov. Cooper heralds health progress in biannual speech

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By Anne Blythe

Gov. Roy Cooper prompted loud cheers, whoops and a standing ovation during his state of the state address on Monday evening when he mentioned Medicaid expansion.

The governor came to the General Assembly as part of a biannual tradition to provide lawmakers and the people of North Carolina his take on how best to approach the future.

In his fourth such address, with a little less than two years left in his second term as governor, Cooper told lawmakers that he thinks the state is poised for “once-in-a-generation opportunities.”

That includes stepping up efforts to extend broadband to the rural-most reaches of the state. He called for double-digit raises for teachers and enhanced funding for North Carolina’s children, from cradle to career.

Cooper hearkened back to the past as he heralded the future.

“Time and again, overcoming adversity, our leaders had the foresight and the resolve to invest in new ideas that have revolutionized our state, impacting the generations that followed,” Cooper said. “And while we stand on their shoulders, we also stand at an altogether new crossroads.

“Our moment to build enduring prosperity is now,” Cooper added. 

Part of that construction, for some 600,000 low-income residents in North Carolina, is something Cooper has been advocating for since he became governor in 2017. Just last week, after years of facing opposition from Republicans to his pitch to extend the subsidized health care benefit made possible through the Affordable Care Act, Senate leader Phil Berger (R-Eden) and House speaker Tim Moore (R-Kings Mountain) made a long-awaited announcement: They had negotiated an agreement that would include a provision to expand Medicaid in the budget for the next two years.

Federal dollars at risk

Cooper reveled in the whoops and applause at his mention of Medicaid and the news from the previous week.

“I’m grateful for our unified Democratic legislators — and some of the Republicans who have been relentless for years in this effort to expand Medicaid,” Cooper said, acknowledging those across the aisle who had joined Democrats to make it happen. 

“I commend the hard work of this Republican legislature for embracing this and coming together in agreement,” he said.

He thanked advocates who shared his commitment to making health care more affordable and accessible to residents who were caught between a rock and a hard place.

Expansion will cover many low-income workers who made too much money

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First Edition: March 10, 2023

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Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.

KHN:
Black Patients Dress Up And Modify Speech To Reduce Bias, California Survey Shows 

A young mother in California’s Antelope Valley bathes her children and dresses them in neat clothes, making sure they look their very best — at medical appointments. “I brush their teeth before they see the dentist. Just little things like that to protect myself from being treated unfairly,” she told researchers. A 72-year-old in Los Angeles, mindful that he is a Black man, tries to put providers at ease around him. “My actions will probably be looked at and applied to the whole race, especially if my actions are negative,” he said. “And especially if they are perceived as aggressive.” (Sciacca, 3/10)

KHN:
Seniors With Anxiety Frequently Don’t Get Help. Here’s Why. 

Anxiety is the most common psychological disorder affecting adults in the U.S. In older people, it’s associated with considerable distress as well as ill health, diminished quality of life, and elevated rates of disability. Yet, when the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, an independent, influential panel of experts, suggested last year that adults be screened for anxiety, it left out one group — people 65 and older. (Graham, 3/10)

KHN:
Montana Considers New Wave Of Legislation To Loosen Vaccination Rules 

When Deb Horning’s youngest daughter was 5, she got her measles, mumps, and rubella shot like many other kindergartners. But unlike many other moms, Horning had to stay away from her daughter for a week after the shot. Horning, 51, was diagnosed in 2014 with acute myeloid leukemia, an aggressive cancer — the five-year survival rate for those older than 20 is 27%. Horning had been through chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant, which severely weakened her immune system. Because the MMR vaccine contains live virus, she couldn’t get the vaccine herself and had to temporarily avoid her vaccinated daughter. (Larson, 3/10)

KHN:
Share Your Prior Authorization Story With Us

Originally intended to prevent doctors from deploying expensive and ineffectual treatments, prior authorization has morphed into an unwieldy monster that denies or delays needed care, burdens physicians with paperwork, and perpetuates racial disparities. And new federal rules may not be enough to tame it. Do you have an experience navigating prior authorization to get medical treatment that you’d like to share with us for our reporting? (3/9)

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How to Choose the Right Automated Powder Coating System for Your Business

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If you’re in the business of manufacturing, then you know the importance of having the right equipment to ensure efficient and consistent production. When it comes to finishing your products, an automated powder coating system can help you achieve high-quality finishes with minimal effort. However, with so many options available in the market, it can be difficult to choose the right one for your business. In this blog post, we’ll provide some valuable insights on how to choose the right automated powder coating system for your business. 

Consider Your Business Needs 

The first step in choosing an automated powder coating system is to consider your business needs. You need to think about the type of products you manufacture, the volume of production, and the type of finish you require. If you produce small parts, you may need a system that can handle a high volume of parts. If you require a specific finish, you need a system that can produce that finish consistently. 

Look for a Reputable Supplier 

Choosing a reputable supplier is crucial when it comes to automated powder coating systems. You need a supplier with experience in the industry and a good reputation. A good supplier will offer technical support, training, and after-sales service. This is important, as you need to ensure that your system is running efficiently and that any issues are resolved quickly. 

Evaluate the System’s Capacity 

When choosing an automated powder coating system, you need to evaluate its capacity. Consider the size and capacity of the system you need. Ensure that the system can handle your production volume and any future growth. You don’t want to invest in a system that will become obsolete in a few years. 

Evaluate the System’s Capabilities 

In addition to capacity, you need to consider the system’s capabilities. Look for a system that can handle a variety of part sizes and shapes. Also, consider whether the system can produce multiple finishes, such as matte, glossy, or textured. Having a system that can produce a variety of finishes can help you cater to different customer preferences. 

Look for User-Friendly Features 

Choose a system with user-friendly features. Look for an intuitive user interface, automated programming, and troubleshooting capabilities. These features will help reduce downtime and increase productivity. A system that is easy to use will also reduce the need for extensive training, saving you time and money. 

Consider the System’s Energy Efficiency 

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