Health and Wellness 36

7 Tips for Finding a Medicare Plan That Works for You

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior

Feeling overwhelmed by your Medicare options? There’s a good reason for that. With more than 3,000 Medicare Advantage plans, over 700 Part D Prescription Plans available and an array of carriers offering Medicare Supplement plans, there’s a lot to consider.

“Whether this is your first time enrolling in Medicare or you’ve been through the process before, it’s easy to get confused by the big picture, not to mention all the details,” says Ryan Kocher, Medicare growth officer at Cigna.

This Medicare Annual Election Period (AEP), Kocher is demystifying the enrollment process by sharing the same tips he offers to his own friends and family members:

1. Don’t wait. Understanding Medicare can protect your health and finances in the years to come. If you are transitioning from a commercial plan, work with an expert on your company’s insurance plan to avoid gaps in coverage as well as late penalties.

2. Nail down the basics. There are many different plan types. Here’s a breakdown:

• Original Medicare, offered through the U.S. government, includes all providers who agree to participate in the program.

• Medicare Supplement plans are plans offered by many private insurers that complement Original Medicare. For an additional premium, these plans cover costs such as copays and coinsurance not covered by Original Medicare. There are a number of standardized options available.

• Standalone Prescription Drug Plans, offered by private insurers for a monthly premium, provide drug coverage not covered by Original Medicare or Medicare Supplement.

• Medicare Advantage (MA) plans cover everything covered by Original Medicare, and most also include dental, vision, and hearing benefits. They often include prescription drug coverage, and other extras like overthe-counter drugs, transportation to doctor’s visits and pharmacies, and fitness plans. MA plans are often available at no extra cost.

3. Review your plan annually. During the AEP (October 15-December 7), it’s important to review your current Medicare plan, even if you

like it. This is because plan details are subject to change every year. Review the Annual Notice of Changes, which is mailed to you by your insurer each September. This document spells out plan changes for the upcoming year.

4. Compare all the costs. Be sure to factor in all the associated costs of a given plan, not just the monthly premium. Out-of-pocket costs, such as co-pays and deductibles, should also be considered. Additionally, note the prices and rules around the prescription drugs you take.

5. Check network requirements. Before signing up for a particular plan, check to make sure that your favorite health care providers are in its network. While you may be able to go out of network for care, be prepared to pay more if you do.

6. Ask questions. Don’t settle on a plan until you understand it. If you have questions, reach out to your broker, insurer, physician, and even those friends and family members who have Medicare for help.

7. Use your plan. Now that you have a plan, make the most of its benefits. Schedule all the screenings, vaccines, and other preventive health measures recommended by your doctor. Early intervention can help detect conditions early when they can be more effectively treated.

For more information about Medicare, visit Medicare.gov, Cigna’s website at www.cignamedicare.com, or the state health insurance assistance program in your area.

“Don’t be daunted by the Medicare enrollment process. Being a careful shopper can ensure you find a plan that accommodates your wallet and your well-being,” says Kocher.

Source: StatePoint

Just for Pregnant Women? Nope! Surprising Things You Might Not Know About Medicaid

By d-mars.com

Provider

Health care is essential for everyone throughout their life. To further equity, improve outcomes and increase access, it is important people are able to get the care they need when and where they need it. However, the American health care system can be complex. Medicaid is a government-sponsored program to help provide low and often no-cost health coverage to those who qualify, but a recent study found there is confusion around what Medicaid is and who it supports.

When many people think of Medicaid, they think of low-income pregnant women and babies. What you may not know is Medicaid covers 1 in 5 Americans - everyone from children, those living with a disability, and low-income elderly. Here are some additional misunderstandings about Medicaid from the experts at UnitedHealthcare:

Myth: People stay on Medicaid for life

Fact: Most people are on Medicaid for less than three years. It can provide the security you need when you need it most.

Myth: Medicaid is for pregnant women

Fact: Yes, Medicaid supports pregnant women, covering 43% of all U.S. births, but it continues to provide health coverage to support post-partum needs

and children. Medicaid provides health coverage to 37 million children, and nearly 67% of children under the age of five that are covered get a yearly well-child appointment.

Myth: Only people in poverty are on Medicaid

Fact: Medicaid helps people with limited financ es, but more people may qualify than they think. In fact, three-quarters of Medicaid members have a household income of $50,000 38 states have adopted Medicaid Expansion, which covers childless adults with incomes up to above Federal Poverty Level.

Myth: To qualify for Medicaid you have to be unemployed

Fact: A recent survey by UnitedHealthcare showed that more than half of those polled be lieve Medicaid recip ients are unemployed, but 62% of able-bodied Medicaid members are working or in school and 12% are looking for work.

Myth: Young adults coming off their parents' insurance can't use Medicaid

Fact: Due to Medicaid Expansion in some states, more people may be eligible for Medicaid coverage now people covered through Expansion are childless adults - a population There is a lack of understanding around what Medicaid is and who it supports, and many people may not realize they could qualify for Medicaid, even while If you don't qualify for Medicaid where you live, you may be able to er way, like through your employer or your state's Health Insurance

As Black Americans Struggle International Research Details

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

Astaggering 90 percent of people fail to achieve a good night’s sleep, according to new international research presented at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress 2022.

The study found that suboptimal sleep was associated with a higher

likelihood of heart disease and stroke.

The authors estimated that seven in ten of these cardiovascular conditions could be prevented if everyone was a good sleeper.

And while researchers homed in on the sleep behaviors of 7,200 people — comprised mostly of Europeans — Americans also aren’t sleeping.

Black Americans suffer worse from short sleep or sleep apnea.

Earlier this year, the JAMA Open Network indicated that the problem continues to worsen for African Americans.

JAMA researchers discovered that Black Americans get less sleep than white people, a deficit of 15 minutes a day in childhood that grows into almost an hour in adulthood.

Prescribing Adolescents Multiple Psychiatric Drugs Now the Norm, Particularly in BIPOC Communities

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

The current trend of polypharmacy – the simultaneous use of multiple drugs by a single patient for one or more conditions – reflects racism and discrimination in the treatment of Black, Indigenous, and people of color children and teens, according to Dr. Carolyn Coker Ross, an intergenerational trauma expert and eating disorder treatment specialist.

“It has been documented in adults that Black patients with mental illness are more likely to receive substance care and more likely to be diagnosed with psychotic disorders than with depression and anxiety,” Dr. Ross stated.

“The lack of access and availability of therapeutic options to treat mental illness and the lack of understanding and acknowledgment that mental illness in teens and children may have their roots in trauma.

“Medication will not fix the brain changes caused by childhood trauma experiences and may not even fix the symptoms. Beyond this, medication use in children and teens is risky at best and dangerous at its worst.”

Dr. Ross’ comments are in response to a new report revealing that anxious and depressed teens are using multiple, powerful psychiatric drugs, many of which are untested in adolescents or for use in tandem.

In 2020, the journal Pediatrics reported

Additionally, an Oxford study found that far more Black and Hispanic people than white people report routinely getting less than 6 hours of sleep, well short of the recommended 7 to 9 hours for adults.

“Sleep is a privilege,” Dayna Johnson, a sleep epidemiologist at Emory University, told Science.org. “If we can target sleep, we might be able to reduce the burden of all types of diseases among racial minorities.”

Science Direct found that more than a dozen studies have identified racial discrimination as a contributor to sleep disparities. “Black people reported more discrimination and more severe insomnia symptoms than white people, and a statistical analysis determined discrimination accounted for 60% of their insomnia severity,” researchers wrote at Science Direct. Researchers also discovered that environmental factors also cut into sleep. For example, multiple studies have found that Black, Hispanic, and other individuals of color tend to reside in areas where they are exposed to approximately twice as much ambient light at night as white people. “Exposure to artificial light from the street and commercial buildings has been found to suppress melatonin—a hormone that helps initiate sleep,” Researchers wrote. “That causes people to fall asleep later at night, resulting in poorer sleep overall.” Science.org also found that Black, Hispanic, and Asian people in the United States are also exposed to disproportionately high levels of particulate air pollution.

The researchers reported that exposure to this type of pollution can cause inflammation of the nose and throat, and some evidence suggests chronic exposure can worsen sleep apnea and increase daytime sleepiness.

that 40.7 percent of people ages 2 to 24 who were prescribed a drug for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder also were prescribed at least one other medication for depression, anxiety, or another mood or behavioral disorder.

Further, researchers found more than 50 psychotropic medicines prescribed in such combinations.

“These patterns should spark further inquiry about the appropriateness, efficacy, and safety of psychotherapeutic polypharmacy in children and young adults, particularly within subgroups where the use is high,” the authors concluded.

While the use of multiple psychotropic medications counts as concerning in such a young population, it is also not surprising given the lack of other treatment options, Dr. Ross told the Washington Informer.

“Beyond this, however, is a lack of understanding about the root cause of many of the psychiatric conditions being diagnosed and treated with medications,” Dr. Ross asserted.

She continued:

“Both during and before the pandemic, BIPOC children and teenagers are exposed to more trauma and adverse events than any white children and teens.”

Given that depression and anxiety have

increased in recent years among youth, and young ones who have experienced trauma or childhood adversity (or ACEs – adverse childhood experiences) are more likely to experience depression and anxiety and other health and learning challenges, this is a significant health and social justice conversation, added Sarah Marikos, the executive director of the ACE Resource Network (ARN).

“The issues on prescribing psychotropic medications for children, adolescents, and young people, and lack of access to behavioral health supports for youth who have an increasing need for mental health support is one of the biggest health challenges our country is facing right now,” Marikos wrote in an email.

“This is partly why the U.S. Surgeon General issued an advisory on youth mental health at the end of 2021. When diagnosing and treating depression, anxiety, and ADHD, as well as many more common health conditions, particularly among young people, it is important to have a trauma-informed approach.”

Marikos continued:

“Giving children and young people, or anyone really, a psychiatric diagnosis with medication has serious, potentially helpful, and potentially harmful consequences.

To Get a Good Night Sleep, the Benefits of Proper Rest

“And then there is night-time noise, which a 2017 study at hundreds of sites across the United States found is higher in neighborhoods with a higher proportion of Black residents,” they wrote.

The low prevalence of good sleepers “was expected given our busy, 24/7 lives,” said study author Dr. Aboubakari Nambiema of INSERM (the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research), in Paris, France.

stops and starts while sleeping.

Researchers in France used a healthy sleep score combining five sleep habits. They investigated the association between the baseline sleep score, changes over time in the sleep score, and incident cardiovascular disease.

Researchers recruited men and women aged 50 to 75 years and free of cardiovascular disease to a preventive medical center between 2008 and 2011.

The average age was 59.7 years, and 62% were men.

Participants underwent a physical examination and completed questionnaires on lifestyle, personal and family medical history, and medical conditions.

According to the news release, researchers used questionnaires to collect information on five sleep habits at baseline and two follow-up visits.

Each factor was given 1 point if optimal and 0 if not.

A healthy sleep score ranging from 0 to 5 was calculated, with 0 or 1 considered poor and 5 considered optimal.

Those with an optimal score reported sleeping 7 to 8 hours per night, never or rarely having insomnia, no frequent excessive daytime sleepiness, no sleep apnoea, and an early chronotype (being a morning person).

The researchers checked for incident coronary heart disease and stroke every two years for a total of 10 years.

At baseline, 10% of participants had an optimal sleep score, and 8% had a poor score.

“During a median follow-up of eight years, 274 participants developed coronary heart disease or stroke,” according to the release.

physical activity, cholesterol level, diabetes, and family history of heart attack, stroke, or sudden cardiac death.

They found that the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke decreased by 22% for every 1-point rise in the sleep score at baseline.

More specifically, compared to those with a score of 0 or 1, participants with a score of 5 had a 75% lower risk of heart disease or stroke.

The researchers estimated the proportion of cardiovascular events that could be prevented with healthier sleep.

They found that if all participants had an optimal sleep score, 72% of new cases of coronary heart disease and stroke might be avoided each year.

Over two follow-ups, almost half of the participants (48%) changed their sleep score: in 25%, it decreased, whereas, in 23%, it improved.

When the researchers examined the association between the change in score and cardiovascular events, they found that a 1-point increment over time was associated with a 7% reduction in coronary heart disease or stroke risk.

“Our study illustrates the potential for sleeping well to preserve heart health and suggests that improving sleep is linked with lower risks of coronary heart disease and stroke,” Dr. Nambiema stated in the release.

“We also found that the vast majority of people have sleep difficulties. Given that cardiovascular disease is the top cause of death worldwide, greater awareness is needed on the importance of good sleep for maintaining a healthy heart.”

According to a news release from the ESC, previous studies on sleep and heart disease have generally focused on one sleep habit, such as sleep duration or sleep apnea, where breathing

The researchers analyzed the association between sleep scores and cardiovascular events after adjusting for age, sex, alcohol consumption, occupation, smoking, body mass index,

Source: National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA)

Diagnosis informs treatment. Therefore, if the diagnosis is not right, the treatment may not work, or worse, it could be hurtful.”

“Diagnoses can also impact how young people think and feel about themselves and perhaps define themselves. Doctors and behavioral health providers who understand trauma and seek to understand their patients’ history and experiences, may mean a shift in diagnosis and treatment.”

The New York Times noted a nationwide study published in 2006 examined records of visits to doctors’ offices by people younger than 20 and found a sharp rise in office visits involving the prescription of antipsychotic drugs — to 1.2 million in 2002 from 200,000 in 1993. In addition, the drugs were increasingly prescribed in combinations, particularly among low-income children.

The newspaper added that between 2004 and 2008, a national study of children enrolled in Medicaid found that 85 percent of patients on an antipsychotic drug were also prescribed a second medication, with the highest rates among disabled youngsters and those in foster care.

She once worked at Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital in Ohio.

“While I believe physicians and psychiatrists are probably overprescribing these medications, I don’t believe they do so intentionally,” Tietz stated.

“Unfortunately, they are often left with little choice. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and other forms of counseling have been shown to be an essential part of managing mental health conditions,” Tietz continued.

“However, there are few professionals in the medical field today who practice adolescent psychiatry and can provide this benefit to our youth.

“This leaves prescribers with the task of trying to manage mental health concerns strictly with medication.

“I believe any physician would tell you that they want to help the patient to the best of their ability. Unfortunately, right now, physicians have few tools besides medication to do this.”

Get Immediate Help

People often don’t get the mental health services they need because they don’t know where to start.

Talk to your primary care doctor or another health professional about mental health problems. Ask them to connect you with the right mental health services.

If you do not have a health professional who is able to assist you, use these resources to find help for yourself, your friends, your

family, or your students.

Emergency Medical Services, 911

If the situation is potentially life-threatening, get immediate emergency assistance by calling 911, available 24 hours a day.

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

If you or someone you know is suicidal or in emotional distress, contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Trained crisis workers are available to talk 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Your confidential and toll-free call goes to the nearest crisis center in the Lifeline national network. These centers provide crisis counseling and mental health referrals.

Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

Find Treatment with SAMHSA

SAMHSA’s Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator is a confidential and anonymous source of information for persons seeking treatment facilities in the United States or U.S. Territories for substance use/ addiction and/or mental health problems.

Sources: MentalHealth.gov. National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA)

“It’s a fact that our youth are experiencing more mental health concerns today than ever before,” offered Laura Tietz, a pediatric pharmacist.

“The importance of sleep quality and quantity for heart health should be taught early in life when healthy behaviors become established. Minimizing night-time noise and stress at work can both help improve sleep.”

Why HIV Testing Should Be an Important and Normal Part of Your Self-care Routine

By d-mars.com News Provider

The COVID-19 pandemic introduced unprecedented challenges and altered ways of living across the globe. Now, more than two years later, the effects are still felt widely. Many non-emergent clinical services were limited or suspended during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in the US, which may have adversely impacted epidemics of public health importance, such as HIV, and access to testing, which is a cornerstone of prevention efforts.[1] While adjusting to a new normal, it's time to reprioritize making routine HIV screening a normal and important part of self-care.

In 2019, an estimated one in eight people living with HIV in the US were unaware of their status,[2] and in 2016 nearly 80 percent of new HIV infections were transmitted by people who didn't know they had HIV or were not in care.[3] Further, HIV diagnoses have greatly declined during the COVID-19 pandemic. [4] According to a recent analysis, the number of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) funded HIV tests conducted by the country's health departments plunged by nearly half from 2019 to 2020.[5] Another report indicates that HIV diagnoses dropped by 17% from 2019 to 2020, after declining by no more than 3% annually since 2016, likely due to disruptions to HIV-related services caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.4

To help normalize HIV testing, Gilead launched Press Play, a resource to encourage routine testing as a regular part of self-care and help deter negative emotions or stigma associated with HIV screenings. HIV testing is for everyone - the CDC recommends people between the ages of 13 and 64 get tested for HIV at least once as part of routine health care, and some people may benefit from getting tested more often.[6] Press Play provides information about what you can expect during an HIV test, next steps to take after a test, and other tools - including options for finding an HIV testing site or ordering a free at-home test - to help make test taking easier.

While it's natural to feel nervous about getting tested for HIV, no matter the test result, there is power in knowing your HIV status. By knowing your status, you are better equipped to discuss prevention or treatment options with a health care provider. Although there is currently no cure for HIV, there are several options available to help prevent or treat HIV.

The only way to know your HIV status is through testing. It's time to reintroduce testing into self-care routines and work together to help put an end to the HIV epidemic. To learn more about HIV testing, find HIV testing sites, or order a free at-home test, visit Press Play's website at hivtestnow.com.

[1] Moitra E, et al. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on HIV testing rates across four geographically diverse urban centres in the United States: An observational study. Lancet Reg Health Am. 2022;7:100159. doi:10.1016/j.lana.2021.100159

[2] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). CDC fact sheet: HIV in the United States and dependent areas. Accessed May 31, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/ hiv/pdf/statistics/overview/cdc-hiv-us-ataglance.pdf

[3] CDC. Gaps in HIV testing and treatment hinder efforts to stop new infections. Accessed March 18, 2019. https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2019/p0315-gapshinder-hiv-testing.html

[4] CDC. HIV Surveillance Report, 2020; vol. 33. Accessed May 31, 2022. https:// www.cdc.gov/hiv/library/reports/hiv-surveillance/vol-33/index.html

[5] Patel D, et al. HIV testing services outcomes in CDC-funded health departments during COVID-19. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2022. doi:10.1097/QAI.0000000000003049

[6] "Should I get tested for HIV?" Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. HIV: Getting tested. Accessed May 31, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/hiv-testing/ getting-tested.html

Source: BPT

"With Press Play, our goal is to normalize routine HIV screening as an important part of self-care by providing resources to help you get tested and information on your options once you have your test results - no matter the outcome," said David Malebranche, MD, MPH, Senior Director of Global HIV Medical Affairs at Gilead. "Once you know your HIV status, you're on your way to moving forward. You can connect with your HCP to understand options to help prevent or treat HIV."

American Cancer Society Urges the Black Community to Pay Close Attention to Prostate Health

By d-mars.com News Provider

Prostate cancer is the second most common type of cancer diagnosed and the second leading cause of cancer death among Americans with prostates. This year alone, more than a quarter million people in the U.S. will receive the diagnosis. With approximately 1 in 6 Black men expected to be diagnosed with prostate cancer in his lifetime compared to 1 in 8 White men, the Black community is disproportionately impacted due to long-standing health inequalities.

To address this issue and save lives, the American Cancer Society recommends Black people born with a prostate speak with their doctor and make an informed decision about screening. There are usually no symptoms until the disease is advanced. Screening can catch cancer early and make it easier to find effective treatment options.

“Health inequalities within the Black community have been well documented,” said Tawana Thomas Johnson, senior vice president, and chief diversity officer at the American Cancer Society. “Reasons for these inequalities are complex but likely rooted in the structural racism that contributes to poverty, under-resourced communities, and the lack of access to high-quality health care. All these factors lead to Black people having a higher cancer burden due to greater obstacles to cancer prevention,

detection, treatment, and survival.”

While death rates from prostate cancer have dropped by more than 50% since the early 1990s, Black people still have the highest death rate for prostate cancer of any racial or ethnic group in the U.S., dying from this type of cancer at a rate double to white people. Studies also show Black people diagnosed with advanced-stage prostate cancer are significantly less likely to receive any treatment compared with white people, even when they have similar health insurance.

“We urge the Black community to work with us to address these alarming statistics,” said Dr. Arif Kamal, the

chief patient officer at the American Cancer Society. “Talk to a doctor about screening and available screening options, and if diagnosed, use us as a resource to learn more about the research and resources available for the best cancer outcomes.”

Talk to a doctor about prostate cancer screening if you are:

Talk to a doctor about prostate cancer screening if you are:

• 40 or older and have more than one close family member who had prostate cancer 45 or older and Black or have a close family member who was diagnosed with prostate cancer before they turned 65 • 50 or older and have no family history of prostate cancer

From 1991 to 2019, there has been a 32% decline in cancer mortality due to early detection, research, advocacy, and patient support. The American Cancer Society offers multiple resources to support patients and improve cancer outcomes. This includes a 24/7 cancer helpline, free transportation to treatment, free lodging if treatment is needed away from home, online patient and caregiver peer support communities and information on current research.

Learn more at cancer.org/partneringforlife.

Source: National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA)