Community News

 

There is a trend downward to the pre-holiday season COVID-19 community levels. The CDC reports that the community level for Buncombe County is low for the week ending February 6^th. More than two-thirds of the counties in North Carolina are low. More than three-quarters of the counties in the U.S. are at a low level with about 2% at a high level.

The Buncombe County COVID-19 metrics are on the North Carolina COVID Dashboard. Data from the week ending on February 4^th indicate:

• Last week’s total cases are up 6% from the previous week.
• 68% of the total population have received their initial vaccination series.
• 32% of people with their initial vaccination series have had the updated booster. Up 1% from last week.
• The seven-day daily average of COVID-19 hospitalizations has decreased 28% and of ICU patients has decreased by 50% from last week.

An updated COVID-19 booster is now available for eligible persons 6 months and older. It is more effective at protecting against severe illness and death from the new variants.

The Department of Health and Human Services recommends:

• Stay up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccines and the updated booster.
• People with any COVID symptoms should get tested
• People who are positive for COVID-19 or do not feel well should stay home

For a county at a low community level, like Buncombe County, the CDC recommends:

• If you are at high risk for getting sick, wear a high-quality mask in a public indoors space.
• If you plan on being with someone at high risk for getting sick, consider self-testing for COVID-19 infection and wear a high-quality mask when indoors with them.

 

Listen to the full report below:

 

 

Contact: Dr. Dick Needleman, Health reporter, 103.3 AshevilleFM, [email protected]

More Posts for Show: Asheville FM News Hour

 

WASHINGTON, DC – January 1, 2023 –  The United States’ Clean Air Act (CAA) is the foremost air quality law to reduce and control air pollution in our country. It was first passed in 1963. The law is administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The agency sets standards for the maximum concentrations of pollutants in outdoor air and for maximum emissions of hazardous air pollutants from specific industrial sources. After the pollution standards are set, the state and local governments have to develop implementation plans to best achieve these standards. These plans are directed at either a major source or an “area” source. The CAA has been frequently challenged in court by groups seeking stricter guidelines and by other groups seeking less regulation.

The EPA regulates 6 ‘criteria’ air pollutants by using human heath-based and/or environmentally-based criteria data. The agency develops guidelines for the maximum concentration allowable in outdoor air. Five gases and particulate matter (PM) comprise these pollutants. The five gases are carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen oxides, ground-level ozone and sulfur oxides. PM is a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets in the air. The EPA only regulates inhalable particles 10 micrometers or smaller. Large particles, like dust, pollen and mold, are about 2.5 to 10 micrometers in width, called PM₁₀ particles. Fine particles, derived from burning fuels and organic compounds, measure less than or equal to 2.5 micrometers in width, called PM_2.5 particles. These particles are one thirtieth the width of a human hair. They usually form in the air following a chemical reaction between nitrogen and sulfa-based criteria gases.

The PM_2.5 particles, also called soot, pose a greater risk to human health than the PM₁₀ particles. Soot is linked to heart and lung disease and with early death. It also can adversely affect fetal health and is associated with childhood asthma. Breathing PM has been associated with 32 thousand deaths in the U.S. in 2020, according to a Lancet journal review. Many are related to fossil fuel combustion. Low-income communities and communities of color disproportionately are situated closer to highways and industry in urban areas, the major sources of particle pollution. Other vulnerable groups include outdoor workers, children, seniors, and persons with heart and lung disease.

In January, the EPA has proposed reducing the maximum concentration of PM_2.5 from 12 micrometers per cubic meter of air to between 9 and 10. This is based on the daily averages over the course of a year. The agency is taking public comment on these proposed limits for 60 days after the proposal is entered into the Federal Registry. The Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee, the American Lung Association, the advocacy group Clean Air Now and the Union of Concerned Scientists are in favor of even lower standards, 8 micrograms per cubic meter of air, in order to better protect vulnerable groups that live closer to the sources of pollution.

Harold Wimmer, the president of the American Lung Association said to USA Today, “Inadequate standards leave too many communities behind. Strong particulate matter standards are needed to protect public health and further environmental justice.”

 

Listen to the full report below:

 

 

Contact: Dr. Dick Needleman, Health reporter, 103.3 AshevilleFM, [email protected]

More Posts for Show: Asheville FM News Hour

 

WASHINGTON, DC – February 1, 2022 –  It’s been three years since the U.S. public health (PH) emergency was announced for the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, more Americans have health care coverage, food assistance and access to coronavirus tests and vaccines. These executive actions have been continuously renewed until May 11^th when they will expire and not be renewed.

What is going to happen to these provisions:

COVID tests, treatments and vaccines:

During the PH emergency. These new developments were authorized for emergency use by the FDA. Tests, treatment and vaccines have been free for everyone.

After expiration. They will remain authorized for emergency use. Health insurers may charge once the federal supplies are exhausted.

Medicaid:

During the PH emergency. Enrollment markedly increased because the federal government would not allow states to remove people from the program if they had already been enrolled.

After expiration. Starting in April, states can remove ineligible people.

Student loans:

During the PH emergency. Federal student loans payments have been on hold. The Biden administration had announced forgiveness of some federal student loan debt. However, loan forgiveness is pending a Supreme Court ruling.

After expiration. Student loan payments will remain on hold until 60 days following the Supreme Court ruling.

Immigration at the border:

During the PH emergency. Border security can deny people the right to enter the U.S. before they obtain asylum in order to stop the spread of the virus.

After expiration. This is pending Supreme Court review.

Telehealth:

During the PH emergency. Telehealth has become very popular and is now accepted by Medicare and health insurance companies.

After expiration. Congress has authorized Medicare to continue the policy this year.

Food assistance:

During the PH emergency. It was easier for individuals and families to qualify for SNAP benefits. Unemployed adults under 50 and without children and low-income college students had SNAP benefits.

After expiration. SNAP benefit enhancements will end soon in about one-half of the states. SNAP benefits for unemployed adults under 50 and without children are only for workers or participants in job training for at least 20 hours a week. Low-income college students will no longer be eligible for SNAP.

Money for hospitals:

During the PH emergency. Hospitals receive 20% more money for treating COVID-19 Medicare patients.

After expiration. Hospitals will no longer get the additional Medicare payments.

 

Listen to the full report below:

 

 

Contact: Dr. Dick Needleman, Health reporter, 103.3 AshevilleFM, [email protected]

More Posts for Show: Asheville FM News Hour

 

ASHEVILLE, NC – February 1, 2022 – There is a trend downward to the pre-holiday season COVID-19 community levels. The CDC reports that the community level for Buncombe County is low for the week ending January 30th. More than one-half of the counties in North Carolina are low. More than two-thirds of the counties in the U.S. are at a low level with about 4% at a high level.

The Buncombe County COVID-19 metrics are on the North Carolina COVID Dashboard. Data from the week ending on January 28th indicate:
• Last week’s total cases are down 24% from the previous week.
• 68% of the total population have received their initial vaccination series.
• 31% of people with their initial vaccination series have had the updated booster.
• The seven-day daily average of COVID-19 hospitalizations has decreased 24% and of ICU patients has decreased by 64% from last week.

An updated COVID-19 booster is now available for eligible persons 6 months and older. It is more effective at protecting against severe illness and death from the new variants.

The Department of Health and Human Services recommends:
• Stay up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccines and the updated booster.
• People with any COVID symptoms should get tested
• People who are positive for COVID-19 or do not feel well should stay home

For a county at a low community level, like Buncombe County, the CDC recommends:
• If you are at high risk for getting sick, wear a high-quality mask in a public indoors space.
• If you plan on being with someone at high risk for getting sick, consider self-testing for COVID-19 infection and wear a high-quality mask when indoors with them.

 

Listen to the full report below:

 

 

Contact: Dr. Dick Needleman, Health reporter, 103.3 AshevilleFM, [email protected]

More Posts for Show: Asheville FM News Hour

 

WASHINGTON, DC – January 1, 2023 – Medicare provides health insurance for older Americans, disabled people and persons with certain chronic diseases. If you are eligible for Medicare, then you must decide between government-run traditional Medicare or a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan managed by private-health insurance companies. Traditional Medicare consists of Part A (for in-hospital care), Part B (for outpatient care including doctor visits) and Part D (for prescription drugs). Medicare Part C, also known as MA, usually covers Part A, B & D. Almost one-half of all Medicare enrollees have Part C this year.

Many traditional Medicare beneficiaries may be unaware that they are receiving services from a provider using direct contracting, similar to MA, unless the provider notifies them. In 2019, during the Trump administration, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) entered in a direct contracting (DC) model with clinics, health systems, health plans and commercial health insurance. They are paid by the federal Medicare program to cover each beneficiary’s care like in the MA program. However, the DC only includes Part B like traditional Medicare and does not include Part D or other benefits offered by a MA plan. With the start of the New Year, under the Biden administration, CMS has modified the original DC model with the Accountable Care Organization Realizing Equity, Access, and Community Health (ACO REACH) model to provide stricter oversight and a stronger focus on health equity.

Traditional Medicare beneficiaries in ACO REACH may be subject to the same disadvantages of MA. The MA plans restrict networks of doctors and hospitals, mandate authorization for some services (like imaging studies) and require referrals to specialists. The Office of the Inspector General found that MA plans routinely rejected claims that should have been paid and denied services that physician reviewers found to be medically necessary. Persons requiring medical care while away from home may not have their health care covered because the local providers are out-of-network. Brown University researchers found that many high medical needs patients were more likely to switch from MA plans to traditional Medicare.

Senator Elizabeth Warren, Representative Pramila Jayapal, and 19 other members of Congress recently sent a letter to Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, the CMS Administrator, complaining that the ACO REACH “model provides an opportunity for health care insurers with a history of defrauding and abusing Medicare and ripping off taxpayers to further encroach on the Medicare system.” They have asked CMS to protect patients by “halting participation by any organizations that have committed health care fraud.”

 

Listen to the full report below:

 

 

Contact: Dr. Dick Needleman, Health reporter, 103.3 AshevilleFM, [email protected]

More Posts for Show: Asheville FM News Hour

 

WASHINGTON, DC – December 29, 2022 –  On December 29^th, President Joe Biden signed an end-of-year government appropriations bill that includes the bipartisan Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment (MAT) Act. The FDA-approved medicine for opioid use disorder (OUD), called buprenorphine, will become easier for people to obtain who seek treatment. One of the main medicines used to treat OUD is Suboxone. It is the brand name combination medicine that includes buprenorphine with naloxone, the latter is used to reverse opioid overdoses. Buprenorphine has been shown to be effective in reducing overdose deaths, curb the use of illegal drugs, and help people from dropping out of treatment. MAT has been proven to be the most effective treatment for OUD.

The MAT Act eliminates the following barriers to care:

• Health-care provider prescribing. Any DEA-registered prescriber of controlled substances will be able to treat OUD patients with buprenorphine. Providers will no longer require additional training and certification to obtain a special DEA waiver to prescribe this medicine. Therefore, more providers will be able to prescribe it. Patients won’t have to search for a physician who can prescribe buprenorphine and travel long distances to get treatment. Taking time off from work and spending money on gas are major factors in reducing patients access to care.
• Disparities by geography and race. Underserved communities of color and rural populations have difficulty with access to buprenorphine. Having more health care providers able to prescribe the medicine should reduce these disparities.
• Stigma in treating OUD. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration is encouraging providers to treat patients with OUD by eliminating barriers to prescribing the controlled medicine.

More than 100 thousand Americans died from drug overdoses in 2021 and 75% were due to opioids. Over the past 20 years, more than one million Americans died from drug overdoses. However, in 2020 only 11% of people with this condition received medicine-assisted treatment. Therefore, federal legislators from both political parties are optimistic that the newly signed MAT Act will be a great step towards reducing the treatment gap. Health-care providers will be able to take care of patients with OUD (a disease of the brain) just as they take care of heart disease, diabetes and lung disease.

 

Listen to the full report below:

 

 

Contact: Dick Needleman, Health reporter, 103.3 AshevilleFM, [email protected]

More Posts for Show: Asheville FM News Hour