Nearly 98% of allergists recommend protective bedding as the number-one way to minimize indoor allergy symptoms, according to a recent Braun Research survey, conducted on behalf of Aller-Ease(1). In addition to protective bedding, allergists also recommend antihistamines (96%), air conditioning (88%), air purifiers (80%) and diet modifications (26%).

Virtually all beds are host to an entire world of invisible allergens. Although most people are unaware of this fact, allergists are all too familiar with the symptoms associated with these unseen bedfellows. That’s why they recommend protective bedding as the first line of defense.

“Combating allergy symptoms usually involves a combination of treatments, including allergen protective bedding for those with indoor allergies. Beds can be a hotspot for accumulation of many common indoor allergens such as house dust, dust mites and pet dander,” said Clifford W. Bassett, M.D., Medical Director of Allergy and Asthma Care of New York.

Allergy sufferers say they like Aller-Ease protective bedding because they filter allergens, yet they’re soft, cool and quiet, allowing them to sleep comfortably and wake feeling refreshed.

For more information about allergies and asthma and Dr. Bassett’s easy tips to help minimize symptoms, visit www.aller-ease.com.

Win a Free Aller-Ease Pillow Protector

Spring has sprung and that means allergies and spring-cleaning are upon us. This year Aller-Ease wants to help alleviate your allergy symptoms after you’ve rid your house of all the clutter and dust that winter left behind. Visit www.aller-ease.com between March 21 and April 30 and tell us the most disgusting thing you found during your spring cleaning and you’ll have a chance to win a grand prize of an Aller-Ease allergy-proofing bedroom makeover for your entire home (up to four beds).

(1) Allergist Survey – Braun Research, Nov. 2009 (n=351; +/-5%)

Source: American Textiles

InfoLogix announced that hospital executives and decision-makers from across the country took part in the highly-anticipated market launch of InfoLogix’s new Healthcare Mobility Solutions Suite at the annual Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) conference in Atlanta, Georgia last week.

The HIMSS Conference and Exhibition is the largest healthcare information technology event in the United States. Among the 27,000 healthcare industry experts in attendance, nearly 20% of the registrants are CEOs and CIOs who come to take part in 300 education sessions on critical healthcare topics ranging from Electronic Medical Records (EMR), government standards and ARRA meaningful use requirements, to improvements in patient safety, quality of care, and unified communications.

Within the healthcare industry, InfoLogix offers a unique approach to mobile workflow, with a total solution that incorporates people, process, systems and technology. To extend these capabilities, the company featured the launch of two innovative new products in its Healthcare Mobility Solutions Suite. The first line of solutions to debut, InfoLogix’s new ST7 Mobile Workstations, are designed as part of a true end-to-end strategy for hospitals to attain electronic medical record (EMR) implementation and mobilization. The ST7 Mobile Workstation is engineered to support critical patient care functions such as clinical documentation, computerized physician order entry (CPOE), bedside medication verification, and vitals monitoring.

In addition, HIMSS attendees were the first to experience InfoLogix’s innovative new ST7 LiFe Battery (Lithium Iron Phosphate), which dramatically improves the capabilities of the ST7 Mobile Workstation by recharging in about one hour, a mere fraction of the time of other power solutions currently in place at hospitals.

“At InfoLogix, we’ve strategically grown our EMR consulting team to include the brightest minds in the industry, including nurses, pharmacists, clinicians and wireless experts who average nearly two decades of experience and understand how to make technology truly successful. Along with the experience from our 1,500 hospital customers across North America, this enabled us to design the ST7 Mobile Workstation and ST7 LiFe Battery from an ergonomic, patient safety, workflow and IT perspective,” said David Gulian, president and CEO of InfoLogix. “By combining these technology and consulting solutions, InfoLogix has powerful capabilities to provide healthcare organizations with closed-loop unified communications that use automation to drive cost reductions, while simultaneously improving patient safety and experience. This is a significant differentiator from our competition, and deserving of a high-profile forum such as the HIMSS Conference and Exhibition for its formal market launch. The enthusiastic response we received from the many attendees who experienced our new technology and spoke at length with our consulting experts during the show serves to reaffirm our belief that these solutions will fill a vital market demand.”

For more information on InfoLogix’s complete Healthcare Mobility Solutions Suite, including technologies and services to enable EMR implementation and mobilization, visit www.infologix.com/ST7.

AAA is reminding members their Show Your Card & Save® program benefits can help ease financial pressures during difficult times with valuable discounts, including health care-related expenses. Members will find discounts on many products and services including, prescription medications, eyeglasses and fitness equipment, AAA said.

In 2008, out-of-pocket health care costs consumed approximately $3,000 of annual income per household, or about 6 percent of a typical household budget, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “For many Americans, particularly those currently unemployed, managing these costs has never been more important,” said Gail Acebes, Director, AAA Partnership Programs.

AAA members can save an average of 24 percent* on prescriptions at more than 59,000 participating pharmacies nationwide, including CVS/Pharmacy, Walgreens, Target Pharmacy, Walmart Pharmacy, and Rite Aid. For people that do not have prescription coverage, or those taking lifestyle drugs frequently not covered by insurance, the discount can offer substantial savings. Prescriptions for family pets that can be filled at a traditional pharmacy are also included. For more information and to obtain a free Prescription Savings Card visit AAA.com/prescriptions or call 1-866-AAA-SAVE (1-866-222-7283)

Many people wait until they experience vision problems to schedule an eye exam, but they may be missing an opportunity for early diagnosis of conditions that can affect sight. AAA members save 30 percent* on eye exams and if necessary 30 percent* on a complete pair of eyeglasses at LensCrafters, Sears Optical, Pearle Vision, and Target Optical. There is also a 10%** discount on contacts.

AAA membership also provides a 15 percent discount on nutritional supplements from GNC online when orders are placed through www.AAA.com/shopnow. Books and DVDs on everything from dieting, cooking, fitness and general health are discounted 10 percent to members at barnesandnoble.com.

Membership will save shoppers 20 percent at Reebok and Rockport Outlet stores, which offer a full line of fitness gear. Fitness and outdoor equipment can be purchased at AAA.com/Target with a ten percent discount for AAA members.

“There is nothing more important than maintaining personal health and the health of family members, yet when times are tough these needs can sometimes be shortchanged,” Acebes said. “This is one of the reasons AAA works with a range of partners to provide healthcare-related savings and benefits for our more than 51 million members.”

AAA’s Show Your Card & Save program is the largest member discount program in the world offering more than 164,000 locations for savings worldwide including 110,000 retail locations in North America and popular online retailers including Barnes & Noble and Sears.com. Through the program, AAA members save more than 2 billion dollars last year. Visit AAA.com/discounts for a complete list of retailers and offers.

Doctors might not take the bribe. An informal online survey by the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS) so far shows that 90 percent of more than 1,100 respondents answer “No” to the question “Should doctors take the ‘Stimulus’ money to computerize their offices?” See www.aapsonline.org.

To get the subsidy of up to $65,000 over 5 years, doctors have to use a government-approved system. Such a system must be “interoperable” — which means able to share patients’ private information with more than 600,000 different entities.

No patient consent is needed.

Doctors are warned: “If you take the stimulus money to computerize your office, the government will own your patients’ medical records — and possibly your practice,” states Jane M. Orient, M.D., executive director of AAPS.

The system will have to be capable of generating lists of patients by specific conditions, to use for “quality improvement,” reduction of disparities, research, and outreach. It will have to contain decision rules as for ordering diagnostic tests, and a way to track compliance with the rules. Doctors’ pay will be tied to achieving the government’s desired outcomes.

The government’s purposes include cutting spending and meeting population health goals. The doctor’s calling, in contrast, has traditionally been to serve each individual patient.

Changing from a sickness to a wellness orientation means that healthy young workers (taxpayers and voters) have a priority higher than older, sicker folks.

Under the Senate healthcare reform bill, a computer will determine, at the point of service, whether or not an individual is eligible to receive a specific service at a specific facility. The interoperable health record would contain information such as ethnicity, race, preferred language, smoking status, weight, body mass index, age, and compliance with past treatment, related to patient worthiness and societal goals.

“Interoperability” is what the $17 billion buys for the government. It’s essential for central government monitoring and control of doctors — and their patients.

Source: Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS)

“More than 18 percent of Georgia’s non-elderly population is uninsured, demonstrating a great need for access to free medical services,” National Association of Free Clinics (NAFC) Executive Director Nicole Lamoureux said. “In addition to providing needed medical services on the day of the event, this clinic is designed to connect the uninsured to ongoing medical resources.”

The C.A.R.E. (Communities Are Responding Everyday) Clinic is scheduled for March 27 at the Georgia International Convention Center near Atlanta from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. It is sponsored by the NAFC and the Georgia Free Clinic Network (GFCN), which includes 18 free clinics around the state.

“Medical volunteers are urgently needed including doctors of medicine, doctors of osteopathy, nurse practitioners, physician’s assistants, registered nurses, licensed vocational nurses, emergency medical technicians, medical administrators, licensed clinical social workers and more,” GFCN Executive Director Donna Looper said. “We also need non-medical volunteers to help with documentation, logistical support, patient intake and translation, as well as to be patient greeters and escorts.”

Volunteers can find out more information and register online at http://www.regonline.com/Atlanta_CARE_Clinic. Those interested in attending the clinic as a patient may call 1-877-233-5159 to make an appointment now.

“It is important to note that being uninsured is not the same as being unemployed,” Lamoureux said. “About 83 percent of uninsured people have jobs. At past C.A.R.E. Clinics, we found that many of the patients worked at two or more jobs but did not receive health insurance benefits. Some even worked as nurses or for insurance companies but still did not have insurance themselves.”

Dr. Craig Dietz, the Clinical Director of the Kansas City Free Clinic, has been a volunteer at all of the previous C.A.R.E. clinics that were held in Houston, New Orleans, Little Rock, Kansas City and Hartford. At these clinics over 7,000 uninsured people received free medical care. “Being involved in these clinics has been a rewarding experience,” says Dr. Dietz. “We look forward to working with the Georgia community and adding to the approximately 7,000 previous C.A.R.E. clinic volunteers to help put on this important event.”

Source: National Association of Free Clinics

Stryker Corporation’s Orthopaedics Division announced the release of the ADM X3 Mobile Bearing Acetabular System, a next-generation technology for hip replacement surgery designed to minimize the risks associated with total hip replacement surgery.

While total hip replacement is one of the most successful surgical procedures performed today, dislocation remains one of the top reported complications(1). To address dislocation, conventional designs focus on the use of metal-on-metal large head technologies which based on recent studies suggest added risk due to metal ion release(2). Combining an evolution in design with the only anatomic dual mobility acetabular system and its patented X3 Advanced Bearing Technology(3), Stryker Orthopaedics Mobile Bearing Hip addresses dislocation without the risk of metal ion release.

“By developing an implant that addresses adverse outcomes associated with hip replacement surgery, we are not only helping surgeons to treat their patients more successfully, but we are also striving to reduce global healthcare costs by minimizing surgical complications,” said Bill Huffnagle, Vice President and General Manager of Hip Reconstruction at Stryker Orthopaedics.

This Mobile Bearing Hip system is made possible due to Stryker Orthopaedics’ patented X3 Advanced Bearing Technology(3) which is designed to increase the longevity of the implant. Laboratory tests have shown a 97% reduction in volumetric wear compared to conventional polyethylene(4). ADM’s anatomic design also has the potential to increase mobility and reduce groin pain(5),(6). Its dual points of articulation help accommodate multi-directional movement, which provide greater range of motion than fixed implant designs based on laboratory testing(5). In addition, the anatomic cup design has an iliopsoas tendon cut-out aimed at reducing iliopsoas tendon impingement(6), a key cause of post-operative groin pain.

The introduction of ADM with X3 signals Stryker Orthopaedics’ intention to lead the market in the mobile bearing hip category with a product that addresses the limitations of other hip products in the market today. The launch also highlights the deep commitment and significant investments Stryker is making in its hip business — ADM X3 is the third major hip product launch by Stryker in the past year.

“We are committed to offering advanced technologies that benefit both surgeons and patients while adding value in ways that have the potential to reduce costs to the healthcare system,” said Huffnagle.

About 1 in 6 Americans (16.2 percent) between the ages of 14 and 49 is infected with herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), according to a national health survey released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. HSV-2 is a lifelong and incurable infection that can cause recurrent and painful genital sores.

The findings, presented at the 2010 National STD Prevention Conference, indicate that herpes remains one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in the United States.

The new estimate, for 2005-2008, comes from CDC’s National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a nationally representative survey of the U.S. household population that assesses a broad range of health issues.

The findings suggest relatively stable HSV-2 prevalence since CDC’s last national estimate (17 percent for 1999-2004), because the slight decline in prevalence between the two time periods is not statistically significant.

The study finds that women and blacks were most likely to be infected. HSV-2 prevalence was nearly twice as high among women (20.9 percent) than men (11.5 percent), and was more than three times higher among blacks (39.2 percent) than whites (12.3 percent). The most affected group was black women, with a prevalence rate of 48 percent.

As with other STDs, biological factors may make women more susceptible to HSV-2 infection. Additionally, racial disparities in HSV-2 infection are likely perpetuated because of the higher prevalence of infection within African-American communities, placing African-Americans at greater risk of being exposed to herpes with any given sexual encounter.

“This study serves as a stark reminder that herpes remains a common and serious health threat in the United States. Everyone should be aware of the symptoms, risk factors, and steps that can be taken to prevent the spread of this lifelong and incurable infection,” said Kevin Fenton, M.D., director of CDC’s National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention. “We are particularly concerned about persistent high rates of herpes among African-Americans, which is likely contributing to disproportionate rates of HIV in the black community.”

Research shows that people with herpes are two to three times more likely to acquire HIV, and that herpes can also make HIV-infected individuals more likely to transmit HIV to others. CDC estimates that over 80 percent of those with HSV-2 are unaware of their infection. Symptoms may be absent, mild, or mistaken for another condition. And people with HSV-2 can transmit the virus even when they have no visible sores or other symptoms.

“Many individuals are transmitting herpes to others without even knowing it,” said John M. Douglas, Jr., M.D., director of CDC’s Division of STD Prevention. “We can’t afford to be complacent about this disease. It is important that persons with symptoms suggestive of herpes — especially recurrent sores in the genital area — seek clinical care to determine if these symptoms may be due to herpes and might benefit from treatment.”

Combination of Prevention Approaches Needed to Reduce National Herpes Rates

Although HSV-2 infection is not curable, there are effective medications available to treat symptoms and prevent outbreaks. Those with known herpes infection should avoid sex when herpes symptoms or sores are present and understand that HSV-2 can still be transmitted when sores are not present. Effective strategies to reduce the risk of HSV-2 infection include abstaining from sexual contact, using condoms consistently and correctly, and limiting the number of sex partners.

CDC does not recommend HSV-2 screening for the general population. However, such testing may be useful for individuals who are unsure of their status and at high risk for the disease, including those with multiple sex partners, those who are HIV-positive, and gay and bisexual men.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

There are no known genetic factors that can explain the greater prevalence of Alzheimer’s and other dementias in Hispanics and African-Americans than in whites. On the other hand, high blood pressure and diabetes, which are known risk factors for Alzheimer’s and other dementias in all groups, are more common in Hispanics and African-Americans than in whites. Socioeconomic factors, such as having a low level of education and low income are also associated with greater risk for Alzheimer’s and other dementias in all groups. Data from a federal survey of older Americans shows that African-Americans and Hispanics are disproportionately represented among socioeconomically disadvantaged people in this country. The Association’s new report points out that these health and socioeconomic factors probably contribute to the greater prevalence of Alzheimer’s and dementia in Hispanics and African-Americans.

“Alzheimer’s disease is the single largest, looming unaddressed public health threat facing the nation, but we now know the threat is even more substantial in the Hispanic and African-American communities,” said Harry Johns, Alzheimer’s Association President and CEO. “These groups are more likely to have Alzheimer’s, less likely to know it and, as a result, less likely to receive available treatments and supportive services that can help them cope with the disease.”

Diabetes and high blood pressure are potentially modifiable conditions. Better management of these conditions could help to reduce the prevalence of Alzheimer’s and other dementias, especially if treatment were begun in people who have these conditions in midlife. Since diabetes is more common in Hispanics than in whites and both diabetes and high blood pressure are more common in African-Americans than in whites, effective treatments for these potentially modifiable conditions can be especially beneficial for these groups.

Socioeconomic disparities, such as lower income, translate into reduced access to health care and therefore, reduced opportunities to avoid or better manage diabetes and high blood pressure that in turn increase Alzheimer risk.

Under diagnosis of Alzheimer’s and Dementia in Hispanics and African-Americans

Although Hispanics and African-Americans are more likely than whites to have Alzheimer’s and other dementias, the report reveals that Hispanics and African-Americans are less likely than whites to have a formal diagnosis of their condition. National data show that Hispanics and African-Americans with Alzheimer’s and dementias are less likely than whites to report that a doctor has told them they have a “memory related disease” (45 percent of whites with Alzheimer’s and dementias compared with 34 percent of Hispanics and 33 percent of African-Americans with these conditions).

Although family members and others may notice early symptoms of possible Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias, there are often long delays between this first recognition of symptoms and the scheduling of a medical evaluation. The resulting delays in diagnosis mean that Hispanics and African Americans are not getting treatment in the earlier stages of the disease, when the available treatments are more likely to be effective and do not have an opportunity to make legal, financial and care plans while they are still capable.

“The Association is committed to increasing awareness about risk factors for Alzheimer’s and other dementias among all Americans,” said Johns. “Greater understanding about the importance of proper management of diseases like high blood pressure and diabetes will allow individuals to make more informed health care decisions and adopt healthy life style behaviors that can also help to reduce Alzheimer and dementia risk.”

Growing Impact of Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia

According to the report, there are 5.3 million Americans living with the disease and every 70 seconds someone in America develops Alzheimer’s disease. By mid-century someone will develop Alzheimer’s every 33 seconds. In 2010, there will be a half million new cases of Alzheimer’s, and there will be more new cases in each subsequent year. In 2050, there will be nearly a million new cases.

Alzheimer’s was the seventh leading cause of death in the country in 2006, the latest year for which final death statistics are available. It was the fifth leading cause of death among individuals 65 and older. From 2000-2006 death rates have declined for most major diseases – heart disease (-11.1 percent), breast cancer (-2.6 percent), prostate cancer (-8.7 percent), stroke (-18.2 percent) and HIV/AIDS (-16.3) while Alzheimer’s disease deaths rose 46.1 percent.

“Strategic investments in research for diseases such as heart disease, breast cancer, prostate cancer, stroke and HIV/AIDS have all resulted in declines in deaths. We have not seen the same type of significant strategic investment in Alzheimer’s and because of that, deaths from Alzheimer’s disease continues to soar,” said Johns. “Discovering effective treatments that prevent onset or delay disease progression takes on an all encompassing urgency as the nation braces for an onslaught of aging baby boomers. This disease, unlike any other, has the power to undermine all of our best efforts to control health care costs.”

People with Alzheimer’s and other dementias are high users of hospital, nursing home and other health and long term care services, translating into high costs for all payers. The Alzheimer’s Association estimates that total payments for health and long-term care services for people with these conditions will amount to $172 billion from all sources in 2010. Medicare costs are almost three times higher for people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias than for other older people, and Medicaid costs are almost nine times higher. Most people with Alzheimer’s also have one or more additional serious medical conditions, such as diabetes or coronary heart disease. Their Alzheimer’s greatly complicates medical management for these other conditions, resulting in more hospitalizations and higher costs.

Impact of Alzheimer’s and Dementia on Caregivers

According to the new report, in 2009, nearly 11 million family members and other unpaid caregivers provided 12.5 billion hours of care for people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias, an amount of unpaid care valued at $144 billion. In fact, Alzheimer’s and dementia caregivers provided care valued at more than $1 billion in each of 36 states, and nine states saw an Alzheimer and dementia caregiver contribution valued at $5 billion or more per state.

“Alzheimer’s disease often progresses in a slow, unrelenting pace exacting a tremendous emotional, physical and financial toll on caregivers. Every day these caregivers rise to meet the challenges of Alzheimer’s,” said Robert J. Egge, Alzheimer’s Association Vice President of Public Policy. “The uncompensated care they provide is valued at $144 billion, which is more than the Federal government spends on Medicare and Medicaid combined for people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias.”

More than 40 percent of family and other unpaid Alzheimer and dementia caregivers rate the emotional stress of caregiving as high or very high, compared with 28 percent of caregivers of other older people. Caregivers often report a decline in their own health as they try to balance the demands of caregiving with their own work responsibilities. In 2009, 60 percent of Alzheimer and dementia caregivers were employed full-time or part-time and among those employed, two-thirds said they had to go in late, leave early or take time off because of caregiving; 14 percent had to take a leave of absence and 10 percent had to reduce their hours or take a less demanding job. Juggling the demands of caregiving, particularly in these financially difficult times, has placed additional stress on caregivers as their caregiving duties threaten their own job security.

Ultimately solving the Alzheimer crisis – with its far-reaching impact on families, Medicare, Medicaid and the health care system – will mean addressing the chronic underinvestment in research. A rapidly aging population and dramatic increases in the number of Alzheimer cases in coming years should catapult the government into action. “We know what the future will bring if we do nothing – more lives lost, overloaded nursing homes, overworked caregivers and an overwhelmed health care system,” said Egge. “Our country must increase our investment in research and scientific innovation if we hope to soon live in a world together with Alzheimer survivors.”

The full text of the Alzheimer’s Association’s 2010 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures can be viewed at www.alz.org after the embargo lifts. The full report will also appear in the March 2010 issue of Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association (volume 6, issue 2).

Alzheimer’s Association’s Facts and Figures

The Alzheimer’s Association’s Facts and Figures report is a comprehensive compilation of national statistics and information on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. The report conveys the impact of Alzheimer’s on individuals, families, government, and the nation’s health care system. Since its 2007 inaugural release, the report has become the most cited source covering the broad spectrum of Alzheimer issues. The Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report is an official publication of the Alzheimer’s Association®.

In honor of the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day, Health & Development International (HDI) announced the results of its Rapid Maternal Mortality and Obstetric Fistula Prevention Project today, in advance of its second hosted global meeting on this topic to be held at The Carter Center in Atlanta on March 9 and 10.

This is the world’s first pilot project devoted to the rapid prevention of obstetric fistula in women. Obstetric fistula is an injury resulting from obstructed childbirth commonly affecting girls and young women in under developed countries in Africa and Asia where caesarian section is not available. The injury leaves these young mothers with a devastating condition that causes constant human waste leakage that is permanent unless corrected by surgery.

For the project, 250 villages in Bankilare, Niger were monitored. Since its introduction two years ago, more than 20,000 women in a population of 100,000 are now protected and obstructed labor deaths have been eliminated in these target areas, while obstetric fistula has been markedly reduced. In addition, medical records show prenatal consultations are up 63 percent and births in health settings are up 70 percent.

Leaders in the global health arena will attend the meeting at The Carter Center to discuss the successful results and explore the possibilities for further expansion of the initiatives elsewhere, by other agencies.

Dr. Bill Foege, senior fellow in the Global Health Program of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, will be the keynote speaker at the meeting. Also expected to attend are representatives from United Nation agencies, major foundations and academics in the field of reproductive health from three continents.

“So far, we have seen notable success. Deaths from obstructed labor are down 100 percent within the project area,” said Dr. Anders R. Seim, Executive Director of HDI. “This meeting will provide us with an incredible opportunity to liaise with top minds in global reproductive health and hopefully bring more attention and effort to this devastating yet preventable injury.”

“HDI’s demonstrated success in the pilot Rapid Maternal Mortality and Obstetric Fistula Prevention Project shows great potential in helping to prevent this terrible health issue,” said Dr. Donald R. Hopkins, an HDI trustee and MacArthur Fellowship award winner for his work to eradicate Guinea worm disease.

Given the results of this pilot project, HDI hopes to expand its efforts to a larger area reaching 263,000 women by the end of 2010.

Note to press: to view a slideshow of photos from Niger, visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/29335885@N08/sets/72157623580211714/

A survey released today by the Center for Healthcare Research & Transformation challenges the long-held assumption that having health insurance is synonymous with having access to health care.

The survey of 1,022 Michigan adults showed that while 40 percent of those who lacked insurance delayed seeking needed care, so did 17 percent of those with health insurance – mostly due to cost concerns.

The survey also revealed that many low income urban dwellers had fewer problems accessing care than all but high income suburban dwellers – potentially reflecting the greater availability of health care “safety net” providers in urban areas. Residents in rural communities and small towns reported more problems with access to care.

“Rather than a simple count of who has health insurance and who doesn’t, we wanted to get a clearer picture of the people behind the statistics,” says Marianne Udow-Philips, director of the Center for Healthcare Transformation and Research. “And we wanted to test the connection between health insurance and access to health care.”

The survey also found that many Medicaid/Healthy Kids recipients had difficulty finding providers of care. There was a significant difference between those with Medicaid/HealthyKids coverage and those with MiChild coverage on this measure. While 35 percent of those with Medicaid/HealthyKids coverage reported difficulties finding providers who accepted their coverage, only 12 percent of those with MiChild coverage reported the same problem.

The survey also tested self perceptions of health. “We wanted to see if people’s health insurance status affected their perceptions of their own health,” says Udow-Philips.

Surprisingly, there was no significant connection between having health insurance and self perceptions of health. Forty-nine percent of those with health insurance reported themselves to be in excellent or very good health, while 47 percent of those with no health insurance reported themselves to be in excellent or very good health.

The survey reveals increasing anxiety about loss of insurance coverage. Those in the manufacturing sector – traditionally a secure sector for health insurance – are now as worried about losing coverage as those in the arts, services, hospitality, and retail occupations – traditionally not secure sectors for health insurance. Worry level in these sectors ranges between 40 percent and 52 percent.

In contrast, those in high-tech knowledge industries, government, and construction/natural resources/mining sectors were not as worried about losing coverage, with worry levels of 21 percent or below.

“These findings point to the changing economic landscape in Michigan,” says Udow-Philips. “Worries about the potential loss of health insurance coverage have now extended to those in manufacturing.”

This is the first health coverage survey commissioned by the Center for Healthcare Research & Transformation. The survey was conducted in August 2009 by Michigan State University’s Institute for Public Policy and Social Research. The survey is part of CHRT’s “Cover Michigan” report, a detailed picture of the health coverage landscape in Michigan, to be published in April 2010.

Visit CHRT on the Web at: www.chrt.org for a copy of the survey findings.