Since the pandemic began, it has been well documented that the risk for severe illness, hospitalization, and death related to COVID-19 is highest for older adults.[1] For people in their 50s, for example, the chances of dying from the disease is 30 … [Read more...] about New Survey | More Older Adults in the US, Especially People of Color, Suffered Economic Hardship Due to COVID-19
equity
Kaiser Family Foundation Issues Report Comparing Cost-Related Problems for Medicare Advantage Enrollees and Beneficiaries in Traditional Medicare
The Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) recently compared costs faced by Medicare Advantage (MA) plan enrollees to those in traditional Medicare in a report entitled “Cost-Related Problems Are Less Common Among Beneficiaries in Traditional Medicare Than … [Read more...] about Kaiser Family Foundation Issues Report Comparing Cost-Related Problems for Medicare Advantage Enrollees and Beneficiaries in Traditional Medicare
Recent Initiatives Focus on Understanding and Addressing the Needs of LGBTQ Older Adults in Long-Term Care
There are currently 1.1 million adults 65 and older who identify as LGBTQ. Furthermore, 1 in 5 LGTBQ older adults are Black, indigenous, or people of color (BIPOC), which creates additional layers of potential discrimination based on racial bias, in … [Read more...] about Recent Initiatives Focus on Understanding and Addressing the Needs of LGBTQ Older Adults in Long-Term Care
Studies Highlight Barriers to Health Equity: Access to Pharmacies & Telehealth
Two studies recently published in Health Affairs shed light on important health equity issues. Pharmacy Deserts/Closures One of the strategies employed by the federal government to expand nationwide access to vaccines was to establish the … [Read more...] about Studies Highlight Barriers to Health Equity: Access to Pharmacies & Telehealth
CDC Declares Racism to be “Serious Public Health Threat”
COVID-19 has infected over 30 million Americans and claimed the lives of 560,000.[1] According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the impacts of COVID have disproportionately impacted communities of color, highlighting … [Read more...] about CDC Declares Racism to be “Serious Public Health Threat”
Positive COVID News from Navajo Nation
The New York Times reported some welcome news this week regarding COVID-19 cases in Navajo Nation: Due to a successful vaccination campaign in which half the population is already vaccinated, as well as strict adherence to mitigation measures, Navajo … [Read more...] about Positive COVID News from Navajo Nation
Experts Spotlight Systemic Racism in U.S. Nursing Homes and Call for Action
COVID-19 deaths in long-term care facilities account for one-third of the nation’s death toll – even though only five percent of the cases have occurred in these facilities.[1] “People in nursing homes”, as Robert Espinoza, Vice President of Policy … [Read more...] about Experts Spotlight Systemic Racism in U.S. Nursing Homes and Call for Action
Harmful “Public Charge” Rule Blocked Nationwide
The so-called “public Charge” rule allowed officials to deny permanent legal residence (green cards) to immigrants who had received or who were deemed likely to need assistance from government programs, such as most forms of Medicaid and SNAP (food … [Read more...] about Harmful “Public Charge” Rule Blocked Nationwide