While insurance, Medicaid, or Medicare offer coverage for a large portion of medical expenses, there are portions of expenses that are ultimately the patient’s responsibility; This is where financial resources come in handy. Some financial resources for asthma include: the PAN Foundation, Partnership for Prescription Assistance, RxAssist, and the Healthwell Foundation. These resources all have different requirements to qualify for assistance like being 400% below poverty level or having insurance but having substantial bills after coverage. Patients should always let their provider know if they are having issues affording prescriptions. Healthcare facilities will often have samples of medications or have access to specific types of prescription …show more content…
Asthma affects numerous areas of patient’s lives. Many patients will miss multiple days of work or school due to an episode of exacerbation. One study found that “asthma accounted for 10.5 million missed school days. Children with more severe asthma and/or nighttime symptoms are more likely to suffer academically than those with more mild symptoms.” (Environmental Protection Agency, 2012). Missing school can result in falling behind in classes and increase stress on the patient. For adults, many jobs have a maximum amount of days that can be missed before termination. If the patient has severe asthma, they could potentially miss one day a month for flare-ups or require hospitalizations that lasts 2-4 days. Majority of people are on a fixed budget and cannot afford to miss even one day a …show more content…
County Health Departments, numerous asthma physicians, and a community resource call the Healing Community Center are all available to assist patients. As mentioned above, there are several assistance programs available for patients to help pay for prescriptions, co-pays, and even travel expenses. Available assistance programs include: PAN Foundation, Healthwell Foundation, Needy Meds, Chronic Disease Fund, and Bridges to Access. Patients can also inquire locate pharmacies like Publix, Walmart, Target, and Sam’s Club to determine if they offer discount prices for certain
Traditional Medicaid is available, in Michigan, to adults that are taking care of a dependant child(ren), are on Supplemental Security income (SSI), aged, blind, disabled and those diagnosed with a permanent disability or that were blind before the age of 22 (MDCH, 2014). Many of these categories include an income and asset test (MDCH, 2014). There is also a program called the Adult Medical Program that provides limited services to childless adults that do not qualify for Medicaid (MDCH, 2014). There is an income and asset test for this program as well.
The three measurable outcome of asthma management includes improved quality of life, decreased use of resources, and increased patient and family satisfaction. Regardless of the practice settings case managers help to increase access to health care service, reduces health care cost, improved outcomes of the care delivered and over all improve the quality of care (Powell). The categories of outcome indicators are
...Medicaid covers. The allergy shots will not only help my severe year round allergies, they will help to control my asthma.
...n improve adherence to medication” (Toole, 2013). School-based interventions through an asthma program clearly show to be the most practical, cost-effective way to reach out to children with asthma and manage their condition.
Most of us have experienced a time in our lives when we have dealt with the burdens of sickness. Can you think of a time when a loved one has been severely ill? Or of a time when you, yourself, have been in the hospital? Can you imagine not being able to physically be with that sick loved one, or not having your loved ones nearby to support you while you were sick? Now imagine being a parent with a child who has a life-threatening illness, such as cancer. Wouldn’t that be hard? What if your child needs the best care available, but that facility is out of state? Do you send them away and visit every now and then? Do you move? Do you drive hundreds of miles a week for treatments? How can you afford it all? Thousands of families experience these hardships every day. The struggle to accommodate for a child’s healthcare needs is costly and stressful. That is why Ronald McDonald House Charities provide shelter across America for families with hospitalized children who are receiving treatment away from home.
An option for folks who have no money is Medicaid. Medicaid is designed for the very poor people. Unfortunately you must meet Medicaid guidelines in order to be eligible for it. “In order to be eligible you must make below the poverty level that the government allows, this is about $1,497 a month for a single person, also if you are a child who is under 19, if you are pregnant, if you are out of work for a long time, or if you are HIV positive, you may be eligible to apply.” These guidelines alone generally rule out many of Americans. “The U.S. Census reported young adults (18-to-24 years old) remained the least likely of any age group to have health insurance in 2001.” More than 28% of this group does not have coverage.
Asthma is the leading cause of hospital admissions during childhood. Kumar and Robbins give an accurate definition of asthma as “a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways that causes recurrent episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and cough, particularly at night and/or early in the morning” (489). Asthma is a terrifying disease, especially in children, because of the sudden attacks that could claim lives if not treated immediately and effectively. Despite recent advancements in available drugs and overall therapy, the incidence of childhood asthma is rising (Dolovich 373). In order to effectively treat and eventually prevent the onset of asthma, more effective and economical therapies are necessary; although current knowledge has already led to breakthroughs in new drug treatments, the rising incidence rate calls for more. Therefore, to advance the effectiveness of asthma therapies, researchers must first look at the changes caused by the disease, the risk factors that cause or exacerbate it, and lastly understand the mechanisms of the current drugs.
Asthma is also a serious public health issue because it imposes huge impact not only population but also health care systems. According to recent statistics, each year, 5000 deaths, half million hospitalizations, and two million emergency visits are solely explained by asthma [1]. It is also leading cause of absence from school and work. Economic impact is enormous, too. 11 billion dollars of cost was due to only medications of asthma in 1994 [2], which was later increased up to 14 billion dollars in 2002 [3], and still increasing. Unfortunately, this financial burden of asthma falls disproportionately to some vulnerable subgroups: minorities, and children.
My mom said that my aunt and cousins have also an asthma when they were kids, this situation motivate me to take this course so that I can help all the patients with the lung and heart problems. Skyline college offer a respiratory care program that is accredited for two-year program and the program also offers an Associate of Science Degree in Respiratory Care which allows a graduate to become a licensed Certified Respiratory Therapist and also affords the opportunity to attain a higher level of credentialing (Registered Respiratory Therapist) that provide instruction and clinical practice. A student like me will learn from dedicated instruction who have practical experience in the field and will gain valuable hands-on experience through 800 hours of clinical and practice coordinated with sites in San Francisco and San Mateo
Asthma is treated with two types of medicines: long-term control and quick-relief medicines. Long-term control medicines help reduce airway inflammation and prevent asthma symptoms. Quick-relief, or "rescue," medicines relieve asthma symptoms that may flare up.
This is a form of managed care, you have to pick the right plan that suits your needs, some are better than others so you need to do your homework and see which one fits your needs financially. However, most Medicaid HMO’s don’t report information so that there is no information that consumer can compare. Not all HMO‘s are alike, HMO’s are health care plans that cost less. However, in order to use a specialist out of the network a referral is required from the network doctor in other words your family
sponsored programs, such as Medicaid, that try and offset medical problems of the poor youth,
Because it is largely a state run program, each state has its own insurance policy and coverage. Ohio Medicaid provides Medicaid coverage to low-income individuals, pregnant women, infants and children, older individuals and individuals with disability. To be eligible, the individual must be an Ohio resident, be a US citizen/meet one of the Medicaid citizenship requirements and meet the financial requirements. Ohio Medicaid provides comprehensive coverage that includes preventative care, addiction treatment, dental, mental health and vision (Ohio Department of Medicaid). This care is funded by both the state and federal government though tax revenue.
Practical help with everyday tasks -- such as filling out forms to guarantee eligibility for Federal programs (e.g., Medicaid, Social Security disability benefits)
Asthma is a disease that currently has no cure and can only be controlled and managed through different treatment methods. If asthma is treated well it can prevent the flare up of symptoms such as coughing, diminish the dependence on quick relief medication, and help to minimize asthma attacks. One of the key factors to successful treatment of asthma is the creation of an asthma action plan with the help of a doctor that outlines medications and other tasks to help control the patient’s asthma ("How Is Asthma Treated and Controlled?"). The amount of treatment changes based on the severity of the asthma when it is first diagnosed and may be the dosage may be increased or decreased depending on how under control the patient’s asthma is. One of the main ways that asthma can be controlled is by becoming aware of the things that trigger attacks. For instance staying away from allergens such as pollen, animal fur, and air pollution can help minimize and manage the symptoms associated with asthma. Also if it is not possible to avoid the allergens that cause a patient’s asthma to flare up, they may need to see an allergist. These health professionals can help diagnosis what may need to be done in other forms of treatment such as allergy shots that can help decrease the severity of the asthma ("How Is Asthma Treated and Controlled?").