H1N1 and the uninsured in America

Let's face it: many uninsured patients don't have primary care providers. They are reluctant to seek medical care because they can't afford it, and more importantly - they're afraid of the potential medical bills that may result from a sick visit.

So, what's going to happen to the uninsured as H1N1 spreads across the country? We know it's going to spread because we can't stop it. Global public health agencies have admitted that H1N1 simply can't be stopped.

• We're not going to see any type of public option emerge this fall/winter. There will be no universal health coverage to help patients this winter.
  
• Unemployment is still a significant problem in this country. With unemployment comes uninsured patients and families.
• H1N1 may lead to increased hospitalization. How will individuals handle these hospital bills?

Here's a novel thought: if you're uninsured in the United States, perhaps you may wish to spend this winter in a westernized country that offers free universal health care coverage. That way, if you get sick, you'll have access to free health care. Do you have any relatives living in other countries?

This winter will be a trying period for many individuals and families living in the United States. My hope and prayer is that H1N1 infections will be mild and that they won't cause too many hospitalizations or deaths. If we all do our part to wash our hands and practice good sanitation and hygiene, then I think we'll help prevent the spread of this contagious virus.

Healthcare reform and jobs

How will healthcare reform initiatives impact the job market in the United States? I think many people are anticipating a boom in the health information technology (health IT) sector. That's to be expected, considering how the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) focuses tremendously on the role of health IT (or HITECH) in healthcare reform. Will healthcare reform boost employment? Improved health should raise productivity. What about the "pay-or-play" mandate on employers? They must either offer benefits or pay a fine.

There are some other perspectives to consider when we think about healthcare reform. Catherine Arnst writes in BusinessWeek about how healthcare reform may spur employment. She cites MIT economist Jonathan Gruber (an MIT alum who also studied at Harvard, but we won't hold that against him) for the Small Business Majority. Professor Gruber estimtaes that if reform doesn't occur and small businesses are spending over $2 trillion on healthcare over the next decade, then this may lead to a loss of 178,000 jobs in 2018.

Pfizer Offers Free Drugs to Unemployed, Uninsured

These are tough economic times and we need better patient assistance programs. Pfizer is coming out with a program to help people who have lost their jobs and health insurance. If you lost your jobs since Jan. 1 and you've been taking a Pfizer drug for three months or more, then probably qualify. These individuals will have access to free prescription Pfizer medications (including common drugs like Lipitor which is used to lower cholesterol and Viagra for the treatment of erectile dysfunction) for up to a year.

• Starting today, patients can call a toll-free number, 866-706-2400, to sign up.
• Starting July 1, patients can also apply through the Web site

So, do you know anyone who could take advantage of this program?

Job Loss Linked to Health Problems?

Do you know anyone who has recently lost a job? CNN has a story about how the risks of hypertension, heart disease, and arthritis are higher in those who lose their job.

As someone trained in public health, I often wonder whether we're talking about association or causation. In other words, does job loss cause these conditions? Probably not. However, the association is an interesting one and it may point to some issues that revolve around healthcare disparities. These findings were recently published in the journal Demography by Kate Strully, assistant professor of sociology at the State University of New York at Albany. Demography is the statistical study of all populations. What an interesting name for a journal. I'll have to keep my eye out for this edition. Image source: CNN.