COVERAGE
The number of uninsured Americans decreased by 1.3 million from 2006 to 2007, a change largely attributable to an increase in government-sponsored coverage, says a report from the U.S. Census Bureau. The Bureau's annual report on income, poverty and health insurance found that the number of uninsured people decreased from 47 million in 2006 to 45.7 million in 2007. During the year, however, the percentage of people with private insurance decreased, while the percentage of those covered by government programs increased, a shift some health policy analysts say is problematic. "That's not a sustainable way to maintain our health-care system over time," Len Nichols of the New America Foundation told BNA. The percentage of people covered by private insurance dropped from 67.9 percent to 67.5 percent from 2006 to 2007, and the number of people with employer-based coverage decreased from 59.7 percent to 59.3 percent. During that same period, enrollment in government health plans—Medicare, Medicaid, SCHIP, military health care and individual state programs—grew from 80.3 million to 83 million. The report also examined regional and state insurance rates and found that 11.4 percent of residents in the Northeast and Midwest were uninsured, lower than rates in the West and South, at 16.9 percent and 18.4 percent, respectively. An average of data from 2005 to 2008 showed Texas 24.4 percent of Texans were uninsured, the highest level among the states. Hawaii, Iowa, Massachusetts Minnesota and Wisconsin had uninsured rates of around 8.3 percent.
PUBLIC HEALTH
Seven measles outbreaks occurred in the United States during the first seven months of 2008, affecting at least 131 residents—the highest number of cases reported in more than 10 years—and resulting in 15 hospitalizations, according to a report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 1997, the CDC received reports of 138 measles cases, compared with 42 in 2007. Among the 131 measles cases reported in 2008, 122 involved residents who were not vaccinated or who had an undetermined vaccination status. Sixty-three of the measles cases involved children whose parents decided not to have them vaccinated, and 16 measles cases involved children younger than age one who could not receive vaccinations because of their age. Most measles cases could be traced back to individuals who had traveled to countries where vaccination against the disease does not occur, including Israel, Switzerland and Great Britain. "Every year, the U.S. experiences importation of measles. What is different this year is once it is imported, we are seeing it spread to more people, and most of that spread is to people under 20," Anne Schuchat of the CDC told the Baltimore Sun. Concern about the link between the measles inoculation and autism decreased the number of parents who chose to get their children vaccinated. Parents also decide not to vaccinated their children against the disease because of a false sense of the low risk associated with catching measles, says the Sun.
SUBSTANCE ABUSE
A group of 128 college and university presidents have formed a coalition to address problem drinking on the nation’s campuses. Called the Amethyst Initiative, the coalition is designed to start a national debate on the age at which young adults can legally starting drinking. Critics say that setting the age at 21 allows colleges to shirk responsibility for dealing with binge drinking. Others contend that the 21-year-old limit has reduced drunk driving fatalities. More on both sides of the argument can be found here.
ACCESS
Covering Uninsured is Costly
As expensive as it is to be without insurance, covering the uninsured could prove to cost even more, according to a new report in Health Affairs. According to the study, the uninsured receive about $86 billion in care while they go without insurance, of which $30 billion is out-of-pocket while the other $56 billion is in uncompensated care. If this group were to be given full-year coverage, their spending would increase by another $123 billion. And savings for private insurance holders would be minimal. Despite a steady increase in the overall number of uninsured, uncompensated care has remained steady as 6 percent of hospital costs.
© Copyright 2008, State Health Notes
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