Public Health
Physicians’ knowledge of where to refer patients for social needs has increased, but opportunities for growth remain
A growing strategy to improve individuals’ health and well-being has been to address their social needs—food, housing, transportation, employment, and more—often referred to as social determinants of health. Increasingly, physicians are being offered incentives that encourage them to screen patients for social needs and connect them to community-based organizations for services. However, community-based organizations are still rarely compensated by the …
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Michigan physicians share perspectives on telehealth opportunities and challenges
The COVID-19 pandemic led to an unprecedented expansion of telehealth in Michigan and across the United States. Telehealth expansion was due, in large part, to a series of pandemic-related policy changes, such as the expansion of insurance coverage for telehealth and the loosening of telehealth delivery restrictions. These new policies allowed patients greater access to remote care to reduce exposure …
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Here’s the current state of programs supporting Michigan’s 1.7 million caregivers
Like most of the United States, Michigan’s population is aging. Accordingly, the number of unpaid family and informal caregivers—those who support others with tasks related to daily living, such as transportation, feeding, and bathing—has increased substantially over the last three decades. The AARP Public Policy Institute estimated the economic value of unpaid caregiving at $470 billion in 2017. For reference, …
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King and Rontal published in the Annals of Family Medicine on annual wellness visit use among persons with disabilities
Persons with disabilities often face challenges accessing healthcare, despite having increased health needs. Annual wellness visits (AWV) and other preventive care may increase the overall health of persons with disabilities, but they can be unaffordable when they require out-of-pocket copays. One purpose of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) was to improve health outcomes and use of preventive …
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