CDC Reports 1st Case of Ebola in U.S. at Dallas Hospital

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed on Tuesday that a patient being treated at a Dallas hospital has tested positive for Ebola, the first case diagnosed in the United States.

Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas officials said in a statement Monday that an unnamed patient was being tested for Ebola and had been placed in "strict isolation" due to the patient's symptoms and recent travel history.

Presbyterian Hospital says it's taking measures to keep its doctors, staff and patients safe.
CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden said that the patient arrived in Texas from Liberia earlier this month and exhibited no symptoms. The patient sought care last Friday and has been hospitalized in isolation since the weekend. Frieden said that officials don't believe there is any risk to anyone who was on the flight at that time.

State health officials say no other cases are suspected in Texas.

The hospital had announced a day earlier that the patient's symptoms and recent travel indicated a case of Ebola, the virus that has killed more than 3,000 people across West Africa and infected a handful of Americans who have traveled to that region. The CDC has said 12 other people in the U.S. have been tested for Ebola since July 27. Those tests came back negative. 

Read entire article.

Falls a Major Risk for Injury, Death Among Seniors

Every day, an average of eight Utahns aged 65 and older are hospitalized for injuries due to a fall. In 2012, there were 3,183 fall-related hospitalizations among older Utahns, costing more than $95 million in treatment charges. The Utah Department of Health (UDOH) reminds everyone that injuries from falls are largely preventable. 


“Falls are not a normal part of aging,” said Trisha Keller, Program Manager, UDOH Violence and Injury Prevention Program. “Most falls are preventable if we can help older adults learn what hazards to remove from their homes and help them increase their strength and balance.” 

Agencies across the Wasatch Front will host free events to help seniors remain active and reduce their risk of falling. Activities include one-mile walks, bingo games, health screenings, fitness demonstrations, and medication reviews. 

Events will be held at the following Salt Lake County Aging and Adult Services Senior Centers: 

• Monday, Sept. 22 – Walk and health fair from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at the Taylorsville Senior Center (4743 S. Plymouth View Drive, Taylorsville) 

• Monday, Sept. 22 – Walk and super bingo from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Columbus Senior Center (2531 South 400 East, Salt Lake City) 

• Tuesday, Sept. 23 – Walk and health fair from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Millcreek Senior Center (2266 E. Evergreen Avenue, Salt Lake City)

• Tuesday, Sept. 23 – Walk and lunch from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. at the Liberty Senior Center (251 East 700 South, Salt Lake City)

• Tuesday, Sept. 23 – Walk and scavenger hunt from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Draper Senior Center (1148 East Pioneer Road, Draper)

• Friday, Sept. 26 – Walk and health screenings from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at the Sandy Senior Center (9310 South 1300 East, Sandy)

• Tuesday, Sept. 23 – Walk from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Autumn Glow Senior Activity Center (81 East Center Street, Kaysville) 

• Tuesday, Sept. 23 – Walk from 11 a.m. to 12 noon at the North Davis Senior Activity Center (42 South State Street, Clearfield)

• Tuesday, Sept. 23 – Walk from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Golden Years Senior Activity Center (726 South 100 East, Bountiful) 

The UDOH recommends four basic steps to reduce the risk of falls: 

• Begin a regular exercise program. Exercise improves strength and balance, as well as coordination. 
• Have your health care provider review your medicines. Some medicines or combinations of medicines can make you sleepy or dizzy and cause you to fall. 
• Have your vision checked. Have your eyes checked by an eye doctor at least once a year. Poor vision can increase your chances of falling. 
• Make your home safer. Remove tripping hazards like throw rugs and clutter in walkways and stairs. Install grab bars next to your toilet and shower. 

 For more information about how to prevent older adult falls, visit 
http://www.health.utah.gov/vipp/older-adults/falls/. 

Key dates for the Health Insurance Marketplace

Are you ready for the next Health Insurance Marketplace Open Enrollment Period? Open Enrollment is the time when you can apply for a new Marketplace plan, keep your current plan, or pick a new one.

4 key dates you should know:

• November 15, 2014. Open Enrollment begins. Apply for, keep, or change your coverage.
• December 15, 2014. Enroll by the 15th if you want new coverage that begins on January 1, 2015. If your plan is changing or you want to change plans, enroll by the 15th to avoid a lapse in coverage.
• December 31, 2014. Coverage ends for 2014 plans. Coverage for 2015 plans can start as soon as January 1st.
• February 15, 2015. This is the last day you can apply for 2015 coverage before the end of Open Enrollment.

To buy Marketplace insurance outside of Open Enrollment, you must qualify for a Special Enrollment Period due to a qualifying life event like marriage, birth or adoption of a child, or loss of other health coverage.

Learn more about your options and coverage start dates.

Enterovirus Has Likely Reached Utah

Doctors at Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City are seeing a significant increase in respiratory illness over the past two weeks. They have identified enterovirus D-68 as the likely source of many of these illnesses.

Dr. Andrew Pavia is Chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Primary Children’s Hospital. In his twenty years of experience, he says he’s has never seen this many hospitalizations for a viral disease in September.

“What we’re seeing is an increase in children with wheezing,” Pavia says. “Some look like they have severe asthma. Some are sufficiently short of breath that they need intensive care treatment.”  

Dr. Pavia says the hospital has seen about 100 children with these symptoms over the past 4 weeks. In response, Primary Children’s has stepped up their staffing and imposed restrictions on children visiting the hospital. The rapid increase in disease and the symptoms suggest to him that enterovirus D68 has reached Utah, but there have been no confirmed cases yet.

“We believe that what we’re seeing is very consistent with enterovirsu 68, but we are waiting for confirmation that it is here,” Pavia says.

Hospital staff have sent samples to Centers for Disease Control and hope to have an answer within two days. Pavia says concerned parents should know that the majority of children who contract the disease will have only mild symptoms. Those with asthma may be at risk for more severe symptoms. 

“For most kids, they’re just not going to be sick enough that they need to be seen at a hospital. Most kids won’t even need to be seen by a doctor,” Pavia says. “Use common sense. If your child looks sick enough to be brought into the doctor’s office, that’s the first step. If they’re really short of breath, that’s when you come straight to the hospital.”


Doctors say enterovirus is spread much like the flu, from contact with fluids. But unlike influenza, there is no vaccine for it. Thousands of children across the country have contracted the virus over the past 2 months. None have died from it. Based on trends in other states, Dr. Pavia believes the disease will likely subside in October.

kuer.org

Another incident of abandoned baby stirs reminder of Utah's Safe Haven Law

Any mother who’s unable to care for her newborn is encouraged to drop off her baby at Utah’s hospital.

Utah Safe Haven Law states that any Utah hospital that’s open 24/7 is designated as a “safe haven” where newborns can be dropped off. The mother remains anonymous and won’t be reported to the police, investigated, or criminally prosecuted. The idea: Moms who are unable to care for their babies can drop off the baby in any Utah hospital — no questions, no police. 

If you talk with someone who wants to drop off a baby, here's what you should do: Take the baby to the emergency department (ED).  The ED's staff are well trained in the state's Safe Haven protocol and prepared to follow up.

Moms, or whoever they've asked to help them, are encouraged to go to a Utah hospital and give their baby to an employee who's wearing hospital identification. All acute-care hospitals in Utah participate in the program.

“We’re not here to pass judgment,” says Melanie Longmore, RN, who manages Labor & Delivery at LDS Hospital. “We’re here to make sure mom and baby are safe. We want everyone to know: If you’re scared or unsure of what to do, there are options available so your baby can have the best chance at life.”

The Utah Division of Child and Family Services assumes legal custody of the child as soon as the division is contacted by the hospital, which should be no more than 24 hours after the baby is dropped off, then places the baby for immediate adoption.

Resources for moms and others who need help:
An anonymous crisis line is available 24/7 at 1-866-458-0058.  Local family support centers often provide emergency, temporary child care or nurseries where families can drop off children 24/7, sometimes for up to 72 hours, so families can take a break, go to medical appointments, or for other reasons. A list of centers available in Salt Lake County is posted at http://utahfamilysupport.org/find-a-center/salt-lake-county.  You may call the Utah Association of Family Support Centers at 801-393-3113 or email utahfamilysupport@gmail.com.

More information about Safe Haven services is available at www.utahsafehaven.org

Intermountain Medical Center article

Two Utah Organizations Receive CMS Grant to Continue Providing In-Person Assistance for ACA Enrollment

Two organizations that focus on access to health care have received a continuation grant from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) to continue to provide in-person assistance for those needing help enrolling in the Affordable Care Act health insurance Marketplace.

Utah recipients are: 

• Utah Health Policy Project: The Utah Health Policy Project is a nonprofit organization dedicated to lasting solutions to the crisis of the uninsured and rising health care costs. The Utah Health Policy Project served as a 2013 Navigator grantee and will continue the Take Care Utah Navigator Hub that connects nonprofit community-based organizations with resources on health coverage options. 
• Urban Indian Center of Salt Lake: Urban Indian Center of Salt Lake will target tribal and urban American Indian (AI) members of the Ute Tribe of the Ouray and Uintah Reservation, the Confederated Tribe of the Goshutes of Ibapah, and the Urban Indian Center of Salt Lake (UICSL) who reside along the Utah’s Wasatch Front. It plans to conduct outreach at the Indian Training & Education Center, and by making regular visits to the Native American Trading Post, homeless shelters, domestic violence shelters, and halfway homes.

The Open Enrollment period for 2015 coverage is November 15, 2014 to February 15, 2015.  Coverage can start as soon as January 1, 2015.  Go to healthcare.gov for more information.

New Website Helps Utahns Live Violence- and Injury-free Lives

Did you know that injuries are the leading cause of death for Utahns ages 1-44? The next time you wonder about how to keep your family safe, the Utah Department of Health (UDOH) wants you to visit their new injury prevention website. The website features safety tips and data on a variety of topics including suicide, prescription drug overdoses, and sports concussions. 

Injuries can have a dramatic impact on a person’s ability to lead an active, fulfilling life. Every day in Utah:

•    4 people die from injury or violence (1,829 deaths ⃰ );

•    31 are hospitalized due to injury or violence (12,280 hospitalizations⃰ ); and

•    444 are seen in an emergency department due to injury or violence (154,047 visits⃰ )

In 2012, the top five injury-related causes of death in Utah were suicides, poisonings, falls, motor vehicle traffic crashes, and unintentional suffocations. The rate of injury deaths in Utah increased significantly from 2010 to 2012 (65.3 per 100,000 and 72.3 per 100,000, respectively). Research shows that most injuries are predictable and preventable.

The new website, www.health.utah.gov/vipp, features 20 violence and injury topics that impact individuals across their lifetime. Stories and quotes from Utahns impacted by injuries and violence are also highlighted on the new website. The most recent data, prevention tips, and resources are provided for each topic, which include:

• Bicycle Safety

• Child Fatalities

• Child Maltreatment

• Child Passenger Safety

• Dating Violence

• Domestic Violence

• Falls 

• Infant Sleep

• Motor Vehicle Crashes

• Pedestrian Safety

• Prescription Drug Overdoses

• Rape and Sexual Assault

• Sports Concussions

• Safe Kids Utah

• Student Injuries

• Suicide

• Teen Driving

• Traumatic Brain Injuries

• Violent Deaths

• Youth Suicide

The new injury prevention website is available at http://health.utah.gov/vipp. 

2014 Annual International High School Essay Contest

2014 Annual International High School Essay Contest

& the African American Male College Scholarships Competition

1) The High School Essay contest is open to ANY High School Senior in the state of Utah. Locally, three small book scholarships will be given to the top essays. The local 1st place winner has a chance of winning one of four college scholarships at the National level: 1st Scholarship: $5,000; 2nd Scholarship: $3,000; 3rd Scholarship: $2,000; and 4th Scholarship: $1,000 

2) There will be two college scholarships up to $1,000 given to the winners of the African American Male Scholars competitions. One scholarship is targeted for a college-bound high school senior and the second one is for a currently enrolled college student in good academic standing. Based upon additional funding, a third scholarship may be given to a current African American male graduate student in good academic standing.  

Local competitions end on October 24, 2014. Contest is open to only Utah residents. For an application and complete contest rules, please go to our website (www.Ques-TriIota.org). Incomplete applications will not be accepted.

Winners must attend the Achievement Awards program in mid-November.

Please contact Dr. William A. Smith (TauThetaQue84@gmail.com) for additional information.

Salt Lake County Seeking Bilingual Temporary Office Specialist and Poll Workers

Position Description:

Office Specialists answer, screen and route incoming telephone calls, input voter registration forms into a database, and answer questions regarding election laws and ordinances.

Timeframe: September 15th through November 21st 

Hourly: $10.89

Work hours: Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, will require working some overtime.

Applicants must have the ability to communicate professionally, basic experience operating a personal computer, basic data entry and typing skills and possess strong customer service skills. Must be able to lift 35 pounds.

Applicants must be a US Citizen at time of hire.

Applicants having the ability to read, write and speak English fluently and speak conversational Spanish will be given preference.

Poll Workers process voters utilizing the State’s database system, reconcile daily voter counts, and assist citizens with the voting equipment as needed.

Early voting: October 21st through October 31st

Learn more and apply at: https://www2.apply2jobs.com/SaltLakeCounty/ProfExt/index.cfm?fuseaction=mExternal.showJob&RID=2502&CurrentPage=1

Help your kids start the school year strong with health coverage

Help your kids start the new school year strong by making sure they get the health coverage they need. With Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), they can get check-ups, immunizations, eye exams, and other care they need to participate in classroom and after-school activities.

Use our screener to find out if you or your kids qualify for Medicaid and CHIP.

These programs offer free or low-cost health coverage for kids and teens up to age 19. And parents may be eligible for Medicaid too.

Continue reading Help your kids start the school year strong...

Coverage to Care-A Webinar about Health Insurance Literacy

Millions of Americans – including thousands in YOUR community – now have the health insurance coverage they need, but could not afford before. This includes people with new private plans, individuals on Medicaid, kids in CHIP programs, and people newly eligible for Medicare.

But many don’t understand how their new coverage works, and this can jeopardize the goals of improving Americans’ health, and cutting health care costs we all pay. That’s why the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has launched “From Coverage to Care,” a national initiative to help people understand their benefits, and connect to the primary care and preventive services they need for a long and healthy life.

This webinar, intended for Marketplace assistors*, providers, community and advocacy groups, and stakeholders throughout Region 8 (CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, and WY) is a roadmap to provide useful information in an easy-to-use format, including issues such as:

·     How to read and understand an insurance card, and the terms it contains
·     How to find a provider, and be prepared for the first visit with him or her
·     What to do after the visit, and where to go if questions arise

We hope you can join us for an informative and educational presentation, which will include time for your questions.
(*)=While this webinar will be of great value to Navigators and Certified Assistance Counselors (CACs), it is not part of the certification process, and cannot substitute for official certification training.

Event to be held at the following time and date:

Thursday, September 18, 2014 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM (MDT) Register here.

Utah Ranks Among Ten States with the Lowest Rates of Adult Obesity

According to the most recent data released in September 2014, two states have adult obesity rates above 35 percent, 20 states have rates at or above 30 percent, 43 states have rates of at least 25 percent and every state is above 20 percent. Between 2012 and 2013, six states had increases. Mississippi and West Virginia have the highest rates of obesity at 35.1 percent, while Colorado has the lowest rate at 21.3 percent. All 10 states with the highest rates of obesity are in the South and Midwest. Northeastern and Western states comprise most of the states with the lowest rates of obesity.

Ten States with the Lowest Rates of Adult Obesity (2013)

Rank		State	Adult Obesity Rate
51	F	Colorado	21.3% ±0.9
50	K	Hawaii	21.8% ±1.4
49	y	District of Columbia	22.9% ±1.9
48	S	Massachusetts	23.6% ±1.1
46	r	Utah	24.1% ±1.0
46	E	California	24.1% ±1.1
45	Z	Montana	24.6% ±1.2
44	t	Vermont	24.7% ±1.4
43	G	Connecticut	25.0% ±1.5
42	h	New York	25.4% ±1.2

http://stateofobesity.org/

USDA Report Shows Household Food Security in the United States in 2013

What Did the USDA Study Find?
The percentage of U.S. households that were food insecure remained essentially unchanged from 2012 to 2013; however, food insecurity declined from 2011 to 2013. The percentage of households with food insecurity in the severe range described as very low food security was essentially unchanged.

• In 2013, 85.7 percent of U.S. households were food secure throughout the year. The remaining 14.3 percent (17.5 million households) were food insecure. Food-insecure house holds (those with low and very low food security) had difficulty at some time during the year providing enough food for all their members due to a lack of resources. The change from 2012 (14.5 percent) was not statistically significant; however, the cumulative decline from 2011 (14.9 percent) was statistically significant.
• In 2013, 5.6 percent of U.S. households (6.8 million households) had very low food security, essentially unchanged from 5.7 percent in 2011 and 2012. In this more severe range of food insecurity, the food intake of some household members was reduced and normal eating patterns were disrupted at times during the year due to limited resources.

Children and adults were food insecure at times during the year in 9.9 percent of households with children. At times during the year, these 3.8 million households were unable to provide adequate, nutritious food for their children. The percentage of households with food-insecure children was essentially unchanged from 2011 and 2012 (10.0 percent in each year).

Read the entire report at http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/err-economic-research-report/err173.aspx#.VAdyv2M0_XN

White House Proclamation Marks National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month

President Barack Obama signed a proclamation designating September 2014 as National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month. The proclamation references a number of national childhood obesity reduction initiatives, including recently updated nutrition standards for all foods and beverages sold and served in schools, as well as an expansion of the Community Eligibility Option under which 22,000 schools in low-income communities will be able to serve free meals to all students.

CMS Finalizes Auto-Enrollment Process for Current Marketplace Consumers

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized a policy that provides current Health Insurance Marketplace consumers with a simple way to keep their current health insurance plan.  This policy encourages current marketplace consumers to return to the Marketplace to ensure they are getting the best deal on their premiums and to shop for the plan that best fits their needs. These policies build on our efforts to enhance the consumer experience and make shopping for health care coverage as simple as possible.

Consumers in the Federally-facilitated Marketplace will receive notices from the Marketplace shortly before open enrollment begins explaining the auto-enrollment process and to encourage consumers to the Marketplace to see if they qualify for additional financial assistance and to shop for plans. Consumers will also receive notices from their insurance company about their new 2015 premium and the amount they may save on their monthly bill with a premium tax credit. 

As part of the renewal process in the Federally-facilitated Marketplace, generally, if consumers do nothing, they will be auto-enrolled in the same plan with the same premium tax credit and other financial assistance, if applicable, as the 2014 plan year.  Consumers are encouraged to return to the Marketplace to make sure they are getting all the financial assistance they qualify for, and to shop for the plan that best suits their needs. Consumers whose 2013 tax return indicates that they had very high income, or who did not give the Marketplace permission to check updated tax information for annual eligibility redetermination purposes will get auto-enrolled without financial assistance if they do not return to HealthCare.gov.  This process will help provide continuity of coverage and safeguard taxpayer dollars.  The policies announced today give state-based Marketplaces the flexibility to propose unique approaches to this process that may better meet their specific state needs, while keeping a streamlined consumer experience the focus.

The CMS fact sheet is available here

The final rule is available here

The final issuer notices guidance will be posted here later today:

Questions or Concerns? Contact HHSIEA@hhs.gov