THE NON-USE OF THE ANNUAL CHECK-UP
The need for an annual physical remains controversial. But in 2011, Medicare introduced the "annual wellness visit" for seniors to encourage evaluation of fall risk, dementia screening, vaccination, and other preventive services that older Americans don’t receive often enough, and primary care providers often neglect. This study demonstrates that in 2014, only 16% of Medicare beneficiaries had an annual wellness visit. Some doctors performed these examinations much more than others, and white seniors and those with higher incomes were more likely to be the recipients. Whether such visits improve health remains to be seen.
HELP WITH HOUSING HELPS IN UNEXPECTED WAYS
Of the 24,000 youth aging out of the foster care system in the United States each year, around 36% will experience homelessness. New York City affordable housing and supportive services program (NYNY III) began to provide supportive housing for at-risk transition-aged youth in 2007. After at least seven days in the program, NYNY III participants aged 18 to 25 experienced greater housing stability for at least two years, and were also less likely to acquire a sexually transmitted infection. Housing programs are effective for more than just reducing homelessness.
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SCHOOL-BASED HEALTH
School-Based Health Centers (SBHCs) play a unique role, bringing health care to a place where adolescents consistently spend about eight hours a day. The location and availability of the services of SBHCs can reduce disparities both in health and education, especially for children from a low-income background or of a racial minority group. As of 2014, there are 2,315 SBHCs.
Education and health are intrinsically linked. SBHCs promote academic success by addressing health problems that would otherwise impede a student’s ability to prosper. SBHCs provide a wide variety of services ranging from preventive services to oral health to behavioral health that vulnerable students are often not able to access due to transportation or financial barriers.
John Knopf and colleagues at the Community Preventive Services Task Force from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) found that SBHCs have positive influences on both health and education outcome measures. SBHCs reduce rates of school suspension and high school non-completion, as well as increase GPAs. Knopf et al. also found a decrease in emergency department and hospital visits, increases in immunizations and preventive services, and more children with a regular source of health care.
Map from School-Based Health Alliance 2013-14 Digital Census Report
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