Office of Public Relations

[newsclippings/dhmh_header.htm]
Visitors to Date
Office of Public Relations
			Sunday, January 25, 2009 News Clipping Archives *Maryland / Regional* Medicaid aid could exceed $1 billion (Capital News Service) Number of people getting arthritis treatment booming (Cumberland Times-News) *National / International* Oh-So-Cold Temperatures Plague Older People (Washington Post) Oh Listeria found at plant (Baltimore Sun) *Opinion* Continuing to expand access to health care (Baltimore Sun) *Maryland / Regional* Medicaid aid could exceed $1 billion By Leonard Sparks Capital News Service Sunday, January 25, 2009 WASHINGTON - Maryland could receive more than $1.4 billion in Medicaid assistance under the federal economic stimulus plan wending its way through Congress, according to an analysis by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. An $825 billion spending and tax cut proposal being considered by the House includes provisions to temporarily raise the federal government's share of the heath care program. If passed as proposed, more than $87 billion in Medicaid assistance to states would bring Maryland about $371 million in 2009 and 2011, and $664 million in the 2010, according to the analysis released Thursday. "It's very good news for the states and very good news for the economy as well," said Jason Levitis, a policy analyst with the Washington-based center. "It's really important to get money to states so they aren't cutting health care ... and so that they aren't laying off other workers." Created to extend health care to low-income adults and children, Medicaid is jointly funded by the states and the federal government, with the federal share higher for states with lower average incomes. Under the House plan, the federal government would defer any planned increases in the share of Medicaid costs borne by each state. The plan also reduces the percentage paid by "high unemployment" states and increases the federal match for each state by 4.9 percent. States earning a "high unemployment" designation must show that their unemployment rate has increased by a specific percentage since July 1, 2006. Maryland's eligibility for the unemployment benefit is unclear. But under the plan, the state would see its federal match increase from 50 percent to 54.9 percent. Appearing on WTOP-FM radio Friday, Gov. Martin O'Malley said without federal assistance, the state could be forced to go further than the job and program cuts in the 2010 budget he unveiled Wednesday. Like a majority of states, Maryland is feeling the pinch of a dismal national economy. With more than 2 million jobs lost last year and foreclosures at a record high, states are facing severe revenue declines. O'Malley's budget includes 700 layoffs and $1.2 billion in cuts. And to close a projected $2 billion deficit caused by declining revenues, it relies on a "conservative" estimate of $350 million in forthcoming federal assistance. Without federal help, "there will be probably a higher number of job layoffs and also deeper cuts to things none of us wanted to cut," O'Malley said. Maryland's budget problems also prevent the continued expansion of Medicaid eligibility approved by state lawmakers during the 2007 special session. In July 2008, a lower income ceiling took effect, allowing more low-income families to enroll. This coming July, eligibility was supposed to be expanded to childless adults, provided that certain revenue targets were met. "We're going to have to hold where we are until we hit those benchmarks that allow us to go to the next phase," O'Malley said. Last year's expansion has brought 28,000 new enrollees to the program, said John Folkemer, deputy secretary for health care financing for the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. "In the last little more than a week, (enrollment) grew by more than 1,000," he said. "We figured probably that first six months, you're going to see steady growth and then after that not so much." Over the last year, overall participation in the program grew from 707,000 to 760,000, Folkemer said. He described the increase as "not typical." "If the unemployment rate keeps going up, we will likely see an increase in the number of people qualifying for Medicaid," he said. Money from a federal stimulus plan could meet current needs and enable Maryland to follow through with enrolling more single adults, said Vinnie DeMarco, president of the Maryland Citizens' Health Initiative. "I think that extra money should be enough to continue our health care expansion," he said. "It would definitely be enough to cover this." Copyright © 2008 University of Maryland Philip Merrill College of Journalism. Number of people getting arthritis treatment booming By Erica Kritt Cumberland Times-News Sunday, January 25, 2009 More than six years ago, John Lawrence had to crawl up the steps. He just couldn’t stand the pain in his knees when he attempted to walk up. “When I was younger, I used to do a lot of roller skating,” said Lawrence, of Finksburg. “It wore down the cartilage in my knees and arthritis set in. I could hardly walk.” Lawrence described his pain as being like putting pressure on a sprained ankle. After enduring the pain, Lawrence consulted an orthopedic surgeon about getting his knees replaced. Lawrence had both of his knees replaced on Oct. 31, 2002, at the age of 59. He said he was out of his bed the day after surgery, and after more than a month of physical therapy, Lawrence hasn’t had pain since. Even so, he avoids kneeling. “It doesn’t hurt for me to kneel, but it’s one of those phobias,” he said. Joint boom Dr. David Silber, of the Advanced Centers for Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, which has locations in Westminster and Eldersburg, performed Lawrence’s joint surgery. He said the number of people getting joint replacements is off the charts. According to the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons, an estimated 165,000 hip joints were replaced in the United States in 2001, and an estimated 326,000 knee joints that same year. In 2005, those numbers increased to 285,000 hip joint replacements and 523,000 total knee replacements. AAOS also expects hip replacements to increase by 101 percent and knee replacements by 525 percent by 2030. This would entail 572,000 hip replacements and 3.4 million knee replacements. “Part of it is technology and part of it is related to baby boomers aging,” Silber said. A total joint replacement trades a damaged joint with an implant or prosthesis. Silber said that with the increase of technology, age limits are loosening and younger patients can get joint replacements if they fit certain criteria. Silber said the technology of joint replacements increases constantly. One of the more significant changes he has witnessed in his more than 20 years of practice is joint replacements that don’t rely on bone cement to bond the joint to the bone. “Over time the cement weakens and cracks, like the sidewalk,” he said. Now a joint can be tightly secured into a bone and, over time, the bone grows into the porous surface of the joint. With the advances in technology in joints, there have also been improvements in anesthesia and physical therapy that mean a person getting a knee replacement can be in the hospital for only three days. When Silber started, people were in the hospital for 12 to 15 days after these types of surgeries, he said. Strides in treatment Karen Krug, vice president of education for the Maryland chapter of the Arthritis Foundation, said that while there are no cures for arthritis, there have been major strides in treatment. “There are new biological response projects, and they’ve made worlds of difference with treatments available much earlier,” she said. According to the Arthritis Foundation, more than 100 medicines can be prescribed for arthritic pain. There are analgesics to relieve swelling, and there are steroids, some that are specifically designed for certain joints. Dr. Robert Shaw, a rheumatologist in Westminster, has been working with medicines that have been developed in the last decade. These medicines target proteins called TNF-alpha that are produced by cells that damage joints. TNF stands for tumor necrosis factor. Remicade, a drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1999 to treat rheumatoid arthritis, blocks the protein from damaging healthy tissue in the body. Some of Shaw’s patients, like Mary Gue, of Hanover, Pa., and Betty Davis, of Westminster, come to his office to get IV treatments. The procedure can take more than two hours. Patients can get this treatment as frequently as every four weeks, according to Shaw. “Prior to the new medicines, we would slow down the disease process, but we wouldn’t prevent deformities,” Shaw said. Gue said the infusions have helped her deal with arthritis. “It relieves pain, swelling and it keeps your joints from becoming stiff,” she said. Davis said the medication doesn’t get rid of the pain, but it calms it down. Shaw said Remicade and drugs like it can bring someone from excruciating pain down to manageable, sustainable levels. Reach staff writer Erica Kritt at 410-857-7876 or erica.kritt@carrollcountytimes.com. Tips to ease wear and tear Arthritis is not something you can avoid, but you can change the wear and tear you put on the joints, said Chris Kuhlmann, Maryland Sportscare and Rehab’s regional manager. Below are three basic tips recommended by Brian Hoy, the director of spine care at Maryland Sportscare and Rehab in Westminster: - Stretch before physical activity. This will help the tendons and joints loosen up. - Always exercise to keep fluid going to the joints. - Practice a healthy lifestyle and good body mechanics. This means tensing abdominal muscles to maintain good posture. Video The group has been giving snow shoveling tips at Lowe’s this winter to save knees, hips and backs from unnecessary damage during the winter season. Getting help - Visit the Arthritis Foundation’s Web site for more information, www.arthritis.org, or call 800-365-3811. - Four Carroll County senior centers - North Carroll, South Carroll, Mount Airy and Taneytown - feature an arthritis class weekly. Call 410-386-3800 for more information. - There are two warm-water therapy classes offered each week at Change Inc., 115 Stoner Ave., Westminster. Call Health Access at Carroll Hospital Center at 410-848-2244 to register. Copyright 2009 Carroll County Times. *National / International* Oh-So-Cold Temperatures Plague Older People Washington Post Sunday, January 25, 2009 SUNDAY, Jan. 25 (HealthDay News) -- Hypothermia, frostbite, and falls are among the winter-related dangers faced by older adults, warns the American Geriatrics Society's Foundation for Health in Aging. They're more susceptible to hypothermia, or dangerously low body temperature, in part because older people have a slower metabolism and produce less body heat than younger people, the society said. In addition, it added, body changes can make it harder for older people to tell when the outside temperature is too low. To prevent hypothermia, older adults should: Stay indoors when it's very cold and windy outside. Keep indoor temperatures at about 65 degrees F.When going outside, don't stay in the cold or wind for too long. Wear two or three thinner layers of loose-fitting clothing, which provide more warmth than a single layer of thick clothing. Also wear a coat, hat, gloves or mittens, boots and a scarf to cover your nose and mouth and protect your lungs from very cold air.Avoid getting wet, which chills the body quickly.Go indoors if you start shivering, which might be a warning sign of hypothermia.Monitor yourself for warning signs of hypothermia, which include: shivering; cold skin that's pale or ashy; feeling very tired, confused and sleepy; weakness; problems walking; and slowed breathing or heart rate. Call 911 if you think you or someone else has hypothermia. Frostbite is also a danger in extreme cold. It usually affects the nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers and toes. People with heart disease and other circulation problems are more likely to get frostbite. To protect against frostbite, you should: Cover all parts of your body when you go outside.Go indoors if you skin turns red or dark or starts hurting.Know the signs of frostbite, which include: skin that's white, ashy or grayish-yellow; skin that feels hard or waxy; and numbness. And again, call 911 if you think you or someone else might have frostbite. Falls are another danger for older adults that become more of an issue during the winter months. To reduce the risk of falls: Carefully shovel steps and walkways to your home or hire someone to shovel for you.Don't walk on icy or snowy sidewalks. Look for walkways that are dry and have been cleared.Wear boots with non-skid soles.If you use a cane, replace the rubber tip before it's worn smooth. It may be a good idea to use an ice-pick-like attachment that fits on the end of the cane. These are available at medical supply stores. The Foundation for Health in Aging also urges older adults to be cautious about shoveling snow. Cold weather puts extra strain on the heart, and the strain of shoveling could be too much for the heart, especially if you have heart disease. Shoveling can also be dangerous for people with osteoporosis. Older adults should ask their doctor if it's safe for them to shovel or do other hard work in cold weather. More information The U.S. National Institute on Aging has more about staying safe in cold weather. SOURCE: American Geriatrics Society, news release, January 2009 © 2009 Scout News LLC. All rights reserved. Listeria found at plant Associated Press Baltimore Sun Sunday, January 25, 2009 TORONTO - The Canadian food maker linked to a bacteria outbreak that caused at least 20 deaths and the country's largest meat recall last year has again tested positive for listeria. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency inspected a subsidiary of Maple Leaf Foods yesterday after tests showed positive results for listeria bacterium. The subsidiary, Cappola Food Inc., makes deli meat for the Canadian and U.S. markets. No illnesses have been reported. Listeriosis is a type of food poisoning that can cause nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. The CFIA said there is no evidence of anyone being sickened, and no warnings or recalls have been issued. It was not clear whether any of the meat had left the plant. Maple Leaf Foods is still recovering from last summer's listeriosis outbreak, which killed at least 20 across Canada. Copyright 2009 Baltimore Sun. *Opinion* Continuing to expand access to health care Baltimore Sun Letter to the Editor Sunday, January 25, 2009 The last sentence of "Painful cuts for budget balance" (Jan. 22) implies that Gov. Martin O'Malley is not continuing the Medicaid expansion enacted in 2007. In fact, the governor's budget fully funds the significant expansion of health care to lower-income parents enacted in 2007, which has resulted in 27,900 uninsured people getting access to health care and which has brought Maryland from 44th to 21st among U.S. states in access to Medicaid for lower-income adults. It is true that the new state budget does not fund the expansion of this program to adults who are not parents that was slated to begin on July 1. However, we continue to be hopeful that if enough new money comes to Maryland from the federal stimulus package, this further expansion might still be possible. In any case, we commend the governor for keeping intact the new health care coverage for parents in these very tough budget times. Vincent DeMarco Baltimore The writer is president of the Maryland Citizens' Health Initiative. Copyright 2009 Baltimore Sun. BACK TO TOP


[newsclippings/dhmh_footer.htm]