Healing Healthcare
Knox County Health Department makes an effort
By Karen S.
Lynch
As our
nation is in a financial meltdown from job losses, home foreclosures, seeing
investment savings evaporating along with inflation of energy cost, food – and
everything in between – everyone is concerned from Wall Street to Main Street.
Rapidly rising healthcare cost is only adding to this nation’s financial crisis
with increasing numbers of uninsured, underinsured – even including those who
currently have a health insurance plan.
The
estimated numbers will only get worse in the current economy through further
job losses. An increasing number of employers are refusing to provide coverage
due to their rapidly rising cost. Four out of five workers currently employed
remain uninsured because insurance coverage is either not offered or premiums
are unaffordable. American families earning less than $46,500 a year are most
likely to have no medical insurance. Many employed workers do not buy
insurance, regardless of what they earn because of cost and limited coverage
for routine health care.
Cost of an
employer-subsidized insurance plan are quickly becoming nearly as expensive as
private health insurance plans many families cannot afford with the increasing
strain of inflation on stagnant wages. The lack of affordable health care in
America is enough to make everyone sick as many medical providers are now in
need of life support. Medical providers cannot absorb the strain of providing
the finest, technological care in the world to patients unable to pay for even
routine medical care. Many providers must write off losses of services not
reimbursed – often passed on to the insured – driving insurance premiums even
higher and causing even more people into the uninsured column.
While Knox
County and surrounding communities continue to struggle with job losses – as
does most of the nation – Knox County has a champion in Galesburg. The Knox
County Health Department – passed by a referendum in 1992 – held an open house
last Thursday to introduce the public to a very attractive and modern-equipped
facility expansion and the health care services now available.
Access to
health care challenges continues to be an issue in the county. The number of
individuals reporting that they had avoided a doctor’s visit or not filled a
prescription medication due to cost rose in 2007; 13.5 percent and 13.2 percent
respectively. This is an increase from 9.6 percent and 11.3 percent in 2004.
(Of note: Maytag closed manufacturing operations in Galesburg the end of
September 2004 with Butler following shortly afterwards.)
According
to 2004 survey data, 15.1 percent of respondents did not have health care
coverage; 9.6 percent were not able to see a health care provider during the
previous twelve months due to cost of care. Many chronically ill patients take
less of their medication than has been prescribed due to costs. Approximately,
73 percent of older adults who use prescription medications use more than one
with 29 percent using four or more prescriptions. Knox County residents
reported 11.3 percent could not fill a prescription in the past twelve months
due to cost in the 2004 survey.
According
to the latest Knox County Health Improvement Plan, “In January 2004, 25.7
percent of Knox County residents were receiving Medicaid: a 25.7 percent
increase from ten years earlier.” Over one in seven, or 13.7 percent of
residents, were unable to receive needed health care for themselves or their
family due to cost. The reasons cited most often for not receiving care; 82.2
percent cite financial reasons and high cost of care; 54.8 percent state a lack
of insurance and 29.6 percent are unable to afford their deductible cost.
“The access
to care dilemma remains at the forefront of the minds of the health department
and the entire health care community,” stated Greg Chance, Public Health
Administrator for the health department. “We have heard the community voice
their concerns and key community stakeholders continue to work to provide
residents access to appropriate health care services.”
Knox
County’s new Health Department Clinic is already seeing a reduction in
emergency room visits to local hospitals, according to Chance. Over 47 million
Americans nationwide lack health care insurance, causing an increase in
emergency room visits for routine health care issues, or conditions made worse
by lack of preventative health care by a primary provider. Currently, premiums
for insured workers are rising five times faster than wages while benefits
continue to shrink.
With
approximately 33,706 citizens in Galesburg, according to national averages of
the uninsured, Galesburg would have an estimated 5,039 citizens without health
insurance. Knox County has an estimated 55,386 citizens and would have
approximately 8,348 uninsured under the same assumptions, based on national
averages. As our local population shrinks, every day 10,000 people in the “baby
boom” generation nationally turn 60 years old.
As daunting
as the problems of affordable health care awaits our newly elected President,
Barack Obama, the Knox County Health Department is an example of a viable
solution to routine and preventative health care. The newly expanded dental
clinic now better serves community teens as well as children.
The Knox
County Health Dental Clinic is the only facility in the county that serves
children on Medicaid for routine dental health care, including modern X-Ray
services, cleanings and filling dental cavities. Heather Frakes, a 2004
graduate of Carl Sandburg College, works as a dental hygienist in the new Knox
County Health Care Clinic. Frakes is thrilled with the expanded clinic
facilities and new equipment that helps make her job easier and the
children-friendly décor helps put children more at ease.
The Knox
County Health Department continues to serve the community through the separate
clinic addition with a number of preventative health screenings for breast and
cervical cancer, immunizations, STD prevention and treatment and tuberculosis
screenings. In addition to well and sick child exams, the health department
also offers adult wellness screening to prevent heart disease and diabetes
through blood test including cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure as well
as lifestyle and nutritional counseling.
Teen health
care is also an interventional service in education on tobacco use, teen
pregnancy, dental sealant programs, and a program called, Heart Smart for Teens
covering healthy life style choices.
The Knox
County Health Department also monitors food safety, water supply monitoring
including wastewater, mosquito surveillance, tanning facilities, lead poisoning
prevention and radon education awareness. Many other educational services are
provided throughout the year.
For further
information, the Knox County Health Department is located at 1361 W. Fremont
St. The phone number is 344-2224 (TDD/TTY 800/526-0844) or on the web at www.knoxcountyhealth.org
While the
Knox County Health Department is an invaluable resource, affordable health care
intertwines with the current economic mess facing the Obama Presidency. A leading
cause of bankruptcy, un-reimbursed and continuous rising medical cost is only
getting worse with further job losses and rising premiums with high deductibles
and decreased coverage. Someone has to pay the cost. Lives are literally at
stake in finding an affordable solution.
11/27/08