Topping Off Ceremony Held for $184M Patient Tower at Jefferson Washington Township Hospital

Jefferson Washington Township Hospital reached a major milestone on Thursday, February 20th, as a “topping off” ceremony was held for its new $184 million patient tower, slated to open in summer 2021. Jefferson leadership and staff — including Dr. Stephen Klasko, President of Thomas Jefferson University and CEO of Jefferson Health — were in attendance, along with NJ state and local officials, as the final beam was lifted by a crane and put in place.

The 7-floor, 243,500-square-foot tower, being named in honor of Jefferson board member and benefactor John P. Silvestri and his family, will feature 90 private patient rooms, a two-story lobby, Same-Day Surgery Unit, roof helipad, café with outdoor dining, and more. The $222 million overall Washington Township hospital campus transformation began in 2018, with construction of an 8-level enclosed parking facility, completed in April 2019.

Shown at the Topping Off ceremony, from left, are

: Stephen M. Sweeney, New Jersey Senate President; Joseph W. Devine, President, Jefferson New Jersey Division and Chief Experience Officer, Jefferson Health; John P. Silvestri, Vice Chairman, Jefferson Health New Jersey Hospital Board of Trustees; Joann Gattinelli, Washington Township Mayor; and John W. Graham, Chief Administrative Officer, Jefferson Washington Township Hospital.

Jefferson Health Hosts FREE Wellness Programs for Seniors Through May 2020

Join Jefferson Health experts for FREE community wellness programs for seniors through May:

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) – The Basics

;

Thursday, March 5, 2 p.m.; Kennedy Health & Wellness Center (405 Hurffville-Cross Keys Road, Suite 201, Sewell)

: COPD affects almost 15 million Americans. Learn what COPD is; how it affects the lungs; causes, signs and symptoms; and disease management.

Weight Loss and Fiber – What’s the Connection?

;

Wednesday, March 18, 11 a.m., at the

Margaret E. Heggan Free Public Library

(606 Delsea Drive, Sewell)

: Eating enough fiber is essential for a healthy diet. Join Jefferson Health’s Danielle Hall, RD, to learn how much dietary fiber you need, the foods that contain it, how it aids in weight loss, and how to add it to meals and snacks.

Understanding Alzheimer’s & Dementia

;

Tuesday, April 21, 2 p.m., at Jefferson Stratford Hospital (18 East Laurel Road, 3

Floor, Room L)

: Alzheimer’s disease is not a normal part of aging. Join the Alzheimer’s Association to learn about Alzheimer’s impact, differences between Alzheimer’s and dementia, stages and risk factors, current research and treatments available for some symptoms, and Alzheimer’s Association resources.

Seconds Count when Stopping Strokes

;

Thursday, May 7, 2 p.m., at the

Gloucester County Library Mullica Hill Branch (389 Wolfert Station Road)

: Join Jefferson Health’s Kathryn Donley, BSN, RN, CCRN-K, CNRN, Program Director, Stroke & Life Support Education, for a discussion on ways to reduce your risk, identify early signs and symptoms of heart attack and stroke, and when to call 9-1-1. FREE blood pressure screenings are included.

Horticultural Therapy – Creating an Indoor Fairy Garden

;

Tuesday, May 19, 2 p.m., at Jefferson Cherry Hill Hospital (2201 Chapel Avenue, Rooms 2 & 3)

: Discover the fun in designing your own “indoor fairy garden.” Adults all over are experiencing the magic in constructing them. Inspirational Horticultural Therapy’s Rachelle Hasenberg, will provide step-by-step instructions as participants plant in their own container and choose from a wide variety of items to create their unique miniature “fairy garden.” No experience necessary. A fee of $12 is due by Tuesday, May 5.

These programs are sponsored by Jefferson Health – New Jersey’s PrimeTime, a free health and wellness program for active older adults in South Jersey. All community members are invited. For more information and to register, visit

JeffersonHealth.org/NJclasses

or call

800-522-1965

Jefferson Primary & Specialty Care offices celebrate “Patient Appreciation Day”

There was a sweet treat awaiting Jefferson Primary & Specialty Care patients in New Jersey on Valentine’s Day. Four of our medical practices – Marlton, Voorhees, Regulus (Turnersville) and Kingsway (Sewell) – celebrated \”Patient Appreciation Day” as a well to thank patients for trusting us with their healthcare needs. The all-day events featured snacks, Jefferson “swag” and a chance to win a gift basket. Patients could also learn about the benefits of MyChart, which offers free, online access to their medical record, and allows patients to request medical appointments, review test results and more.

Left to right, at the Jefferson Voorhees Primary & Specialty Care Office: Family Medicine physician Dr. Vishal Phakey; Certified Medical Assistant Briana Cook; Front Office Coordinator Karyn Washington-Brown; and Patient Service Representative Yu Juan Tan.

New Pharmacist for Shore Physicians Group

mvitale

February, 2020

When it comes to medications, the best-trained healthcare professionals on the subject are pharmacists, who can be a valuable asset in primary care, especially with patients who are on

David Totten is the new pharmacist for Shore Physicians Group. (Courtesy Shore Physicians Group

)

Medicare.

That’s why Shore Physicians Group in Somers Point recently added pharmacist David Totton, PharmD, to its staff to support primary care providers in completing Medicare patients’ Annual Wellness Visits and provide comprehensive medication management.

Totton, who received his Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of the Sciences, came to SPG this fall after completing a year-long residency at Shore Medical Center.

Totton works collaboratively with physicians, advanced practice nurses and physicians assistants to provide Annual Medicare Wellness Visits on schedule, an essential part of preventative care. Totton spends an hour with each patient reviewing their family and medical histories, scheduling important preventative screenings and vaccinations, updating their list of current providers, and of course – reviewing their medications.

As part of the Medicare Wellness Visits, Totton provides comprehensive medication management as needed in partnership with their physician. Patients who are on multiple medications from multiple specialists or experiencing symptoms that could be related to medication side effects are just some examples of those who are benefiting from Totton’s expertise.

Chief Administrative Officer of Shore Physicians Group Mark Stephens says the addition of Totton to SPG makes perfect sense.

“An estimated 40 percent of people aged 65 or older are on five or more medications, so it makes sense to have a pharmacist on their healthcare team. If we can help eliminate some of those medications or better manage their side effects, we can help patients save money, feel better, and be healthier in the long run. Our providers are thrilled to have David on board,” Stephens says.

Totton is seeing patients at Shore Physicians Group’s primary care offices at 401 Bethel Road in Somers Point, 4 Roosevelt Boulevard in Marmora, and 2605 Shore Road in Northfield. To make a Medicare Annual Wellness Visit appointment, contact your SPG primary care provider.

To learn more about SPG, visit

www.ShorePhysiciansGroup.com

What You Need to Know About IVF in South Africa

(Gloucestercitynews.net)(February 18, 2020)–Prospective parents who are having trouble conceiving a child are more common than you may think. Statistics show that 1 in 6 parents will have trouble successfully conceiving their first child within 12 months of trying.

When this happens, couples turn to fertility clinics to help them conceive. Specifically, the procedure of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is designed to help parents with fertility issues so that they can successfully conceive a baby.

What this process entails and the factors that make it a successful conception alternative are things that you should consider when wondering if IVF is right for you and your significant other.

Only after you’ve been properly educated will you know what to look for in an

IVF clinic in South Africa

, or whatever area in which you’re looking.

What is IVF?

Since the first successful IVF in 1978, in vitro fertilization has become a common assisted reproductive technology (ART). It involves a complex series of medications and procedures that hope to result in successful embryonic fertilization, development, and implantation.

The first step involves medication designed to make a woman’s eggs mature so that they can be harvested by a doctor and fertilized in a laboratory with the desired sperm. These prepared eggs are then surgically inserted directly into the woman’s uterus.

Many people require multiple tries and many months for this process to be successful, as so much can go wrong. Most commonly, the uterus simply does not accept the implanted egg and no fetus ever develops.

This is why finding an accredited IVF clinic is so important. In a procedure already fraught with financial and physical complications, you want the best chance of getting it done right the first time.

IVF clinics in South Africa

Since so much can go wrong, you want to look for a few key factors when choosing an IVF clinic in South Africa.

The first is: are they accredited? You should only visit clinics that have been registered by

The Allied Health Professions Council of South Africa (AHPCSA)

, the primary advisor on regulating and accrediting healthcare professions in South Africa.

Facilities

Next, you should ask if they have modern facilities and access to the latest fertilization technologies. Advanced laboratories like the one at Wijnland Fertility import IVF equipment from top manufacturers all over the world.

The Wijnland fertility clinic in South Africa, for instance, uses a device called an

Embryoscope

to maintain ideal conditions for eggs while they are being analyzed for quality. This is particularly useful for couples who have tried and failed many times with other fertilization methods.

Staff

You should also ask if the clinic has professional and experienced staff. Head doctors should have received specialist training in gynecology or obstetrics and have completed fellowships in fertility and related biological processes.

Do some research online to see what the embryologists and specialists at the clinic in question have done for experience, education, and additional training.

Mind and body

Finally, you want to assess whether the clinic treats patients as a whole person rather than merely as a medical procedure.

Fertilization is a trying process both physically and emotionally. Many different mental and social pressures converge on it to make it a stressful situation that your doctors need to address.

There’s the social judgment of not being able to conceive naturally, the pressure from family expectations when multiple attempts fail, and the strain on your finances. You may even have natural guarding and avoidance systems in your personality that make it really hard for you.

A clinic with staff trained in psychology or with counselors on call who are experienced in fertility counseling will be better suited to addressing all your needs as a prospective patient.

The Takeaway

In vitro fertilization is now a common process. This doesn’t mean that it’s always successful, however, as the process relies on many factors that all have a high failure rate. Variabilities such as your family history, the quality of the technology, and the inherent problems with successful fertilization mean that each attempt involves a series of stressful mental and physical trials.

This is why finding a suitable clinic to take care of all your needs is so essential. When evaluating your options for IVF treatment facilities in South Africa, look at the resumes of the resident doctors, the quality of their facilities, and the availability of mental counseling procedures to supplement the strain of going through this process.

Even though becoming a parent is difficult when you have fertility issues, it is possible in the modern age. With the right personnel and procedures, you can make the family you’ve always wanted into a reality.

Seasonal Flu More Dangerous Than COVID-19

Gloucester Township, NJ) – While Coronavirus (COVID-19) is in the headlines and a prime topic with medical professionals, the County Department of Health and Human Services says it currently poses little risk to residents in the United States. While the outbreak continues throughout the 22 impacted countries, the county health department is maintaining constant contact with health care providers in the region and state and federal agencies. The department is maintaining contact with local universities and other institutions to monitor and report any new developments.

To date, there have not been any confirmed cases of COVID-19 in New Jersey, and there have been only a handful of cases across the United States. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) maintains that the threat of human-to-human transmission of the virus in the United States is low.

“For the vast majority of Americans, unless you have recently traveled to Hebei Province where the outbreak is believed to have started, you are not at risk of contracting the coronavirus,” said Camden County Health Officer Paschal Nwako. “Still, the dedicated professionals at the Health Department are receiving constant updates from the CDC and state Department of Health in order to monitor any changes in this assessment and to keep the public informed.”

COVID-19 is a novel coronavirus which is believed to have first emerged in Wuhan, China in December 2019. A novel coronavirus is a coronavirus which has not been previously identified. These are different from other coronaviruses that commonly circulate among humans like the common cold.

Although it is considered a serious public health concern by the CDC, the agency maintains that based on the current information available, the immediate health risk from COVID-19 to the general public in the United States is considered low.

The New Jersey Department of Health is working with state and federal partner agencies to track and monitor any suspected cases of the virus and those who had been in contract with any ill persons. The Camden County Department of Health also has the ability to order quarantine for anyone suspected of having contracted the virus.

Anyone with questions about the novel coronavirus, symptoms, or their risk of exposure, can call the free, 24-hour public hotline at (800) 222-1222 where trained professionals are standing by to answer questions about COVID-19.

“It is still important to practice good hygiene, washing your hands regularly, covering coughs and sneezes with sleeves or tissues instead of your hands, avoiding sick people when possible,” said Freeholder Carmen Rodriguez. “We want to use this opportunity to stress to the public that while the coronavirus poses little threat at this time, the threat from the seasonal flu remains quite high throughout New Jersey.”

Rodriguez and health officials are stressing the deadly potential of the seasonal flu which currently poses a much greater risk to our community than COVID-19. There have not been any coronavirus-related deaths in the United States, meanwhile the CDC estimates that since October 2019, the seasonal flu has caused more than 10,000 deaths in the United States.

In New Jersey, flu activity remains high in all counties, and officials are reporting an increase in Type B influenza strains, which, like Type A, can cause serious respiratory illnesses and fast-spreading epidemics. The flu vaccine is generally more effective against Type B viruses.

Camden County residents can still receive the influenza vaccination at Camden County’s Regional Health Centers in Bellmawr and Camden City.

To schedule an appointment or to inquire regarding walk-in hours, please contact the appropriate center:

Bellmawr Regional Health Center

35 E. Browning Road

Bellmawr, NJ 08031

(856) 931-2700

Board of Social Services Building

600 Market Street, Basement B-55

Camden, NJ 08102

856-756-2266

“While not 100 percent effective, the flu vaccination is still the best way to protect yourself and your family from getting sick,” Rodriguez said. “While we keep those affected by the coronavirus in our thoughts and prayers, we hope that our residents will take the initiative and use their elevated concern surrounding the virus and focus on the much more immediate risk which is the seasonal flu.”

For additional information about where and how to receive the flu vaccine residents can contact the county Department of Health and Human Services at (800) 999-9045, or visit

www.camdencounty.com

, or contact their primary physician.

CNB Medical News: The Winter Blues

(NAPSI)—You may have heard the terms—winter blues, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), Depressive Disorder with a Seasonal Pattern. No matter what you call it, with approximately 17.3 million adults in the U.S. experiencing seasonal depression, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, feeling gloomy this time of year isn’t uncommon—but it can be overcome.

The Problem

Depressive Disorder with a Seasonal Pattern (formerly called SAD) can affect anyone of any age. Whether you’re a student returning to class, a busy working professional who’s always playing catchup, or even newly retired with found time on your hands, the excitement of the holidays is long over and wintry dark days are here. While January and February are the typical peak months for the disorder, symptoms can persist through April, according to Mental Health America.

Doctor’s Advice

When that feeling of sadness persists for several weeks, it’s time to take action, according to Dr. Desreen Dudley, a licensed Clinical Psychologist and Behavioral Health Provider of Therapeutic Services for Teladoc Health. But, she points out, often the toughest thing for many is how to discern whether what they feel is temporary or something more serious.

“If someone has a few days of feeling low, that’s normal and typically nothing to worry about. It’s when the feeling lingers for weeks and people lose interest in daily activities and suffer persistent negative thoughts, that lend a stronger basis for Depressive Disorder with a Seasonal Affective Pattern diagnosis,” she says.

What To Watch For

Other symptoms she warns about are:

•Change in appetite

•Change in sleep pattern

•Decreased energy

•Decreased concentration

•Feelings of worthlessness or guilt

•An inability to think, concentrate, or finish tasks at work or school

•Thinking about suicide, self-harm, or death

Dr. Dudley contends individuals already struggling with depressive disorders are susceptible to SAD patterns. For older Americans, a Vitamin D deficiency can exacerbate low moods. On the other end of the spectrum, she has worked with newly independent college students who find SAD a heavy burden and say their new responsibilities of classes, exams and jobs can compound their depression. For some, not rising as early for classes as they did in high school means sleeping in more and further limiting their exposure to sunlight.

What To Do

In addition to considering therapy, such as virtual care, which is available on your terms and from any location you choose, Dr. Dudley recommends:

•Avoiding or cutting back on alcohol and other addictive substances

•Eating healthfully—more lean proteins, fruits and vegetables, and eliminating sugar

•Daily exercise at least 30 minute a day (walking counts)

•Yoga or meditation

•Learning about and trying light therapy

•Regularly surrounding yourself with those you enjoy being around.

When To Seek Help

According to a recent global study conducted by Ipsos MORI for Teladoc Health, individuals often recognize when they’re struggling, but even so, over a third of the respondents who have had one mental health episode admitted to not seeking professional help. The reason? For many, it’s often the difficulty in finding mental health care.

“Thankfully, virtual care is becoming increasingly available as a source of convenient mental health care,” Dr. Dudley says. “It eliminates the traditional obstacles of in-person visits and has opened up access for anyone with a busy schedule, individuals who may have difficulty getting out of the house and students who may fear the stigma of walking into the campus mental health clinic.”

Learn More

For further information, visit

www.Teladoc.com/therapy

Tips for keeping your car insurance low

Gloucestercitynews.net (February 17, 2020)–Auto insurance is a tailor-made product, and your policy is very much your own based on factors that are exclusive to you. It is not a fixed cost and could cost you some good money. Still, you can lower it through better bargaining with the insurance company to get better

insurance quotes

only when asked for. Having adequate coverage does a lot of good when you face adverse situations that damage the car or injure others and damage property. The insurance policy protects you financially as the insurance company pays out for the damage when you lodge a claim.

It does not require that you cut down driving, which can help to lower the premium because there are many other

ways to obtain other discounts

which, when added together, considerably lower the premium.

Focus on safe driving

Since insurance rates depend upon the risk assessed by the insurance company, the more you prove that you are a safer driver, the lower would be the insurance rate. On the other hand, if you are accident prone and used to frequent traffic violations, be ready to pay higher insurance. To ensure safe driving, drive at moderate speed, and stay alert and agile so that you have better control over the vehicle and avoid accidents. Maintaining the smallest list of traffic violations is the way to keep insurance costs low.

Buy an insurance friendly car

The car is a major factor that determines the insurance rate, and when you buy a car, check if there are better models from the insurance perspective. The cost of the car and its fancy features are reasons for a higher premium, and it is better to choose a car that is more need-oriented than an object of vanity. The value of the vehicle has a direct relation to the collision coverage, and it is inherent in some car models to attract higher insurance. If you buy a sports car or something that one can interpret to be a sports car, then you must be ready to pay higher insurance as you must for other luxury cars.

Avail behavior-based discounts

Insurance companies reward well-behaved and disciplined drivers with favorable insurance rates by offering discounts. Having a clean driving history underlines the safe driving habits and lowers the risk which the insurance company acknowledges by charging a lower premium. The more control you have on your driving behavior, the better it is because you can claim better rates from insurance companies.

Focus on care safety features

Choose a car that matches your budget and has adequate safety features. Avoid buying a car that might cost less because of fewer safety features because insurance companies rely on better safety features that can minimize vehicle damage after accidents and lower the claim amount. Striking a balance between the cost of the car and its safety features, which must be something more than the minimum, will lead to a lower premium.

If you can reduce the average driven distance in a year, the insurance will be lower.

Think Vaping Is Safe?? Think again!!!

Get The Facts On The Dangers Of Vaping-

The Camden County Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Mental Health and Addiction, and Camden County College Human Services Program are sponsoring an

informational event on the dangers of vaping on February 20, 2020 at 6pm at the Camden County College Connector Buidling- Rm 105, 200 College Drive Blackwood NJ.

Camden County College Series

Address/Location

Gloucester Township Police Department

1261 Chews Landing Rd

Gloucester Township, NJ 08021

Contact

Emergency: 9-1-1

Non-emergencies: 856-228-4500

NY State’s $4 Billion Medicaid Gap Fueled by Highest-in-Nation “Excess Diabetes Costs”

Newswise — NEW YORK, February, 2020

— As Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s new Medicaid Redesign Team meets for the first time today, a new report,

Wasted Billions, Wasted Health

examines the state’s out-of-control diabetes costs as a major driver of its budget crisis and offers up a number of evidence-based, patient-centered education programs as a solution to the state’s $4 billion Medicaid gap.

The report from Health People, a leading disease prevention community group, calculates that New York’s excess diabetes costs have reached an unprecedented $13.4 billion a year. It also calculates the potentially enormous savings that diabetes patient-centered education programs could have to bring down those costs and close the budget gap.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines “excess diabetes costs” as the extra amount of money a state annually spends on Medicaid patients with diabetes, compared to those without diabetes. New York’s $15,366 a year extra cost per Medicaid patient with diabetes is the highest in the nation — and double that of any other state. Some 14 percent New York Medicaid patients are known to have diabetes.

According to the report, 18 percent of

all

Medicaid costs in New York are excess diabetes costs, which are substantially driven by complications and poor outcomes, such as diabetes-related blindness, kidney disease and amputations. In fact, the state’s diabetes-related lower limb amputation rate alone has soared 48 percent in the past decade.

These excess diabetes costs and complications, says the report, are significantly preventable through better clinical care and, especially, with well-evaluated patient self-care education. Yet,

Wasted Billions, Wasted Health

underscores that even while effective patient education is proven to help people with diabetes control their blood sugar, bettering their health and slashing costs, New York has the lowest diabetes patient education rate in the nation.

“New York is in a situation where it cannot lower Medicaid costs in a way that meaningfully improves health as long as the New York State Department of Health refuses to address diabetes –our most widespread epidemic,” said Chris Norwood, Executive Director of Health People and the report’s author.

“Diabetes presents the single greatest opportunity of any major disease to substantially save Medicaid money and significantly improve health outcomes for patients,”

Wasted Billions, Wasted Health

emphasizes. “This is because diabetes is prevented or much better controlled by ‘lifestyle’ changes people can readily learn.”

The report cites two best-practice, data-driven diabetes education programs – the CDC-endorsed National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP) and the Diabetes Self-Management Program (DSMP) — as among those that have successfully reversed diabetes among patients and reduced diabetes-related costs. For example, in a recent large-scale evaluation, the DSMP was show to save an average $2,200 in medical costs per diabetes patient in just the first year.

In terms of the potential savings, the report says “providing well-evaluated self-care for just 20 percent of state Medicaid diabetics and 10 percent pre-diabetics would potentially save the state a minimum of $306 million a year and up to $612 million in just the first year. Because patients’ improved ‘lifestyle’ lowers their costs for years, investment in education provides savings that continue on for years, while creating the implementation funding to keep expanding cost-saving strategies.”

The report also underscores that the state does not support any evidence-based strategies, including plant-based nutrition, which have been shown to help reverse diabetes and enable diabetics to cease taking or substantially reduce their medication.

NYS Department of Health Fails to Confront Diabetes

“Still, the New York State Department of Health has stubbornly refused to confront the diabetes epidemic and reduce its impact in any real way,” said report author Norwood, adding it has “even declined to make reducing diabetes- related lower limb amputations—which can easily cost $250,000 in just the first year— a goal of the state’s official “Prevention Agenda.”

Nor has New York’s health department supported effective patient self-care and education. Rather, it has essentially blocked it. In 2019 when the state legislature mandated that New York include the NDPP as a Medicaid benefit, the health department followed up by announcing a reimbursement “formula” that only paid for half the costs of providing the multi-session education for pre-diabetics. That, despite the fact that the NDPP has been shown to cut by 60 percent the risk that pre-diabetics will proceed to develop diabetes.

Since many of the nonprofit community-based organizations that deliver the NDPP to patients lack the funding to pay for the remaining costs, the state’s “penny-wise and pound-foolish” approach to the NDPP is leaving huge Medicaid pre-diabetic populations without an effective way to avoid diabetes.

“The state’s inaction is especially confounding since patient education for diabetes prevention and self-care is so relatively inexpensive to implement and so clearly pays for itself in reduced patient costs,” states the report. “To start a statewide program, New York need only provide an initial investment for organization and training in order to realize that investment within the first year of operation. Following that substantial year-by-year savings would accrue from prevention participants not developing diabetes and self-care diabetic participants having significantly lower risks of developing severe complications and other costly outcomes.”

“The state’s failure to use proven strategies to make the progress for diabetes we have seen for other epidemics is as baffling as it is unacceptable,” said Robert Morrow, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Family and Social Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine. “As a doctor in the Bronx, which has the worst rates of diabetes complications, I am outraged that the state doesn’t support the serious and effective patient education which everyone knows is a key to controlling this ever-worsening epidemic.”

Failure to Confront Leads to Skyrocketing Medicaid Costs

As a result of this inaction, excess diabetes costs paid by the state are actually rising twice as fast as the overall Medicaid deficit. With a projected 14%, or 896,000 of the state’s 6.4 million Medicaid patients having diabetes, the mean extra annual cost of $15,366 for each patient has brought New York’s spending for excess diabetes costs to $13.4 billion a year out of total projected Medicaid spending for 2019-2020 of $74.5 billion.

With the state responsible for paying 33% of Medicaid expenditures,

its $4.5 billion obligation for excess diabetes costs in one year is more than double the overall $4 billion Medicaid combined deficit for the two fiscal years of shortfalls.

“It’s incomprehensible watching billions wasted this way,” said Reverend John Williams, President of New Creation Community Health Empowerment, a Brooklyn faith-based health organization. “We have people trained and ready to provide the Diabetes Self-Management Program in Central Brooklyn – one of the worst hit areas by the diabetes epidemic. Yet, the state provides nothing to groups like ours – not even the educational materials needed. We have to ask what it means when a Health Department seems have just accepted the terrible level of disabilities and injured lives from this epidemic.”

For a copy of the report, visit Health People’s Newswise newsroom at:

https://www.newswise.com/institutions/newsroom/19933

– # # # –

About Health People

Health People is a groundbreaking peer education, prevention and support organization in the South Bronx whose mission is to train and empower residents of communities overwhelmed by chronic disease and AIDS to become leaders and educators in effectively preventing ill health, hospitalization and unnecessary death.

Established in 1990 as a women’s AIDS prevention and support program, Health People has grown, using its peer-education model, to provide a full range of HIV/AIDS services for men, women and families. It also has conducted community asthma programs, New York’s first diabetes peer-educators program, and a community smoking cessation program. Health People’s Junior Peer program, Kids-Helping-Kids includes teens who are mentors for younger children with sick or missing parents.

For more information, please visit www.healthpeople.org.