Tag: health care

Low teenage turnout for vaccine increases COVID case rate in Alaska

We’re a month into the school year and Alaska is experiencing peak Covid-19 cases and a hospital system at max capacity. Alaska Public Media’s Jeff Chen looks at how low teenage turnout for the Covid vaccine increases case rates in Alaska.

LISTEN: COVID-19 cases are surging in Alaska. What’s the outlook for winter?

Alaska's Covid case numbers are accelerating at an alarming rate. Daily counts have been in the triple digits for weeks. Why are cases increasing so quickly now and what might it mean for winter transmission rates as Alaskans spend time indoors and distancing becomes more difficult?

Unalaska clinic joins ranks of healthcare providers struggling to pay bills during pandemic

The clinic, which serves up to 15,000 people, says it has about six months of reserves left despite cost-cutting efforts.

Palliative care

Some of the greatest challenges in health care arise during treatment for prolonged life-threatening illnesses and during care at the end of life. Palliative care assists patients and families in selecting the best treatment options that align with the goals of care. Please join Dr. Jay Butler and a panel of Alaska palliative care providers on Line One: Your Health Connection for a discussion of palliative care—what it is and what it is not? Thanks for listening!

High health care costs in Alaska

Monday, December 11, 2017, at 2:00 p.m. & 8:00 p.m. The United States spends far more money, per capita, on health care than other countries. Alaska has some of the highest healthcare costs in the country. Please join the discussion on the possible reasons for Alaska’s high healthcare costs, their effects, and some possible solutions when co-host Dr. Thad Woodard interviews Cliff Groh, Chair of Alaska Common Ground, on the next Line One program. LINE ONE

​The​ ​Affordable​ ​Care​ ​Act​ open​ ​enrollment​ ​period-​ ​Listener​ ​questions and​ ​comments

Monday, November 6, 2017, at 2:00 p.m. & 8:00 p.m. The open enrollment period for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) began November 1st and ends December 15th. With slashed funding for outreach and a shortened enrollment period, the ACA is facing some challenges. How’s it going so far? How many people are signing up, who needs to sign up, and why do so many choose not to participate? Join us on the next Line One for a discussion about the Affordable Care Act and how the start of the open enrollment period is going so far. LISTEN HERE

Medicare Quality Improvement Program

Monday, October 30, 2017, at 2:00 p.m. & 8:00 p.m. On this program we discuss the Beneficiary and Family Centered Care Quality Improvement Program for Alaska. These programs help Medicare beneficiaries exercise their right to high-quality health care. LISTEN HERE

​Health​ ​Care-​ ​It’s​ ​complicated

Monday, October 23, 2017, at 2:00 p.m. & 8:00 p.m. The open enrollment period for the Affordable Care Act begins November 1st and will be open for 6 weeks. What are the options for Alaskans? Who needs to sign up and will the cost go up? What’s the status of the new bi-partisan effort to come up with a health care plan? Please join us on Line One for a discussion about the ACA enrollment process, the stability of the ACA in today’s political climate, and what the repeal efforts could mean to Alaskans. LISTEN HERE

Physicians for a National Health Program

Monday, August 28, 2017, at 2:00 p.m. & 8:00 p.m. Congress has failed to repeal or replace the Accountable Care Act. In fact polls indicate the Act has become more appealing to Americans. However, is there a better answer to cost, access and quality for health care? Dr. Carol Paris, President of the Board of Directors of Physicians for a National Health Program, will discuss a single payer alternative on this edition of Line One: Your Health Connection. LISTEN HERE

Childhood mental health

Monday, May 01, 2017, at 2:00 p.m. & 8:00 p.m. Having a child with a severe emotional or behavioral problem is a challenging thing for a family. Parents often find themselves desperate for answers that are often difficult to come by. During this program, child and adolescent therapist Lori Houston, joins Line One co-host Prentiss Pemberton, for a discussion about childhood mental health. LISTEN HERE

Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

Monday, Feb. 23, 2017, at 2:00 p.m. & 8:00 p.m. On the next Lin One we'll be discussing colorectal cancer. We'll hear from a survivor as he shares his experiences with surgeries, screenings and treatment. You don't have to be afraid of the process, and he'll be with us to tell you why. We'll also have a local pathologist on the show to talk about treatment and screening options here in Alaska. LISTEN NOW

Dusk

Providence Hospice is trying something new with its goal of providing important information about Advance Health Care Directives: a play. Playwright Bryan Harnetiaux has written a trilogy of end-of-life plays and one of these plays, Dusk (currently performing in various venues around the Anchorage area) concerns Gil (played by local actor Bill Cotton) who is facing those final decisions with his family. Laced with humor and pathos, Dusk goes into the community rather than performs in a theatre. This week on Stage Talk, Providence Hospice Program Director Pat Dooley and Volunteer Coordinator Vanessa Salinas come by to discuss the play and its positive affect. KSKA: Friday, Nov. 13 at 2:45 p.m. Listen Now:

Feds Release Affordable Care Act Insurance Rates

Alaskans will be paying some of the highest premiums in the country for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act. Download Audio

Ask Dr. Woodard

Dr. Thad Woodard is your host and guest this week on Line One, (due to a last minute cancellation). Dr. Thad originally came to Alaska as a medical epidemiologist with the Centers for Disease Control. He's been a pediatrician in Anchorage with a special interest in allergy and asthma since 1980. Call in with your questions for Dr. Woodard today 2:00 - 3:00 pm on Line One: Your Health Connection. KSKA: 11/12 at 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm

Affordable Health Care Act in Plain English

Weeks before he presented oral arguments at the Supreme Court hearing on health care reform, author and filmmaker T.R. Reid visited to Alaska to help breakdown the 3000+ page Affordable Health Care Act. Reid explained the new rules for insurance providers, doctors and even fast food restaurants in his talk entitled "Affordable Health Care Act (Obama's Health Reform) in Plain English" recorded at UAA on March 22. KSKA: Thursday 4/4 at 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm

Health Care Costs in Alaska

Monday on Line One: Your Health Connection, Anchorage health care analyst Mark Foster joins host Dr. Woodard to discuss the high cost of health care in Alaska and the recently released UAA Institute of Social and Economic Research report on Alaska health care costs. KSKA: Monday 4/2 at 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm

Health Care Cost Solutions

What if your insurance company helped you build a healthier grocery list or your work place paid part of your gym membership? Last time on Talk of Alaska we discussed the staggering cost of health care in the state and now we'll talk about solutions. KSKA: Tuesday, 2/21 @ 10:00am

Employers Enacting ‘Workplace Wellness Programs’

We’ve all heard it before- lose weight and you’ll be healthier. Now more and more companies are trying convince their employees to drop pounds and meet other health goals.

State Gets Money For Efforts To Enroll Children In Public Health Care

Alaska is one of 23 states to share $296.5 million in federal payments for encouraging low-income families to enroll their children in public health programs.

Part 2: Specialty Care Comes With a Big Price Tag in Alaska

The Alaska Health Care Commission just released a series of reports that try to understand why health care costs so much more in Alaska. One important finding is that the cost for specialty care is much higher here than in other parts of the country.