Tens of thousands of Chicagoans at risk of losing Medicaid coverage if they don't act
With the end of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) declaration on May 11, people with Medicaid insurance coverage will again need to re-enroll in the program in order to maintain their benefits. The State of Illinois will begin to contact Medicaid recipients to re-determine eligibility, and it is critical that they have your updated mailing address so you can get reminders about the re-enrollment process.
To learn what recipients need to do, see our CDPH press release here. It also details other coming changes in the way COVID vaccines, tests and treatments are paid for, all related to the end of the PHE.
Mental health is top of mind in May
Americans are becoming lonelier and more isolated, even if we seem more connected through our electronic devices and social media. May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and the US Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, just issued an advisory, Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation, that came out of his cross-country listening tour and scientific literature.
Social connections influence health through “three principal pathways – biology, physiology and behavior.... and exacerbate conditions such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes,” Dr. Murthy writes. He’s calling for a national strategy to advance social connection.
CDPH and the City of Chicago have made an unprecedented commitment to mental healthcare, including investing in a network of 100 publicly funded mental health clinics and dozens of non-profit community mental health centers that make up Chicago’s Framework for Mental Health Equity. Read more about it at our UnSpoken web site here.
Mpox is Not Over. Protect Yourself.
One year ago, we began hearing about Mpox cases on the East Coast and Canada. Not long after, we saw the first cases in Chicago. We’ve come a long way since last summer, when there were more than 500 new cases within the course of five weeks. This winter, we saw many weeks of less than a handful of new cases, followed by nearly two months of no new cases at all.
But Mpox never completely went away. There have been more new cases (four) in the past week than in any other week over the last five months. CDPH continues to urge anyone who may be at risk in certain situations to protect yourself -- talk with a healthcare provider, talk about it with your partners, and most importantly, make sure you are fully vaccinated. For information on Mpox and how to get your vaccination, visit chicago.gov/mpox.
Seasonal allergies at all-time high
Warmer temperatures brought about by climate change have led to a longer growing season, and in turn a longer allergy season. Warm and wet conditions increase allergens like pollen and mold and cause havoc for allergy suffers, especially those with chronic respiratory conditions like asthma.
The best ways to help get through this longer allergy season are to:
Minimize exposure by keeping windows closed in your home and car
Stay indoors when pollen counts are high (usually early morning)
Change air filters in your home more frequently
Manage symptoms with over-the-counter allergy medications such as antihistamines, nasal sprays and decongestants.
