What Happens If You Don’t Vaccinate Your Kids?

Not vaccinating your child can have serious health impacts. For example, infections such as measles can cause severe complications such as pneumonia, encephalitis, subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), and death. Polio can also cause serious complications, including paralysis and post-polio syndrome.

Furthermore, not giving your child the HPV vaccine can lead to them developing cancers later in life, including cervical, anal, and penile cancers. In addition, not only will not vaccinating your child hurt your child, but it will also impact the community.

If people do not vaccinate their kids, herd immunity weakens. Herd immunity is a phenomenon where enough people are immune to a disease, so it cannot spread from one person to another. Vaccines are one way to achieve herd immunity, making it harder for diseases to spread from one person to another.

The increase in measles in 2025 is a clear example of weakened herd immunity. According to an article, “The average county-level vaccination rate fell from 93.92% pre-pandemic to 91.26% post-pandemic.” This illustrates the importance of vaccines in establishing herd immunity.

Why are People Skeptical About Vaccines?

Thimerosal

Thimerosal is a mercury-based preservative used in some vaccines. Thimerosal is essential to add to vaccines because it helps prevent the growth of bacteria and fungi in the vaccine vials.

• It contains ethyl mercury, which is quickly removed from the body
• Seafood and other foods contain methylmercury, which can build up to dangerous levels in the body
• These are not the same and affect the body very differently.

According to the CDC and NIH, there is no evidence that thimerosal in vaccines causes harm.

 According to the FDA, the use of thimerosal as a preservative in U.S. FDA-licensed vaccines has significantly declined due to reformulation and development of vaccines presented in single-dose containers.

All vaccines routinely recommended for children 6 years of age and younger in the U.S. are available in formulations that do not contain thimerosal.

The only exception would apply to adolescents. Tetanus and Diphtheria Toxoids Adsorbed, single-dose presentation, manufactured by Mass Biologics, utilizes thimerosal as part of its manufacturing process..

 Autism Myths

According to Dr. Josh Sharfstein, the concerns about vaccines and autism started when an article published in 1998 described 12 children who received the MMR vaccine and later developed autism. This paper was deeply flawed and taken down, but the false connection between vaccines and autism still exists.

One reason this false connection exists is that the MMR vaccine is given around 12 and 18 months old, which is around the same time early autism starts to appear. So people think that since the vaccine comes before the autism diagnosis, the vaccine must be the cause- the cause-and-effect myth. There is numerous strong scientific evidence to disprove this myth. In a large-scale study of 95,000 children, researchers found no association between the MMR vaccine and autism.

 Fear of Severe Reactions

Another reason why people fear vaccines is the severe side effects, including seizures, anaphylaxis, and myocarditis. According to an article in Frontiers in Microbiology, vaccines undergo rigorous safety and efficacy studies to ensure their safety. In fact, many serious side effects are extremely rare.

When Guidelines Shift, So Does Trust

• The Hepatitis B birth shot, which pediatricians say is crucial to have. An AAP article says that “infants infected with hepatitis B at birth face a 90% likelihood of developing chronic infection.”
•  The MMR vaccine, Pediatricians warn that with the U.S. facing a growing measles outbreak, maintaining high MMR vaccination coverage is critical, and any attempt to question it could endanger lives.

Click this link for the complete schedule: BHM VACCINE SHEET copy 2

Adapted from CDC.gov

Resources:

Measles: Signs and Symptoms

Polio: Symptoms and Causes

HPV: Reasons to Get the Vaccine

Herd Immunity

Vaccine Safety

NIH

The Evidence on Vaccines and Autism

Cause and Effect Myth

The post Why You Should Vaccinate Your Kids appeared first on Black Health Matters.

“Official diagnosis. They used the word ‘severely,’” she continued. “My life and its challenges finally make sense. So, so much sense.” At 42, she finally has a name for what has silently shaped her world—autism spectrum disorder.

 

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A post shared by chrisettemichele (@chrisettemichele)

A Diagnosis That Redefines Everything

Autism spectrum disorder is often diagnosed early in life, but not always accurately, and not for everyone. Black girls and women, in particular, are often overlooked by diagnostic frameworks designed around young, white boys. Symptoms can manifest differently. Behaviors are often explained away as moodiness, anxiety, or “attitude.”

The numbers speak volumes, according to the CDC’s 2025 report, 1 in 31 children in the U.S. are identified with autism, with Black children diagnosed at higher rates than white children, a trend first observed in 2020 and continuing today. This reflects broader progress in identifying autism in historically underserved communities. Still, diagnosis among Black girls and women remains delayed. Many, like Michele, spend years adapting, masking, and quietly questioning why their experiences feel out of sync with those around them. Her diagnosis doesn’t change who she is. It just changes how we understand the path she’s walked.

Career Under Scrutiny

Michele’s journey through the music industry has never been simple. While she earned early acclaim for her voice and songwriting, her 2017 performance at Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration changed everything. The backlash was intense, her label dropped her, radio support disappeared, and even some friends and family distanced themselves.
In the years since, she’s spoken openly about the fallout. At the time, she didn’t anticipate the response. Now, with a clearer understanding of her autism, that disconnect makes more sense.

Individuals on the autism spectrum often face challenges with social reasoning, risk assessment, or navigating the complexities of perception and response. Her diagnosis doesn’t redefine those moments, but it offers new context, an added layer to how she processed, navigated, and ultimately stood by a choice that became one of the most scrutinized of her career.

During the same period, Michele experienced a miscarriage and a period of deep depression, trials she spoke about candidly on social media, including the physical and emotional toll of that grief. She didn’t vanish; she simply stepped back to heal.

Showing up Without the Mask

Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects how a person communicates, processes information, and experiences the world. It exists on a spectrum, meaning it appears differently in every individual. Some may struggle with sensory sensitivity, social cues, or repetitive behaviors, while others may simply relate to the world in less conventional ways.

Since sharing her diagnosis, Michele has returned to the stage. But not in the same way. “Stripping the mask,” she called it, one show at a time. According to Psychology Today, for many neurodivergent people, “masking” is the exhausting act of hiding traits and behaviors to avoid being judged or misunderstood. It’s often developed unconsciously, especially by women. It works until it burns you out.

Now, she’s choosing differently. That doesn’t mean shouting her diagnosis at every performance. It means showing up in ways that are more sustainable, more honest, and more in line with her style. Best of all, audiences are meeting her there. The response has been overwhelmingly supportive, not just from fans, but also from others who have been late-diagnosed or have long suspected something about themselves that never quite fit the typical mold. Her story is making space for even more stories.

What Her Story Teaches Us

Chrisette Michele isn’t turning her diagnosis into a new brand. She’s not suddenly the face of neurodivergence. She’s simply saying: this is what was always true. And now that she knows it, she can move through the world with more clarity. Her journey serves as a poignant reminder of how many people carry the weight of uncertainty and how powerful it can be when they finally find clarity.

The post Grammy Winner Chrisette Michele Reveals Autism Diagnosis appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Even though more Black children are being diagnosed now, many still face delays in diagnosis and barriers to getting help. On average, Black children are diagnosed later than white children, and they’re more likely to be misdiagnosed with other conditions before doctors recognize they are on the autism spectrum. These delays make it harder for families to get early support, which can impact long-term learning and development.

Studies show that Black parents often notice something different about their child, although they may not always describe the classic signs of being on the autism spectrum. For example, white families are more likely to talk about repetitive behaviors (a key sign of autism). In contrast, Black families are more likely to mention general concerns like speech delays, problems with motor skills, or trouble sleeping. This can lead doctors to miss the subtle signs of autism, especially if the child doesn’t show more obvious symptoms or if the child happens to be a girl.

Autism is often underdiagnosed in Black girls. Even though more children are being identified with it today than in the past, Black girls still face significant barriers in diagnosis, support, and inclusion when it comes to research. This underdiagnosis is caused by several overlapping factors, including racial bias, gender bias, and a lack of culturally appropriate screening and services.

For every girl diagnosed with autism, over four boys are diagnosed. However, many experts believe that this gap does not reflect the actual number of girls with autism. Instead, it shows that the signs of it in girls are often missed.

For example, if a young girl’s language is very advanced for her age, it could be a sign that she is on the spectrum. Many confuse this with being an extremely gifted and intelligent girl. “Girls with autism typically show language skills that may appear advanced for their age, which ironically can lead parents and teachers to overlook potential developmental concerns,” Ralph Moller, director of operations at Above & Beyond Therapy, observes.

Black children in general tend to be diagnosed later than white children, but the delay is often even longer for Black girls. Many are only diagnosed if they also have an intellectual disability, which means Black girls who are considered “high functioning” or who have more subtle signs of autism are often overlooked. These delays can prevent them from getting early intervention and support that could help them thrive.

Another issue is that many Black girls mask or hide their struggles to fit in. They may follow social rules, do well in school, or stay quiet, making it harder for adults to see that they are struggling. Even after receiving a diagnosis, Black girls often have more trouble getting services like therapy and school support.

Black children with autism are more likely to also be diagnosed with intellectual disability (ID) (about 50%), compared to 32% of white children. This suggests that Black children who don’t have intellectual disabilities, and may have milder symptoms of autism, are sometimes overlooked. An article in the journal Pediatrics explores how symptoms that impact diagnosis are worth noting.

Behind all of this are deep issues like racism, bias, and unfair systems. Many Black families face challenges such as not having enough doctors in their area, not feeling heard by healthcare workers, or struggling to get referrals to autism specialists. Some of these problems happen because of structural racism—systems that give white families easier access to care, while making it harder for Black families.

While progress has been made in diagnosing autism in the Black community, racial disparities still persist. More work is needed to make sure all children, regardless of race or income, get the support they need early on. According to  Dr. Erin Vinoski Thomas,  a disability health Research Associate Professor, the reasons behind these disparities are complex but deeply connected. She notes that bias in healthcare providers is a significant issue.“Healthcare providers are really not trained to provide culturally relevant care to people with disabilities, and that includes autistic people,” she says. “It has numerous interrelated factors, all sort of underscored by systemic racism and systemic ableism working together.”

“Dr. Thomas and her team are working to change that by embedding disability and autism training in medical and nursing school curricula, alongside offering continuing education for providers.

“Even if you’ve been practicing medicine for 30 years, you can still benefit from the training available today to shape how you care for patients with disabilities,”  Dr. Vinoski Thomas points out.

This is exemplified through the Georgia Statewide Disability and Health Program:

It offers healthcare provider training to improve access to care for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (including autism). The Center for Leadership in Disability at Georgia State University also runs programs like IDEAL.

This inclusive postsecondary education initiative supports students with intellectual disabilities and college students with ASD. This will help them succeed with tailored services and support. You can learn more about these programs here:

Georgia Statewide Disability & Health Program

IDEAL (Inclusive Postsecondary Education Program)

 Center for Leadership in Disability

Additional Resources:

CDC Archives

JAMA Network Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Geographic Access to Autism Resources Across the US

Pediatrics: Timing of the Diagnosis of Autism in African American Children

The post Black Parents Need Support With The Autism Diagnosis Process appeared first on Black Health Matters.

According to Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders students may suddenly be expected to seek out the type out of support and accommodations they may have relied on in their primary educational experiences, “Autistic students reported that expectations to independently face unfamiliar routines, suddenly increased academic demands, practical issues such as cooking and budgeting, and difficulties in making new friendships contributed to their anxiety and stress while they were preparing to transition to or during their first year.”

Some researchers feel that this developmental period is underexplored due to its importance in the lives of autistic individuals. But the available research is clear. “In addition to age-normative demands faced by all individuals matriculating into college, students with neurodevelopmental disabilities, such as ASD and ADHD, must also learn how to self-advocate for needed services or accommodations during this transition,” according to the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.

Some higher education institutions offer resources, but they might not be as readily available as those for underage students.

Once students turn 18, they have to approach getting accommodations differently. “This phenomenon, known as the ‘services cliff’, makes the transition to young adulthood especially difficult for this population,” according to Autism Research.

Focusing on how to ensure a child or young adult is meeting their transition-related needs gives them the best chance at academic success.

If you have a neurodivergent child getting ready to transition to college, here are four tactics you can use to help prepare them for what’s ahead:

Create A Plan

Developing a multipoint transitional plan to take your student from high school to college is key. The plan will look different for every student but should include as much detail as possible. “While plans should be individualized, research suggests that students should be immersed in classes with neurotypical peers, and that programs should be designed to promote and develop strengths, and transition plans should be goal specific,” according to Frontiers in Psychiatry.

Find The Resources Before You Need Them

“Obtaining accommodations can require paperwork, contact with disability offices, and disclosure of diagnoses and accommodations to each new instructor,” according to the Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.

Unlike in primary school, every educator or administrator your young person comes into contact with might not know what is in their file. They may have to advocate for themselves.

When they decide on a school, you and your teen should become familiar with their neurodivergent resources. A study in the Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing found “utilizing sources of support” to be a key factor in the academic success of students on the autism spectrum. Many schools have website landing pages presenting the resources available to students. That is a good starting place, but do not assume that is your only option. Student health services might have helpful resources as well. Check out peer groups where students who share experiences similar to your child’s might be listed under clubs or student activities.

Decide On How To Navigate Privacy Restrictions

Parents often want to aid their neurodivergent grown children in the postsecondary environment to ensure success.

When your child is in high school, their education automatically goes through you. In most cases, there is no information that you do not have the right to access. In college, that changes. Federal law prevents academic institutions from forking over data to family members, no matter how close they are.

Work out a plan for helping your child that works within the boundaries of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA).

In some cases, you might have your child opt in to your gaining access to their information. In others, you might need to set a time to discuss how to help your child without crossing privacy parameters.

It is best to do this before orientation.

Use Social Stories To Acknowledge College Traditions

Social stories are a commonly used intervention for small children, but they are helpful for students of all ages.

Many college campuses have unique traditions and events that your neurodivergent young person might not feel comfortable participating in. They might require support when everyone uses a tray to sled down a hill, dancing in a fountain, or dressing alike during a sorority rush period.

Social stories incorporating this information can prepare them for certain times of the year, like homecoming season. It could help them navigate or at least partially prepare for sensory overload.

Set A Timeline For Evaluating Tactics

Sometimes, no matter how well you craft a plan, it is unsuccessful. Set a timeline to evaluate the transition plan you craft with your young person so that you can pivot if your family needs to.

Resources
Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders

Autism Research

Frontiers in Psychiatry

Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders

Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing

Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Digital-Mediated Social Stories Support Children on the Autism Spectrum

The post 4 Ways to Get Your Neurodivergent Teen Ready for College appeared first on Black Health Matters.

The answer would vary, depending upon who you ask. On Tudum, Uzo Aduba describes her character as a woman who is “strong, she doesn’t mince words and she’s unapologetically herself.” Finding the right costume for the character was an integral part of the storytelling. “Cordelia wasn’t going to look like [she’s a] part of this world that we’re all familiar with, Aduba says. “And it felt emblematic that she doesn’t fit into any world. She is a woman that is entirely her own — singular — and she is OK moving through the world in that way.”

Cordelia Cupp is More Than a Columbo or Monk

After the body of the White House’s head usher (Giancarlo Esposito) is discovered during a State Dinner with Austraila. The Chief of DC Metropolitan Police Department, who has jurisdiction, calls in Cupp (who has a global reputation for solving murders). She’s more like Hercule Poirot. While the men in high places play tug of war over who can overrule Cupp’s investigation, she ignores them. She gets down to business, putting intricate puzzle pieces together and introducing us to all the players while providing a healthy dose of references to birds and a side of birdwatching in the middle of the investigation.

Fans Have Laid Out Their Clues

Online audiences are talking because they see evidence, at the very least, of an autistic-coded character in Cordelia Cupp.

Here’s the Official Definition

According to DSM-5, to meet the Autism Spectrum Criteria, individuals would have persistent deficits in social communications and social interaction across multiple contexts.

• Deficits in social-emotional reciprocity range, for example, from an abnormal social approach and failure of normal back-and-forth conversation to reduced sharing of interests, emotions, or affect and failure to initiate.
•  Symptoms cause clinically significant impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of current functioning.
• These disturbances are not better explained by intellectual development disorder (intellectual disability) or global developmental delay. Intellectual development disorder and autism spectrum disorder frequently co-occur.

Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder may become fixated on certain topics and may also socially isolate themselves. In Cordelia Cupp’s case, her fixation with birds was a constant throughout the series. Then, it was combined with social isolation later in the series.

However, on the flip side, although she didn’t pick up on social cues, she did empathize with her friend, the Metropolitan Police Chief, and made a decision that helped him when he needed it most.

But here’s the thing: Cordelia Cupp knows she’s different. I will be very vague here for those who haven’t watched The Residence yet. Remember the conversation with her nephew in Episode 4, when they are birding, and he wants to give up?

“Do you ever think this is unhealthy?”

It is a word my mom uses when she talks about you.

“Single-minded.  Difficult, Obsessive, Un..” he says.

“Uncompromising,’ Cordelia chimes in.

Then, she tells him the story about his mom’s strawberry socks. At the end of it, Cordelia says. “This is not the only way to be, but this is the way that I am.’

In the same episode, she gifts her nephew a birding book and talks about what she uses hers for.

“I like to sketch things I see. I learn a lot from drawing. I put down what I saw, where I looked, what questions I have.”

But Aduba also said birding speaks to Cupp’s patience. “Birding takes an incredible amount of patience. You have to wait, wait, wait for the moment to come to you rather than chase after birds.”

So, in this case, birding becomes a metaphor for how she methodically solves cases.

The post Is Cordelia Cupp of Netflix’s “The Residence” on the Autism Spectrum? appeared first on Black Health Matters.

According to the International Journal of Developmental Disabilities, Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is “a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by atypical abilities or differences in social interaction and verbal or nonverbal communication and repetitive, restrictive patterns and interests.” The Annals of Tourism Research Empirical Insights reports that “Participation in tourism is lower among families with a child diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder than among comparable families.”

Family-themed creator channels like The Gentle Life share information with families seeking guidance on navigating family travel and other activities.

Select airlines, theme parks, and entertainment venues are addressing this by implementing accommodations that allow everyone to enjoy the fun in a way that honors their experience.

They provide sensory kits, safe spaces, and altered versions of activities. Below are the changes being made to include autistic individuals.

Air Travel

Emirates Airline is not just known for its premium seats and fine dining options. It is also celebrated for setting out to become the first global autism-certified airline. In 2023, Emirates Airline mandated that 23,000 staff members complete an education program called “Introduction to Autism and Hidden Disabilities Training.”

According to their website, “Emirates’ ground staff and cabin crew will undertake a new, focused training on autism and sensory awareness to equip them with the understanding and skills to address needs of travellers with autism and sensory sensitivities, along with their families.”

Multi-sensory rooms have been opened in airports across the country. Birmingham, Newark, Detroit, Atlanta, Pittsburgh, and San Diego offer these soothing spaces to comfort autistic people who might be overstimulated.

Wings for Autism permits families to schedule sessions to practice the boarding process.

Cruises

Several cruise lines offer accommodations for autistic individuals and their families. Royal Caribbean provides autism accommodations on select ships. Aboard these ships, there are “extra professionally trained staff in caring for individuals with developmental disabilities,” “specialized respite sessions,” and “private activities and sessions.”

Royal Caribbean offers “Expedited check-in, boarding, and departure,” “Special dietary accommodations,” “Autism-Friendly Toy Lending,” and “Autism-Friendly Films.” They also offer all guests access to a social story that can be downloaded before departure. Social stories are powerful intervention tools. They allow people to familiarize themselves with their surroundings before they arrive so that they know what to expect.

“The goals of social stories are to share accurate social information and to promote social understanding. These short, individualized stories provide support in new and sometimes confusing social experiences,” reports the Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences Journal.

However, Royal Caribbean provides Autism-Friendly accommodations to children, teens, and adults.

Celebrity Cruises “offers autism-friendly interactive initiatives for families, including sensory-friendly films and toys and dietary menu options.” Carnival Cruises also offers accommodations.

They are the “first cruise line to be certified ‘sensory inclusive’ by KultureCity®, a leading nonprofit for individuals with sensory and invisible disabilities.”

Disney Cruise Lines’ custom app allows users to contact counselors and obtain helpful information. The company also schedules sensory-friendly activities for all age levels.

Entertainment Venues

Concerts can be overwhelming. They often contain entertaining but shocking elements like flame projectors and fireworks. There has been a rise in sensory-friendly concerts that offer equally enjoyable but less stimulating experiences that don’t surprise people with random flashes of pyrotechnics.

Some musical and dance venues offer shortened performances, leave the lights up, and limit ticket sales to accommodate autistic people.

Movie theaters are expanding their efforts to be inclusive as well. AMC has partnered with the Autism Society to offer sensory-friendly screenings. The company is the largest movie theater in the United States, making its industry-shifting commitment significant. Regal Theatres developed the My Way Matinee program. During these screenings, guests can access “a safe space where our guests are free to express themselves by singing, crying, dancing, walking around, talking or shouting while enjoying Hollywood’s latest films.”

Amusement Parks

LEGOLAND® New York is a Certified Autism Center. Sesame Place provides noise-canceling headphones and the option to participate in a low-sensory parade viewing. Six Flags amusement parks honor the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards accessibility cards throughout their facilities.

Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom offers sensory kits, sensory guides, and disposable ear protection at guests’ request. Their family care center is equipped with a multi-sensory and calming room.

The post Public Spaces Are Making Room for Autism appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Seales has sparked a conversation about autism in Black women and girls that has been overlooked for too long. According to the Autism Journal, “female and Black populations in the United States are diagnosed later.” The publication declared that “autistic Black girls are effectively invisible in the current scientific literature.”

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) defines Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as “a developmental disability caused by differences in the brain. People with ASD often have problems with social communication and interaction and restricted or repetitive behaviors or interests. The organization noted, “People with ASD may also have different ways of learning, moving, or paying attention.” Seales posted a clip to her social media that highlighted the need for express clarification associated with being placed on the autism spectrum. The National Institute for Mental Health explains that “Autism is known as a “spectrum” disorder because there is wide variation in the type and severity of symptoms people experience.” These symptoms include “difficulty with communication and interaction with other people.”

People who are on the autism spectrum are neurodivergent. This is a comprehensive term that refers to people whose brains function differently. The history of the term is connected to empowering those it refers to. Harvard Health said, “The neurodiversity movement emerged during the 1990s, aiming to increase acceptance and inclusion of all people while embracing neurological differences.” The movement has been successful in increasing media representation, but the face of that representation has been consistently White and male.

Frontiers in Psychiatry published a study focused on how stigma experienced by autistic adults relates to metrics of social identity and social functioning. It found that “almost half of autistic individuals experience some form of victimization in their lifetime, including bullying and other forms of stigma.”

The Autistic Girls Network states that “the assessment tools used for diagnosis and research in the field of autism have almost always been developed from research using predominantly male samples.” Progress in the rate of diagnosis for Black children overall is advancing slowly, according to the CDC, but the gaps in the research get even wider as it pertains to Black girls. Bria Herbert, diagnosed at 19, shared her experience with The 19th. “Autism and most mental health disorders present differently in Black women,” Herbert told the independent publication. “Because autism is looked at through such a White and male lens, people don’t recognize similar behaviors with traditionally feminine or Black interests.”

Daniel Jones of The Aspie World dedicated an entire episode of his YouTube show to recognizing the way that Black women and girls are excluded from the discourse surrounding autism. Celebrity advocates for autism research include Toni Braxton, Shawn Stockman, and Holly Robinson Pete, who discussed the topic on Seales’ podcast Small Doses in April of 2021. April is Autism Awareness Month, and as awareness is raised and information is spread, the experiences of Black women and girls must be included in efforts to continue learning about the spectrum. Advocates and academics are arguing for their inclusion in different spaces.

A paper published in the Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders stated, “Growth in autism research necessitates corresponding attention to autism research ethics, including ethical and meaningful inclusion of diverse participants.” It said that “the exclusion of marginalized subgroups of people with autism is a major ethical concern.”

The post Amanda Seales Just Announced She Has Autism – Here’s Why So Many Black Women Go Undiagnosed appeared first on Black Health Matters.

July is Cord Blood Awareness Month. Cord blood, the stem-cell-rich blood that flows through the umbilical cord and placenta, holds immense potential to save lives. By donating your newborn‘s cord blood, you can contribute to a nationwide effort to create a genetically diverse inventory of stem cells for transplantation. The importance of cord blood awareness, particularly for African American mothers, can’t be understated.

How it Works: A Simple and Painless Process

Cord blood donation is a straightforward and painless process worth considering, even if you choose not to store your child’s cord blood for private use. Cord blood stem cells have been successfully used for decades in treating various blood and immune system disorders, effectively saving lives. By choosing a reputable cord blood preservation service, you ensure that the highest quality and quantity of stem cells are available when they are most needed, particularly when a child could require a transplant.

Minority Donors Needed: The Importance of African American Participation

African American, Hispanic, Asian, and mixed-race individuals play a crucial role in publicly donating their baby’s cord blood. Patients in need of a transplant are more likely to find a suitable match from a donor of the same ethnic background. Unfortunately, national registries have fewer units collected from ethnic minorities, making it especially challenging to find a compatible donor. Therefore, African American mothers should consider publicly donating their baby’s cord blood to increase the chances of finding a match for those in need.

Cord Blood Banking: Understanding the Options

Private cord blood banks often advertise the preservation of cord blood as a form of biological insurance against various conditions, including cerebral palsy. However, it’s important to note that cord blood is currently only approved for treating specific blood and immune system disorders. Extensive research is still required to establish the safety and effectiveness of cord blood for other conditions.

The Special Properties of Cord Blood Stem Cells

Cord blood contains hematopoietic stem cells that have the remarkable ability to develop into any type of blood cell in the human body. In the past, bone marrow transplants were the primary method for obtaining blood stem cells, but cord blood transplants have emerged as a faster and less risky alternative. Cord blood transplants have been particularly beneficial for people of color, as bone marrow registries tend to lack diversity. Additionally, cord blood does not require as precise a match as bone marrow.

Understanding The Difference Between Public And Private Cord Blood Banks

Public and private cord blood banks offer different services for cord blood storage. Public donations are made available to anyone, including researchers, through a national registry at no cost to the donor. However, it may not be possible to retrieve your own baby’s cord blood if a family member requires it. Private banking, on the other hand, involves a cost but ensures that the banked blood is reserved for your baby or another family member who may need it in the future. It’s important to understand the pros and cons of each option before making a decision.

The Controversy Surrounding Private Cord Blood Banking

Private cord blood banks operate as for-profit companies, and their methods and quality standards can vary. While public banks must meet strict requirements and adhere to regulations, private banks may not always meet the same standards.

Some private banks may also market cord blood as a therapy for conditions like autism or cerebral palsy, despite the lack of conclusive evidence supporting these claims. It’s essential to carefully evaluate the claims made by private cord blood banks and consult with medical professionals for accurate information.

Making an Informed Decision

Deciding whether to bank your baby’s cord blood is a complex choice that depends on various factors. The American Academy of Pediatrics and The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommend routine private cord blood banking only in specific circumstances, such as when a family member needs a stem cell transplant or has a known genetic disorder. However, even in these cases, the effectiveness of using your baby’s cord blood may be uncertain. Public banking, which involves donating cord blood to help others, is encouraged as a potentially life-saving option.

Banking your baby’s cord blood is a personal decision that should be carefully considered. It’s crucial to assess the likelihood of someone in your immediate family needing a stem cell transplant, your willingness to donate cord blood, your hospital’s capability to accept donations, and the financial implications of private banking. Ultimately, every family’s situation is unique, and while cord blood preservation can provide potential benefits, it should not be considered an essential treatment. If you have the means and understand the potential limitations, private banking may be an option. Alternatively, donating cord blood to a public bank can greatly increase the likelihood of saving someone else’s life.

The post A Lifesaving Gift: Cord Blood Awareness for African American Mothers appeared first on Black Health Matters.

The players supporting Autism Speaks this season are:

• Chidobe Awuzie, Dallas Cowboys
• Kendrick Bourne, San Francisco 49ers (honoring his uncle)
• Tyus Bowser, Baltimore Ravens
• Chris Cooper, Atlanta Falcons (honoring his cousin)
• Duron Harmon, New England Patriots (honoring his brother-in-law)
• Gabe Jackson, Oakland Raiders
• Mike McGlinchey, San Francisco 49ers (honoring his brother Jimmy)
• Brian O’Neill, Minnesota Vikings (honoring his sister Lorraine)
• Isaiah Prince, Miami Dolphins
• Aldrick Robinson, Minnesota Vikings
• Daniel Ross, Dallas Cowboys
• Donovan Smith, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Eric Smith, New York Giants
• Mike Weber, Dallas Cowboys

Interested in bidding on one of the Autism Speaks My Cause My Cleats campaign cleats? Head to the NFL auction page.

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But earlier diagnosis helps children with the disorder maximize their development potential. That’s why Autism Speaks and Sesame Workshop joined forces to promote early screening and diagnosis with a multimedia campaign starring Julia, the 4-year-old “Sesame Street” muppet with autism who was introduced to the world two years ago.

“Autism is a brain difference that starts really early in life, probably during pregnancy,” Thomas Frazier, Ph.D., Autism Speaks’ chief science officer, told Black Health Matters in a recent phone interview. “In kids as early as 9 months, you can see if they are sharing smiles and facial expressions with their mother or caregiver. Are they babbling? Are they pointing or responding to their name?”

He also directed attention to a new study which found autism can be diagnosed in children as young as 14 to 15 months. “It’s why universal screening at 18 to 24 months [recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics] is so important. Obviously age 4 is much later than we would like because we can diagnose much earlier and get them intervention.”

And this screening, diagnosis and intervention information is what the Autism Speaks-Sesame Workshop collaboration is attempting to relay to parents.

“It’s a great mechanism to get the issue out there, because kids can be diagnosed reliably early,” Frazier said. “‘Sesame Street’ has this great relationship with children and parents of children. We can talk about what is autism, what’s the value of early diagnosis, and get the word out about screening.”

The series of English and Spanish videos show Julia interacting in her unique way in everyday activities with her friends and family. In one of the PSAs that’s part of the campaign, Julia has a speech generating device because she’s mostly nonverbal. She calls it a talker. “Because she’s using it, she’s communicating well,” Frazier said. “It lets people know if you run into a person with a speech generating device in the grocery store, you’ll know it’s a device used by someone with autism. It gets people used to these behaviors.”

The campaign is also beneficial in helping Autism Speaks share available treatment and support, including speech and occupational therapies, behavioral therapies that teach children with autism what they need to do to perform daily living skills, and social skills, such as shaking hands and looking someone in the eye.

“You want to teach kids to exhibit the social skills we all need,” Frazier said. “Can you be friendly with people as a way to get into a relationship? Are you able to exhibit the skills you need to develop a friendship. Can you finish a conversation? Maintain an appropriate distance from someone? These are all skills neurotypical people take for granted. We’re just teaching them more actively in people with autism.”

Parents who have concerns about their children or who have a child who may have just received an autism diagnosis can also find a wealth of free resources at ScreenForAutism.org. They can also connect with a resource team at Autism Speaks’ helpline, 888-AUTISM2. 

“We focus a lot of our attention on developing resources,” Frazier said. “There are toolkits for adult transition, dental visits and resources for friends and family members. It’s so important in African American and Hispanic communities. We really want to close the gap.”

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Actress Holly Robinson Peete has been very open about the joys and challenges of raising a child with autism. Her son, RJ, was diagnosed at age 3, and since then, Peete has worked tirelessly as an advocate for both children with autism and their families. In their hit reality TV show on OWN, “For Peete’s Sake,” the Peetes let their fans into their world–the ups and the downs–to break down stereotypes about autism and famous families. We talked to Peete about the show and what it’s like to raise a child with autism in honor of Autism Awareness Month this April.
You just wrapped another season of “For Peete’s Sake,” your docu-series with OWN that intimately invites your fans into your family life. What has been the most nerve-racking thing about filming a reality show?
Peete: Well, it wasn’t easy waking up to 30 people in your house every morning that were not your family, but they quickly became family, and we all became pretty comfortable with the process. Especially this past season. I felt everyone was more relaxed and open to being documented more authentically.
What has been the most rewarding thing about filming the show?
Peete: The most rewarding thing has been the level of awareness we have been able to raise on several issues that impact us deeply. Autism employment and law enforcement issues, Parkinson’s disease, former NFL football players health and wellness, just to name a few.
It’s April, and it’s Autism Awareness Month. What misconceptions about autism would you like to change?
Peete: The biggest misconception is children with autism do not have the ability to be valuable to society. These children will grow up to be adults who need jobs, and the big myth is someone with autism cannot be a valuable employee. In many cases, young adults with ASD can be your best and most trusted employee. I want more corporations to hire them and exploit their gifts, which are many. Microsoft, Walgreens, FedEx, Los Angeles Dodgers are just some companies that understand the value of employment of people with autism and other developmental disorders.
As a mother of someone with autism, what would you say to mothers who are struggling with their own child’s diagnosis?
Peete: You have to be your child’s biggest and most staunch advocate. You have to push past “no” and fight every day for your kid. The world unfortunately is not very kind or compassionate to our children so we have to change that, and each parent can do their part.
What have you learned the most from having a child with autism?
Peete: The biggest lesson I have learned from having a child with autism is that life is full of small yet important wins. The patience I have had to develop while caring for and advocating for RJ has given me a renewed perspective of the world has been an invaluable life lesson.
Your husband talked about how hard it was for him to get onboard with treatment. Why do you think men can sometimes be resistant to accepting this type of diagnosis?
Peete: For men the autism diagnosis can be harder to process. Maybe because autism impacts boys disproportionately—so many men mourn the idea of the son they expected to have. What Rodney and many other dads were eventually able to do was change their expectations for who they wanted their kid to be and embrace who he actually is. But it was not easy.
How did coming together to help RJ help your marriage?
Peete: There is a very high divorce rate among parents with special need kids. That is due to the severe emotional, financial and often physical toll it can take on a couple. You lose yourself in your child’s care. Not every mom or dad is able to push past the difficulty to save their own marriage, but when they do the bond can become even stronger because of the journey they have endured together to help the child.
How does tackling certain issues like consent and interacting with cops change when speaking to a child with autism?
Peete: People with autism process verbal cues differently. They don’t always interact in a proper way, which can end up in tragedy. The reason for this is that very few law enforcement officers have had any training to know what autism looks like in their communities. We need to change that.
Talk to me about the HollyRod Foundation.
Peete: HollyRod started because my father, Matthew Robinson, had Parkinson’s disease and we met so many families who could not afford to care for their loved ones with Parkinson’s. Later, when RJ was diagnosed with autism, we expanded our mission to include compassionate care for families impacted by autism. Our goal is to continue to serve both the Parkinson’s and autism communities with a focused priority on under-resourced families.
We have various events and initiatives during the month of April. To find out how you can support HollyRod, please visit www.HollyRod.org and/or follow us on social platforms.
From Hello Beautiful

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Part 4: Long-Lasting Effects

• Autism is a challenge I’d rather not deal with, or feel responsible for. I’m sure breastfeeding isn’t the only factor in whether a child develops autism. But if breastfeeding can prevent or lower the risk, even a little, it’s worth it to me.
• I’d feel like my parenting skills were the worst if I caused her appendicitis to burst. Appendicitis is so frightening. One day your baby is fine and the next, he’s being wheeled in for surgery. If breastfeeding could possibly prevent that from happening, it would be silly not to do it.
• I have a bone to pick with not taking proven ways to increase my baby’s bone mass. Breastfeeding led to increased bone mass in certain areas of the body in this study.
• I want my baby to be able to eat what she wants someday, not be ruled by her food choices. Celiac disease can be debilitating. People have to spend an insane amount of time reading ingredients just to make sure they don’t negatively affect their own health.
• Oh, behave! Breastfed babies appear to have fewer conduct problems. A child’s conduct sets the tone for how he will behave his whole life. It’s hard to come back from being pigeonholed as having “bad” behavior by teachers, classmates and other parents.
• I’d welcome sore nipples if it meant my child wouldn’t have to prick herself several times a day. Diabetes is a burden, both emotionally and financially. Breastfed babies have a decreased risk of ending up with type 2 diabetes when they’re older.
• I’d rather my child give me an ulcer from making me worry than me give one to her by skipping breastfeeding. Helicobacter pylori infection can eventually lead to peptic ulcer disease down the road. Breastfeeding appears to lessen that risk.
• I couldn’t bear her groans if she suffered from Crohn’s. Crohn’s disease is chronic, and it causes diarrhea, constipation and abdominal pain. I don’t want my baby to go through that at some point in her life simply because I didn’t think breastfeeding was important enough.
• I get the point; breastfeeding protects joints. Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is no walk in the park for people who suffer from it. If breastfeeding my baby means there’s even a small chance my baby will be spared; I’ll take it.
• Can breastfeeding prevent mental health problems in adolescence? Across the country, headlines shine a spotlight on how severe mental health problems can be. Breastfeeding might protect against some mental health concerns.
• Breastfeeding can alter how soon your daughter hits menopause. Menopause doesn’t happen on a timeline. It’s anyone’s guess when it will begin, but this study links breastfeeding with later menopause.
• Two simple letters make me want to breastfeed: MS. Multiple sclerosis is an awful disease, and I pray my baby never gets it. All I can do to help make that a reality is breastfeed. Breastfed babies have a lesser chance of getting it.
• Obesity is a growing problem, but I don’t want it to be my baby’s health burden. With obesity, you carry more than extra weight. You increase your health risks and chances of public ridicule. People can be mean, and I want to protect my baby from that harsh reality. Breastfeeding might help me do that.
• I’ll risk a few bites now to help my daughter’s bite down the road. Breastfeeding can help your child’s dental health—especially overbites.
• If we’re attached at the breast now, we’ll be attached at the hip later. Years down the road, I want to be as close to my child as I am right now. Breastfeeding might help me realize that dream because, in this study, children who were breastfed were more attached to their parents.

Check back tomorrow for Part 5 of “The 111 Benefits of Breastfeeding.” Or catch up on Part 1 here, Part 2 here and Part 3 here.
From Mom Loves Best

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“To rehabilitate,” according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, means “to restore to a former capacity.”
But what if that capacity—be it walking or talking or brushing one’s teeth—was never there in the first place? In that case, you aren’t talking about “rehabilitation” but “habilitation.”
People need habilitation when they have a congenital defect or disease that impairs the development of basic life skills. For example, autism may leave a child unable to speak. Cerebral palsy may result in language deficits and severe physical limitations. Birth defects may leave a child deaf.
Thanks to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), habilitation services will now be widely covered for the first time in private insurance plans. Rehabilitative and habilitative services are among the 10 “essential benefits” that must be provided by all plans sold on all the state and federally run health insurance exchanges. Starting in 2014, all individual and small group health policies sold outside the exchanges also will have to cover habilitative services.
But as is the case with some of the other “essential benefits,” the federal health law mandates coverage of habilitation services without spelling out exactly what that means. The states, together with insurers and advocacy groups, will have a big say in what, and how much, is covered.
The computer deficiencies that have plagued the exchanges since they opened on October 1 have further muddied the picture, since few people have read what insurers on the exchanges are offering. “How this all plays out very much remains to be seen,” said Daniel Brown, senior state policy analyst for the American Occupational Therapy Association.
The number of people who might benefit from such services also is uncertain, Brown said. However, 15 percent of children between the ages of 3 and 17 have one or more developmental disabilities, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The cost of habilitative therapy varies widely, but can be quite expensive. One form of therapy used to treat those with autism, “applied behavioral analysis,” can cost $50,000 or more a year.
A Popular Addition
Before the ACA, habilitative services were inconsistently covered in health insurance plans. Most insurers took the view that teaching skills to the developmentally disabled was an educational matter rather than a health care concern. But as the disabled movement has gained influence over the last 50 years, that view has become far less than universal, even among insurers.
For one thing, it has become clear that financially strapped school systems do not have the resources or expertise to meet the habilitation needs of their students. In response, Medicaid in 1989 added habilitative services to its benefits menu, and dozens of states began to require insurers operating in their states to offer habiliative benefits. However, the coverage requirement varies widely from state to state, and many states have limited it to children with autism.
That was the situation when the ACA was being crafted in 2009 and 2010. For part of that time, people with disabilities had a formidable ally on Capitol Hill in Sen. Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts, who died in August 2009. Kennedy, whose sister Eunice Shriver founded the Special Olympics, was a longtime champion of services for the developmentally disabled.
Though the ACA as a whole remains controversial, opponents of the law have not criticized coverage of habilitative services. But advocates are concerned that the federal law leaves it to the states to determine just how robust habilitative services have to be.
Fear of Limitations
When the details of the insurance plans sold on the exchanges finally emerge, advocates will scrutinize the limitations imposed on the habilitative services offered.
For example, they would oppose a lifetime cap on the number of therapeutic visits patients are entitled to under habilitative services. They also are wary of combining rehabilitative and habilitative visits under one cap, because a person could exhaust all visits for habilitation and have nothing left for rehabilitation. Brown said children with congenital problems sometimes suffer falls or other accidents that require rehabilitation.
“We wouldn’t want (insurers) to say, if you get rehab you don’t need hab,” said Laurie Alban Havens, who advocates for insurance policy changes for the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), a professional organization representing various types of therapists.
Advocates also will be surveying plans to make sure “maintenance” services are included. After reaching a certain level of ability, a person typically needs help to keep that ability. ASHA and similar organization argue that maintenance often requires skilled therapy rather than the custodial level of care that insurers prefer to provide.
Many states, including Arkansas, require insurers to provide the same level of habilitative benefits as they do rehabilitative benefits.
“We wanted parity but the question was, ‘what does that mean?'” said Cynthia Crone, a deputy insurance commissioner in Arkansas. For example, an insurance plan might provide 60 days of in-patient rehabilitation without specifying whether habilitation, which doesn’t usually require in-patient care, is covered.
However the states interpret habilitative services, it will certainly be subject to challenge by consumers, regulators and the courts. January 1, when the ACA officially takes effect, will mark only the start of that process.
From Stateline, a nonpartisan, nonprofit news service of the Pew Charitable Trusts that provides daily reporting and analysis on trends in state policy.

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The Affordable Care Act is primarily aimed at insuring more adults, including parents. In the process, a substantial number of uninsured children may also get coverage as their parents learn more about federal and state subsidies. Just how many will depend on whether states maintain their existing Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
“Now, more than ever, it is crucial that states continue or expand coverage of children,” said Bruce Lesley, president of the children’s advocacy group First Focus. Without CHIP, the federal-state health-care program for kids, he and others worry about potential harm the ACA may do to children. A main concern is a provision known as the “family glitch” that could make employer-sponsored insurance too costly for low-income workers.
According to a study by the Urban Institute, Obamacare could result in new coverage for as many as 3.2 million uninsured children because of tax credits on health insurance exchanges and overall outreach efforts. But if CHIP is not reauthorized by Congress when it expires in 2015, or states decide not to continue it, the ACA could result in fewer children covered by insurance.
Children could fall through the cracks as the massive health-care law is rolled out, said Catherine Hess of the National Academy for State Health Policy. The 15-year-old CHIP program, Hess wrote in a recent report, “has been exceedingly successful in finding uninsured children and providing them with quality, affordable coverage.” She and other advocates for children insist that the program should continue well after the ACA is fully implemented.
What Is the Family Glitch?
An apparent mistake in the ACA makes the future of CHIP particularly important.
The so-called family glitch in the health law requires employers to provide “affordable” insurance only for the workers themselves—not for their families.
Premiums for individual coverage must not exceed 9.5 percent of a worker’s income. But there is no limit on the employee’s share of premiums for family coverage, which typically costs close to three times as much as individual coverage.
In addition, federal subsidies for people with incomes below 400 percent of the federal poverty level ($45,600 for an individual) will be unavailable for anyone who receives an affordable offer of insurance from an employer. That means workers who can’t afford employer-offered premiums for family coverage will have nowhere to go except the Children’s Health Insurance Programs (CHIP) or Medicaid, if they qualify.
At least two states preparing for the ACA have already discontinued their CHIP programs and more may follow as a way to reduce administrative costs and make enrollment simpler for families. “Looking ahead,” said Joan Alker of Georgetown University’s Center for Children and Families, “the ACA does raise questions about the future of the CHIP program.”
The CHIP Provision
Although most of the ACA focuses on adults, one provision requires states to shift children ages 6 to 19 in families with incomes between the poverty level ($11,490 for an individual and $23,550 for a family of four) and 138 percent of poverty ($15,860 and $32,499) out of CHIP and into Medicaid by January 1.
Children younger than 6 in families in this income bracket will stay under Medicaid. Those 6 to 19 are covered by Medicaid only if their family income is at or below poverty level.
The CHIP program was started in 1997 to cover these older children in families slightly over the poverty level, as well as kids of all ages in families with incomes too high to qualify for Medicaid but who can’t afford private insurance. The federal government gave states a higher federal match for CHIP than Medicaid to encourage them to sign up as many children as possible.
Total federal and state spending on CHIP in 2009—the most recent numbers from the Kaiser Family Foundation—is $10.6 billion. State expenditures range from Vermont, which spends the least at $7 million, to California’s $1.8 billion.
When it was created, critics said it would result in socialized medicine. But it is now viewed as widely successful and has bipartisan support. Since enactment, CHIP has reduced the uninsured rate among low-income children from 23 percent to 10 percent. Today, CHIP covers 8 million children and Medicaid covers nearly 36 million. Together, the programs insure more than half of all children in the country. According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s latest data, only 8.9 percent of all children remain uninsured, compared to 15.7 percent of people of all ages.
When CHIP was launched, 21 states chose to create separate CHIP programs. The remaining states opted to cover children under an expanded Medicaid program. The new federal health law requires states with separate programs to shift nearly 30 percent of CHIP kids into Medicaid.
An important difference between CHIP and Medicaid is that CHIP is a block grant, not an entitlement. That means states can create waiting lists for the program when state revenues run short.
Medicaid, on the other hand, must be offered to all comers no matter what the cost. For this reason, Republican governors tend to favor CHIP over Medicaid. Many states have a great deal of pride in their CHIP programs. For example, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett, a Republican, has asked the federal government for an exemption to the transfer requirement. He also added state funding to cover 9,300 more children this year, a 3.4 percent increase, according to Kaiser.
The ACA says states will continue to get a higher federal match for former CHIP kids who are moved to Medicaid, averaging about 71 percent nationwide compared to 57 percent for Medicaid.
“Stairstep” Kids
The rationale for the ACA transfer was that parents and children would be best served if they were covered by the same insurance plan, with the same doctors and hospitals and the same enrollment rules. Since the federal health law assumed that all states would expand Medicaid to adults with incomes up to 138 percent of poverty level, it made sense to cover their children under the same program.
Otherwise, parents would have to deal with separate enrollment and renewal rules for what is known as “stairstep” children who have grown out of Medicaid. When the Supreme Court made the Medicaid expansion optional for states, the justices made clear that the provision requiring states to transfer children to Medicaid was not affected.
The requirement spurred California and New Hampshire to stop running separate CHIP programs, and instead move all low-income children to Medicaid. New York and Colorado chose to make the transfer ahead of the deadline because of projected cost savings.
Nationwide, the transition from CHIP to Medicaid will affect more than 1.5 million low-income children. In California alone, nearly 900,000 kids are moving under Medicaid. New Hampshire will shift about 9,000 children. In states that are transferring only the required number of children—those older than 6 in families whose incomes range from poverty to 138 percent of poverty—the reduction in CHIP enrollment will be nearly 30 percent.
CHIP vs. Medicaid
There’s no consensus on whether kids and families would be better off if states maintained a separate CHIP program, Alker of the Georgetown center said. Medicaid generally has a stronger benefits package and lower cost-sharing for families. But it may be easier to get an appointment with CHIP doctors, because Medicaid tends to pay pediatricians and hospitals lower fees.
“Integrating CHIP into Medicaid is tricky,” Lesley of First Focus said. “Kids could be left worse off unless you pay attention to a variety of issues, including benefits and services, out-of-pocket costs, access to care and quality of care.”
California Gov. Jerry Brown’s decision to end the state’s CHIP program was largely fiscal. A legislative analysis showed the state will save $43 million in 2014, primarily due to Medicaid’s lower reimbursement rates.
Florida, which will transfer about 71,000 kids into Medicaid by the end of the year, expects to save $18 million in 2014. A few states have reported small increases in costs due to higher benefits costs under Medicaid, according to a new report from Kaiser. But most expect to see some savings.
Although advocates are not certain whether kids would be better off in CHIP or Medicaid, they are clear about one thing. Any move to shut down a state CHIP program should not be undertaken hastily. According to Hess of the National Academy for State Health Policy, “it makes sense to get all the new ACA systems up and running and see how it goes first.”
Children’s advocate Kristen Golden Testa said California moved way too fast in shutting down CHIP. She and other advocates in the state had nothing against the Medicaid program, but they worried that kids, especially those in treatment, would lose access to their doctors.
In addition to a series of mishaps and confusion during the transition, the state met with a storm of protests when parents of kids with autism found that Medicaid—renowned for its rich benefits package—;did not cover the same autism treatments as CHIP did.
Brown, a Democrat, rejected demands to add autism coverage to Medicaid, because it would have cost as much as $50 million, more than the state estimated it would save by ending CHIP.
From Stateline, a nonpartisan, nonprofit news service of the Pew Charitable Trusts that provides daily reporting and analysis on trends in state policy.

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