Health Beat: CDC says all pregnant women should be tested for Zika virus

Editor’s note: Each Wednesday, Talk Business & Politics provides “Health Beat,” a round-up health-related topics. 

–––––––––––––––

CDC: ALL PREGNANT WOMEN SHOULD BE TESTED FOR ZIKA VIRUS
In an updated guidance on the Zika virus, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control on Monday (July 25) recommended that all pregnant women be tested at every checkup for infections. According to the CDC, new information has indicated that some infected pregnant women can have evidence of Zika virus in their blood for longer than the previously recommended seven-day window for testing after symptoms begin, and that even pregnant women without symptoms can have evidence of the virus in their blood and urine.

Therefore, the updated guidance expands the Zika-specific blood testing for a longer period, up to 14 days, in pregnant women with symptoms and advises that pregnant women with possible Zika exposure but no symptoms receive this testing as well.

If pregnant women visit their healthcare provider after the 14-day testing window and test positive with the less-specific test, the Zika-specific blood testing can now be offered potentially to provide a definite diagnosis for pregnant women with Zika virus infection. Expanding the use of the Zika-specific test could provide more women with Zika virus infection a definite diagnosis and help direct medical evaluation and care.

In addition, the CDC’s new guidance includes recommendations to help healthcare providers better care for their pregnant patients with confirmed or possible Zika infection.

MEDICARE ANNOUNCES NEW INITIATIVE TO PREVENT HEART ATTACKS, STROKES
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on July 21 announced 516 awardees in 47 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia to help reduce the risks for heart attacks and strokes among millions of Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries.

The health care practitioners participating in the “Million Hearts Cardiovascular Disease Risk Reduction Model” will work to decrease cardiovascular disease risk by assessing an individual patient’s risk for heart attack or stroke and applying prevention interventions.

Overall, nearly 20,000 health care practitioners and over 3.3 million Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries will participate in the five-year model.

Health care practitioners in the intervention group will work with beneficiaries individually to identify the best approach or approaches to reducing their risk of having a heart attack or stroke – for example, smoking cessation interventions, blood pressure management, or cholesterol-lowering drugs or aspirin – and will explain the benefits of each approach.

Each beneficiary will receive a personalized risk modification plan that will target their specific risk factors. Organizations in the intervention group will be paid for reducing the absolute risk for heart disease or stroke among their high-risk beneficiaries.

For additional information about the program, including a fact sheet and a list of participants, visit here.

HRSA ANNOUNCES FEDERAL AWARDS TO GROW NATION’S PRIMARY CARE WORKFORCE
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) recently announced more than $149 million in new awards through 12 workforce programs to prepare the next generation of skilled, diverse primary care providers to serve communities in need across the country.

“These awards will help increase access to quality health care for all Americans by educating and training culturally competent providers who are prepared to practice in high-need areas,” said HRSA Acting Administrator Jim Macrae.

For a complete list grantees and funding amounts, go here.