Home STD Test Kits at Walgreens May Be Available Soon

Do-it-yourself at home STD test kits at Walgreens may be available for purchase soon and many women and men are looking forward to the possibility.

When asked if they would prefer buying at home STD test kits at Walgreens for Chlamydia and gonorrhea, 76% of 462 women preferred the at home std test kits. Only 16% of the women said they would rather go to a clinic and 8% said they would prefer to be tested by their own doctor. Currently, at home STD test kits at Walgreens are not available to U.S. customers.

Home-testing kits are important for young, healthy women who use long-acting contraceptives and often forget to get regular gynecological checkups. “I think it’s helpful to be able to screen at home, but I worry that it may be interpreted as a substitute for an annual GYN exam,” says Dr. Cynthia Krause, an assistant clinical professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive services at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City.

Screening for hepatitis, HPV, AIDS, weight, contraception and domestic abuse are all part of annual doctor visits. If home STD test kits at Walgreens are made available, it will increase the testing for sexually transmitted infections.

Both Chlamydia and gonorrhea are nearly symptomless and may exist as low-grade infections for many years before developing into serious health problems. However, antibiotic treatments for both STDs are effective and easy.

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Choosing Nursing Home or Live In for Alzheimer”s Patient Care

Many families are faced with the difficult choice of deciding between a nursing home or live in for Alzheimer”s patient care. Placing a loved one in a care facility can be hard, but caring for a person with Alzheimer”s can be just as complicated. Here are some steps to help you make an informed decision on choosing between nursing home or live in for Alzheimer”s patient care.

Alzheimer”s is a common disease associated with low levels of a chemical called acetylcholine in the brain. While there is still no cure for the disease, various prescription drugs such as Aricept and Exelon have been produced to help improve thinking and memory in patients diagnosed with Alzheimer”s.

Before deciding between a nursing home or live in for Alzheimer”s patient care, family members must take into account the severity of the disease and their ability to deal with the effects of Alzheimer”s on their own. Taking care of an Alzheimer”s patient can be tiring, time-consuming and difficult. If the caregiver is unable to rest, has no family or outside support or is aging or physically declining themselves, retirement home placement may be necessary. If the patient wanders, is combative, abusive or difficult to care for, a stronger support system is necessary.

At the point when an Alzheimer”s patient is no longer able to live independently, be rest assured that there are many options available whether it is a nursing home or live in for Alzheimer”s patient care. When choosing a facility, ask many questions. These can include “Why are you a good facility”, “what makes you better than other facilities” and if it is “dementia-capable” or “dementia-specific”. Staff members should be able to tell you the level of care they are able to provide, how much training they have received and their approach for caring for patients with Alzheimer”s. There are a few different kinds of facilities to choose from, they include:

Retirement Communities: These are made up of a group of buildings with separate areas that can provide different levels of care. These communities are created to let residents “age in place” and remain comfortable in their surroundings. As the Alzheimer”s disease progresses, residents can receive the full care they need without the trauma and discomfort of moving to a different facility.

Congregate Housing: This housing is typically federally funded and allows residents to live with a group of other seniors in an apartment complex. Twenty-four hour assistance is available and can be tailored for people with Alzheimer”s disease. Group meals, social activities and housekeeping are usually included.

Nursing Homes: The choice between a nursing home or live in for Alzheimer”s patient care should be clear when the sufferer can no longer function. Nursing homes provide services for patients who need daily medical care. Facilities can include physical therapy, rehabilitation, and pharmacy service. A nursing home is best for Alzheimer”s patients who cannot eat, bathe, or go to the bathroom on their own, and who may wander off while not being watched.

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Obama Answers: Health Care Reform what is the Status?

United States president Barack Obama ended the questions of “health care reform what is the status?” today by officially signed sweeping health care reform into law. This $938-billion overhaul guarantees coverage for 32 million uninsured Americans and will likely affect every citizen in some way. The senate must now meet to pass a package of changes that will resolve the differences between Senate and House bills.

If the changes are agreed upon, those asking about health care reform what is the status will finally be appeased. Here are some of the major changes of the health care reform that may affect you:

Within the first year:

• Young adults can remain on their parents’ insurance until they turn 27 years old.
• Senior citizen health care reform will include receiving a $250 rebate to help fill a lack in Medicare prescription drug coverage.
• Insurers will not be allowed to cancel policies to avoid paying medical bills when a person falls ill.
• New plans must provide coverage for protective services without co-pays. All plans must comply with this by 2018.
• Businesses with less than 50 employees will receive tax credits covering 35% of their health care premiums, rising to 50% by 2014.

By 2011:

• Medicare will offer free annual wellness visits and personalized prevention plans. New plans will be required to cover protective services with no co-pay.
• A 50% discount will be provided on brand name prescription drugs for people enrolled in Prescription Drug Plan or Medicare Advantage. Additional discounts on brand name and generic drugs will gradually increase by 2020.
• The Medicare payroll tax will increase from 1.45 percent to 2.35 percent for individuals earning more than $200,000 and married filing jointly above $250,000.

By 2013:

• Contributions to flexible savings accounts will be limited to $2,500 per year, indicated by the Consumer Price Index in subsequent years.
• Employers will lose the tax deduction for subsidizing prescription drug plans for Medicare Part D-eligible retirees.
• Depending on what is the status of the health care reform, a 2.9% excise tax will be added to the first sale of medical devices. Exempt are eyeglasses, contact lenses, hearing aids or other items for individual use.

By 2014:

• Citizens will be required to have acceptable coverage or pay a penalty of $95 in 2014, $325 in 2015, $695 in 2016. Families will be made to pay half the amount for children, up to a cap of $2,250 per family. After 2016, penalties are decided by Consumer Price Index.
• With the health care reform, companies with 50 or more employees must offer coverage to employees or pay a $2,000 penalty per employee.
• Insurers cannot refuse to sell or renew policies because of an individual’s health status. Health plans cannot exclude coverage for pre-existing conditions. Insurers cannot charge higher rates because of health status, gender or other factors.
• Medicaid eligibility will rise to 133% of poverty for all non-senior individuals to guarantee that people acquire reasonably priced health care in the most efficient and appropriate manner. States will receive increased federal funding to cover this new group.

By 2018:

• A tax will be imposed on high-cost, employer-provided health care plans beyond $27,500 for family coverage and $10,200 for single coverage. This will increase to $30,950 for families and $11,850 for individuals, retirees and employees in high-risk professions.

Although the answer to “health care reform what is the status” may seem obvious, many of the law’s most dramatic changes will not actually take effect for years. One of the most popular changes includes tax credits to help pay for premiums for middle-class working families with incomes up to $88,000 a year. Medicaid will also be expanded to cover more low-income people.

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