Asthma affects more than 24 million Americans, including 6.2 million children. Although asthma cannot be cured, it can be effectively managed with care based on nationally recognized guidelines. Ensuring the availability and accessibility of guidelines-recommended treatments and services can help patients receive the most appropriate care. In this article, we describe the American Lung Association’s Asthma Guidelines-Based Care Coverage Project (the Project) to determine the extent of asthma care coverage and associated barriers in state Medicaid programs — information that has been previously unavailable. The Project tracked coverage for 7 areas of guidelines-based asthma care and 9 barriers related to accessing care in Medicaid programs for all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Results from the Project show a lack of consistent and comprehensive coverage across states, as well as coverage-related challenges to accessing asthma care within states.
Many PR programs worldwide may have closed temporarily due to the coronavirus (or COVID-19). Because social distancing and avoidance of groups is a critical part of avoiding COVID-19, pulmonary rehabilitation programs are shutting down, so you may not be able to attend in-person. However, it is still important to maintain your strength and fitness during this time. If you have been enrolled and attending a PR program, ask your healthcare provider if it is safe for you to exercise at home. If so, they may provide guidance about what home exercises are right for you. You can also learn more about pulmonary rehabilitation and COVID-19 by visiting the websites, listed below.
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