Category: Uncategorized

The American Rescue Plan, the Affordable Care Act, and Your Local Community Health Center
Kate Wojnicki, ARNP, Unity Care NW

Everyone deserves to live their healthiest life, but health care continues to elude many Americans. For some, the decision to go to the doctor can still mean the difference between affording basics like food or rent. Copays and high deductibles can keep people from seeking care. Before the Affordable Care Act (also known as the ACA or Obamacare) was signed in 2010, more than 60 million American’s were uninsured. Under the law, cost-sharing reductions helped lower the cost of health care coverage for low-income individuals and families.

While access has gotten better over the last decade, 26.9 million Americans still don’t have health insurance. Even those that have sought insurance under the ACA’s exchanges can find it difficult to choose whether to pay for insurance or go without coverage and hope for the best. In 2019, 74% of uninsured adults said that they were uninsured because the cost of coverage was too high. Recently, as part of Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan, subsidies were expanded for health insurance purchased through the ACA marketplace making health benefits much more affordable. This is welcome news, as we know that people without insurance coverage have worse access to care. Three in ten uninsured adults in 2019 went without needed medical care due to cost. Studies repeatedly demonstrate that uninsured people are less likely than those with insurance to receive preventive care and services for major health conditions.

Unfortunately, though, there will still be many Americans who will continue be unable to access needed health benefits due to their own financial realities. While we wait to see how expansion of the ACA will impact the country’s uninsured residents, community health centers are doing all we can to increase the healthy years of life in the communities we serve. The nation’s community health center movement began during the War on Poverty and the facilities were central to advancing racial equity during the civil rights movement. For over 50 years, community health centers have provided whole person health care to underserved populations. In my work at Unity Care NW I’m proud to be a part of this legacy of expanding access to affordable primary medical, dental, behavioral health, and pharmacy services for friends and neighbors of all ages here in Whatcom County.

Unity Care NW is a non-profit health care provider that was started nearly 40 years ago by a coalition of community leaders, health professionals, volunteers, faith-based organizations, and concerned citizens. Wellness programs, mental health counseling, comprehensive dental care and an on-site pharmacy at Unity Care NW makes care for the whole person available in one convenient location. But barriers to care persist outside of our facilities that we must work to address as well.

In 2020, 15% of Unity Care NW patients were unhoused and 51% were living below the poverty line. We know our patients who are unhoused experience higher rates of many chronic illnesses. Through outreach efforts in partnership with social service organizations, Unity Care NW attempts to address the underlying health issues of economically disadvantaged patients. Recently, we announced that $4 Million would be allocated from the Washington State capital budget for a new facility called The Way Station. This unique project, in partnership with Whatcom County, Opportunity Council and PeaceHealth, will provide primary medical, behavioral health, showers and laundry, case management, respite beds and other wrap around services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness to support their journey to permanent housing and a healthier life.

And then there’s COVID. Over the last year I have been truly inspired by the efforts from my co-workers to keep our community safe. We had to move quickly to make changes and update policies. This began with figuring out screening procedures, developing curbside pick-up and delivery programs for our pharmacies, offering telehealth appointments, then respiratory clinics were set up so we could care for our patients who exhibited COVID symptoms without endangering others. We recruited multi-lingual Community Health Workers to help with contact tracing and later, vaccine outreach in communities that can often face complex barriers to health care access. These efforts paid off. 16 months on, we haven’t had a single transmission of the coronavirus in our health centers. When the COVID-19 vaccine roll-out began, we were eager to become a vaccination site and protect our patients and the community at large from the deadly virus.

We began vaccinating community members in January and at first, we struggled to keep up with demand for the COVID-19 vaccine from early adopters. Eventually, it became clear that there were barriers for many of our patients and that outreach was needed to make sure they were getting good information about the vaccines. We produced video messages to send to patients from their primary care providers and other staff to encourage them to get vaccinated. To date we’ve administered nearly 10,000 vaccine doses at our health centers. The thought that we were able to protect so many community members from the risk of hospitalization, long-term debilitating symptoms, and death from COVID gives me hope. While we work to vaccinate more of our community, we are up against a disheartening amount of misinformation. But we’ll keep listening to our patients, reaching out, and having the hard conversations until this is over. The work of a community health center isn’t done until everyone has the opportunity to live their healthiest life.

Need Affordable Health Coverage?

If you need or have lost health care coverage one of our health insurance navigators can help you find a plan that works for you. A special enrollment period is in effect until August 15^th for anyone who needs health benefits. Call (360) 788-2669 or go online at bit.ly/3bBx8qs to sign up for health insurance.

Data source: Kaiser Family Foundation

I’m a Family Nurse Practitioner and HIV Specialist at Unity Care NW.  I hold a Bachelor of Science from the University of Washington and a Master of Science in Nursing/ Nurse Practitioner degree from Seattle Pacific University.  I joined Unity Care NW in 2014 and earned my HIV credential through the American Academy of HIV Medicine in 2016. 

A Special Enrollment Period for those who are currently uninsured is open through August 15, 2021.

The Washington Health Benefit Exchange (WAHBE) will provide a special enrollment period (SEP) to extend the time frame for Washingtonians seeking health coverage. Health coverage is a necessary step to ensure the ongoing health, safety, and well-being of our community during the current pandemic.

What you need to know:

• Current Washington Health Plan Finder enrollees are not eligible and may not change plans unless you have recently experienced a qualifying life event that allows for a plan change.
• Enrollment follows the “15th of the month” rule. For example:
  • Enrollments that occur before the 15th of the month will have a coverage start date of the first day of the following month.
  • Enrollments after 15th of the month will have a coverage start date of the month after the next month – the second following month.

How to get started:

• Call 1-(833) 969-0306 to talk to a enrollment specialist between M-F from 8 am to 5 pm for help through the insurance process.

• Or, go to https://www.wahealthplanfinder.org to check you eligibility and enroll in health coverage.

• Are a Washington state resident.
• Are at least 18 years of age.
• Have been significantly affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
• Are ineligible for the federal stimulus payment or for unemployment insurance benefits due to their immigration status.
• Have an income at or below 250% of the federal poverty level.

Prevention is at the heart of Unity Care NW’s approach to health care. Eating well, staying active, and self-care can make a big difference in your health and quality of life. The following online wellness classes are being offered this spring. Contact Megan Stephenson for information about any of the following at (360) 296-7185.

        Diabetes Prevention Program:  Day and Evening Classes – Begins April 13

         YMCA’s Actively Changing Together –  Designed for kids ages 8-14 , parents and/or guardians.

          Dietitian Kitchen: With Unity Care NW Dietitian Nutritionist Antrim Caskey, RDN. – Begins April 13th.

      Chronic Disease Self-Management Class: This class is open to all and begins on April 8th.

Spotlight on Syphilis

With COVID-19 vaccine distribution in full swing, we’re all excited to be seeing a light at the end of the tunnel. Businesses are beginning to re-open and people are emerging from a long dark winter of isolation to consider dating again; the timing couldn’t be better for Sexually Transmitted Infection Awareness Month.

This year, the nation’s health care providers are focusing on educating patients about syphilis. Once near elimination, syphilis was surging in the United States again just before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. In 2018, the United States experienced the highest number and rate of reported syphilis cases in 20 years. From 2014-2018, syphilis rates increased among both males and females, in every region, and among every race/ethnicity. Rates of syphilis went up 71% overall, 61% among men, and 172.7% among women. Men in general, and gay and bisexual men specifically, continue to face the highest levels of syphilis. In recent years, syphilis has also risen among women.

What is Syphilis Again?

Syphilis is an STD that can have very serious complications, thankfully it is often simple to cure. Diagnosing syphilis in the early stages makes treatment easier and reduces the likelihood that it will be spread to anyone else.

Syphilis is divided into four stages (primary, secondary, latent, and tertiary), with different signs and symptoms associated with each stage. A person with primary syphilis generally has a sore or sores at the original site of infection. But calling them “sores” is a little misleading because they are typically painless, making them easy to miss. These sores, also called “chancres,” can usually be found on or around the genitals, around the anus or in the rectum, or in or around the mouth. Chancres are usually (but not always) firm, round, shiny and look like open wounds.

Symptoms of secondary syphilis include a body rash, swollen lymph nodes, and fever. The signs and symptoms of primary and secondary syphilis can be mild, and they might not even be noticed. During the latent stage, there are often no signs or symptoms. It could seem like you’re all better; making the final stage a big surprise for those who go undiagnosed. The final stage is Tertiary syphilis. Tertiary syphilis is associated with severe medical problems. It can affect the heart, brain, and other organs of the body. It can cause skeletal deformity, severe headaches, paralysis and dementia.  Neurologic or ocular (eye) syphilis are very serious can occur at any stage.  Having syphilis also makes it easier to get HIV.

How is syphilis spread?

You can get syphilis by direct contact with a syphilis sore during vaginal, anal, or oral sex. YES oral sex too! You can find sores on or around the penis, vagina, or anus, or in the rectum, on the lips, or in the mouth. Syphilis can also spread from an infected mother to their unborn baby.

What You Can Do to Prevent Syphilis

If you are sexually active, here are some ways to lower your chances of getting syphilis:

• Use latex barriers or condoms for every act of vaginal, anal, and oral sex throughout the entire sex act (from start to finish). Condoms prevent the spread of syphilis by preventing contact with a syphilis chancre. Sometimes sores can occur in areas not covered by a condom, so you could still get syphilis from contact with these sores, even if you are wearing a condom.
• Check for sores, bumps, chancres; any apparent wound on your genitals and keep an eye out for anything that could be a chancre on your sex partner(s). If you see something: say something and delay sexual activity until you can both see a doctor.
• Get tested – it’s the only way to know if you have syphilis. CDC recommends all sexually active people be tested for specific STDs, including syphilis, at least once a year, and more frequently for those who have multiple or anonymous partners (i.e., at 3- to 6-month intervals).
• Talk about it! Silence helps to fuel the spread of STDs.
  • Have an honest and open talk with your healthcare provider about your sexual history and ask whether you should be tested for syphilis or other STDs.
  • Talk with your partner about sex and STDs BEFORE you have sex.

If you test positive, syphilis can be cured with the right medicine from your healthcare provider.

Kate Wojnicki, ARNP, Unity Care NW

I’m a Family Nurse Practitioner and HIV Specialist at Unity Care NW.  I hold a Bachelor of Science from the University of Washington and a Master of Science in Nursing/ Nurse Practitioner degree from Seattle Pacific University.  After spending 6 years in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at UW and volunteering in Uganda, it became my personal belief that access to high quality primary care was the answer to many of the problems we see in medicine.  I later completed a Community Health Residency in Tacoma with a focus on caring for persons living with HIV. I joined Unity Care NW in 2014 as an opportunity to serve the community where I spent much of my childhood.  I earned my HIV credential through the American Academy of HIV Medicine in 2016. 

Content source: Centers for Disease Control Division of STD Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

A community collaboration of healthcare providers, including Family Care Network, PeaceHealth, Sea Mar Community Health Centers, Unity Care NW and the Whatcom County Health Department will operate a large-scale collaborative COVID-19 vaccination clinic at Bellingham Technical College.

The goal is to vaccinate up to 5,000 people at this site per week, depending on the reliability of weekly vaccine shipments from the state. The group is working diligently to finalize operations, staffing, logistics and other details.

At a time when the community’s healthcare professionals are under considerable strain, the assistance offered by BTC provides much needed resources for this project. In addition to hosting the vaccination site, students in BTC and Whatcom Community College’s nursing programs will help administer vaccinations.

The community vaccination clinic will abide by the Washington State Department of Health’s phased guidelines for vaccine eligibility. All parties are hopeful vaccine shipments will increase in the coming weeks.

All partners are finalizing logistics and operations related to the site’s launch, including an appointment scheduling system. Community members are asked not to call BTC with questions about vaccination scheduling. Updates about the community vaccination site, including launch date, hours of operation and how to book appointments, will be available on the Whatcom County Health Department’s website soon. Community members can also use the Vaccine Location function for the latest news on vaccine providers who are accepting appointments.

Find full details of the Community Vaccination Center and make an appointment here.