NEW HAVEN, Conn. - Connecticut has plenty of major hospitals that offer the latest in technology, but a new report says too many young black men are disconnected from care and, as a result, are likely to live shorter lives.

Young black men have a difficult time accessing health services, said report coauthor Kenn Harris, project director for New Haven Healthy Start at The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven and president-elect of the National Healthy Start Association. Even when they do, the system does not generally understand their needs, he said, adding that the result is that they are living shorter lives.

"There's a disparity in the life expectancy," he said. "Again, you have 50 to 62 percent chance of survival to age 65 for black boys - compared to white counterparts, it was 80 percent."

The Viewpoint commentary in the Journal of the American Medical Association called for increased funding for public health and social-services programs.

While heart disease and cancer are major factors, the report noted that homicide is the leading cause of death for black men ages 15 to 35, and ranks in the top three for black male children ages 1 to 15.

One way Connecticut is working to address the disparity is with programs such as Healthy Start, which has traditionally focused on mother-and-child issues, but Harris said now is expanding outreach to men of color.

"We're also looking at including services for men and fathers," he said, "so just the availability of just getting men into care and then providing the care to them."

Harris said men of color coming out of prison often are disconnected from social programs and quality health care. He said he thinks that's a big reason that 79 percent of formerly incarcerated men in the state go back to prison within five years. Harris is convinced the state could cut the recidivism rate with better educational opportunities and social programs.

The report is online at jama.jamanetwork.com.


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JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Health-care advocates called on Missouri lawmakers to allocate funds for Medicaid expansion right away, after the state Supreme Court ruled they must extend coverage to the 275,000 people who fall into what's known as the Medicaid gap. That means they have incomes above their state's eligibility for Medicaid, but cannot afford marketplace or employer-based insurance.

John McDonald, a retired carpenter who falls in the gap, said while the Legislature has played what he calls "political ping pong" with Medicaid expansion, he and many others are waiting on critical medical care, and emphasized expansion is going to be life-changing.

"I'm going to be able to live a longer life because I'll have insurance to go to the doctors," McDonald explained. "I can't get a CT scan, I can't get any of these things done for myself, because they're so expensive. They're thousands of dollars."

Lawmakers in Jefferson City have resisted funding expansion, even after voters approved it as a Constitutional amendment via a ballot initiative. Legislators said the costs won't be sustainable, long-term.

In addition to providing health care to hundreds of thousands of people, budget experts say expanding Medicaid will boost the state economy and budget.

KJ McDonald, organizing director at Missouri Health Care For All, said federal funding incentives should allay lawmakers' concerns. In addition to federal Affordable Care Act funding, which covers 90% of the cost of expansion, the American Rescue Plan included another 5% of the cost as an incentive for states that had not yet expanded Medicaid to do so.

"We saw lots of folks who were scared to go to the doctor if they were experiencing symptoms, because they were uninsured," McDonald observed. "People who were unable to hold down a job or be able to stay home and take care of their symptoms because they didn't have paid sick leave."

The initial implementation date for expansion was July 1.

McDonald added getting people covered is especially urgent, with Missouri facing increased hospitalizations as the Delta variant makes its way through the state.

DES MOINES, Iowa -- People across the Midwest, including Iowans, have dealt with a series of heat waves this summer.

Health experts say hotter weather is harder on the heart, and outdoor construction workers need to be extra mindful.

Cities like Des Moines, Waterloo and Sioux City are expected to see temperatures well above 90 degrees in the next several days, prompting reminders for vulnerable populations to protect themselves from the hot and humid conditions.

Lisa Leighton, senior project controls manager for the construction firm Ryan Companies, said workers on building sites should know the dangers, too.

"Construction workers are more susceptible to heat strokes and heat exhaustion, due to the fact that they're working outside," Leighton explained. "And workers in the construction industry have a higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease than employees in other fields."

She cited findings from the American Heart Association (AHA), which works with companies like Ryan on the "Hard Hats with Heart" campaign, an outreach to construction workers about their elevated health risks.

During heat waves, Leighton suggested starting the day earlier to avoid the hot afternoon sun, as well as taking regular breaks, staying hydrated and wearing lighter clothing.

The AHA said construction workers with heart disease are already 60% more likely to retire on disability and to retire early because of poor health.

Leighton asserted it is especially important to protect themselves in hot weather, and hopes site managers take extra notice as well.

"Making sure they're watching for some of those signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke, and possibly even tell the workers that they need to take that break," Leighton urged.

She added even though staying on schedule is important for construction projects, safety is the biggest priority.

Some symptoms to look out for include headaches, dizziness, muscle cramps, and fast and shallow breathing. If a worker displays these signs, they are advised to find a shady spot, douse themselves with cold water, get rehydrated and possibly seek medical attention.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Amid mixed national messaging on COVID-19 and masks, the Ohio Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends students wear masks to school during the upcoming school year.

While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance recommends masks for the unvaccinated, the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests universal mask wearing, regardless of vaccination status.

Melissa Wervey Arnold, CEO for the Ohio Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said getting kids back in class is crucial for their mental, physical, emotional and academic health. She contended masks are the safest route, since kids younger than 12 cannot get a COVID vaccine.

"Kids themselves might not spread the virus as readily as we've seen adults do it, or might not have the same negative health consequences," Wervey Arnold explained. "We still know that they can spread it, and they can spread it to people who are more vulnerable, especially the older population."

Meanwhile, Senate Bill 209 was introduced last week to prohibit schools and businesses in Ohio from mandating masks. An exception would be made for those with certain health conditions.

Wervey Arnold said regrettably, mask wearing during the pandemic has become politicized.

"It became an argument around freedom versus public health," Wervey Arnold observed. "And people have the right to their own personal choices, but sometimes those personal choices harm others. In that case, it's our opinion, you really have to focus on public health then."

Ohio's public health order requiring a facial covering in public settings expired in June. Wervey Arnold pointed out some kids did not mind wearing them, and for many others it simply became routine. She noted pediatricians noticed a difference masks made in preventing COVID and other illnesses.

"We saw a really low rate of flu infection this past year, and other things like RSV and other respiratory infections," Wervey Arnold recounted. "As the mask mandates have lifted, we're seeing a lot of ill visits from families. "

Gov. Mike DeWine indicated he does not plan to implement another mask mandate. He recently signed a bill banning public schools from requiring vaccines that have not received full FDA approval, which the COVID-19 vaccines have not.

Reporting by Ohio News Connection in association with Media in the Public Interest and funded in part by the George Gund Foundation.