This month, the MACC Task Force recognizes Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month with a suite of informational resources focused on respiratory health conditions and care coordination as part of the ongoing Care for Us Project. The resources – including this blog – have been developed in partnership with Task Force member Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA).
Plants and flowers are in bloom across the country. As idyllic as that vision may be, it can also present challenges for people with respiratory health issues.
Respiratory diseases affect tens of millions of Americans, with allergic conditions (including asthma) currently the fifth leading chronic disease in the United States and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the third leading cause of death in the country.
No cure exists for these chronic and life-threatening conditions. Seniors can have a combination of multiple conditions that affect their lives – one of the many challenges relating to respiratory conditions and care coordination. According to Medicare data, more than 95% of Medicare beneficiaries with asthma or COPD also have one or more chronic conditions. Meryl Bloomrosen, Senior Vice President of Policy, Advocacy and Research at AAFA, says all of these facts underscore the importance of diagnosis and proper treatment. Managing asthma includes avoiding triggers, taking medications to prevent symptoms, and treating asthma episodes if they occur.
Bloomrosen describes various aspects of care for Medicare beneficiaries with asthma and allergies: primary care, specialty care, and self-management. “In order to assure evidence and guidelines-based care, primary care physicians and specialists need to coordinate a patient’s care plan,” Bloomrosen says. The patient will benefit when health care providers, clinicians and community-based organizations work together to care for and treat an individual across all settings—including the patient’s home, doctor’s offices, hospitals, and long-term care facilities.
Respiratory diseases are unusual because they are also triggered by the environment. “Internal or external factors – it could be home triggers such as dust, or it could be outdoor triggers such as pollen,” said Bloomrosen. “Respiratory conditions require ongoing attention, and involve a blend of self-management, obtaining clinical care, taking medication, and avoiding triggers.”
With certain respiratory conditions – such as asthma – data show that prevalence is higher in underserved and minority populations. Bloomrosen says there can be disparities due to socio-economic and geographic factors, and among the hardest hit populations and medically underserved, access to specialists such as allergists and immunologists may be a significant problem. “The prevalence of respiratory conditions among Americans and often the lack of adequate access to specialists make it imperative that primary care providers recognize and treat patients with asthma and allergies and help coordinate their care with respiratory specialists and other clinicians treating patients in Medicare. A patient-centered care plan is essential,” continued Bloomrosen.
This demonstrates yet another complexity to care coordination. “People with chronic respiratory conditions often receive care in a primary care practice or clinic – however, in the event of an exacerbation – patients may find themselves in an emergency room,” said Bloomrosen. “In these instances, patients may be dealing with different healthcare providers nearly every time. This situation may lead to fragmented care, rather than coordinated care.”
How can a person living with one or several respiratory conditions overcome these complexities and optimize their care coordination? Join us for the second blog in this series – Solutions to Live By: Addressing the Complexities of Care Coordination for People with Respiratory Diseases.