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Medical Care

Healthcare in Kentucky: Insights from Key Health Statistics

2024-12-02

Kentucky stands at a crossroads when it comes to health. With unique challenges and remarkable strides, the state's healthcare landscape is a complex tapestry that demands our attention.

Unveiling Kentucky's Health Dilemma and Hope

Population Health Overview

Kentucky's population stands at an estimated 4.5 million in 2023. Life expectancy here is 75.5 years, placing it among the lower echelons in the U.S. Leading causes of death include heart disease, cancer, and chronic lower respiratory disease. These statistics paint a vivid picture of the health challenges faced by the state.

The high rates of these diseases highlight the need for comprehensive healthcare strategies. It is crucial to address these issues to improve the overall well-being of Kentuckians.

Obesity and Physical Health

A staggering 36.7% of adults in Kentucky are obese, putting the state in the top five for this concerning issue. Physical inactivity also poses a significant problem, with approximately 28.3% of adults reporting no physical activity outside of work.

Diabetes further compounds the problem, with 13.6% of adults diagnosed. This is slightly higher than the national average, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions to combat obesity and promote physical activity.

Smoking and Lung Health

The smoking rate among adults in Kentucky is 23.6%, the second-highest in the U.S. This has led to the highest rate of lung cancer in the country, with 93 cases per 100,000 people. Smoking-related deaths amount to over 8,000 annually, a tragic toll on the state's population.

Initiatives to reduce smoking and improve lung health are essential. The Kentucky Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program is a step in the right direction, but more needs to be done to combat this deadly habit.

Mental Health

22.8% of adults in Kentucky suffer from mental illness, with a suicide rate of 17.6 per 100,000 people, higher than the national average. Access to mental health services is ranked 35th in the U.S., indicating a need for improved resources and support.

Mental health is a critical aspect of overall well-being, and Kentucky must prioritize its improvement to ensure the mental health of its residents.

Substance Use and Addiction

In 2022, there were 2,250 opioid overdose deaths in Kentucky, a slight decline from 2021 but still among the highest in the U.S. Naloxone distribution has saved thousands of lives since 2015, highlighting the importance of prevention and treatment.

While Kentucky offers 320 treatment facilities for substance use, gaps remain in rural areas. Expanding access to treatment and addressing the root causes of addiction are crucial steps in combating this epidemic.

Access to Healthcare

The uninsured rate in Kentucky is 5.7%, below the national average of 8.3%. This is partly due to Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act. Kentucky has 120 hospitals, with 62 designated as Critical Access Hospitals serving rural areas.

However, there is a shortage of primary care physicians, with 85 of 120 counties designated as Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs). Ensuring access to healthcare for all residents is a continuous challenge.

Maternal and Child Health

The infant mortality rate in Kentucky is 6.8 deaths per 1,000 live births, higher than the national average. The maternal mortality rate is 36.6 deaths per 100,000 live births, reflecting challenges in access to prenatal care.

Childhood vaccination rates are at 85.3%, slightly below the national average. Improving these rates is crucial for the health and well-being of Kentucky's children.

Cancer

Kentucky has the highest overall cancer death rate in the U.S., at 182.6 per 100,000 people. While 74.9% of eligible women receive a mammogram in the past two years and 66.1% of adults over 50 are up to date with colorectal cancer screenings, there is still room for improvement.

Early detection and treatment are key in combating cancer, and Kentucky must continue to focus on these areas to reduce the cancer burden.

Rural Health Challenges

41.6% of Kentuckians live in rural areas, where access to care is a major concern. Only 58% of rural residents have adequate access to primary care services. Telehealth services have expanded, but 27% of rural areas lack reliable internet access.

Rural health initiatives and improved access to care are essential for the well-being of rural Kentuckians.

Public Health Spending

Per capita public health spending in Kentucky is $96.42, below the national average of $116.93. Medicaid coverage reaches 1.6 million Kentuckians, or about 35% of the population.

Adequate public health spending is necessary to address the various health challenges faced by the state.

Key Efforts to Improve Health in Kentucky

Kentucky HEALTH, a Medicaid program focused on preventive care and community engagement, is making a significant impact. Smoking cessation programs like the Kentucky Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program are also helping to lower smoking rates.

Rural health initiatives provide grants to improve access to care in underserved areas, bringing much-needed resources to these communities.

While Kentucky faces significant health challenges, ongoing initiatives and public health policies offer hope for improvement. By investing in prevention, expanding access, and addressing disparities, Kentucky can take significant strides toward better health outcomes for all residents.

Healthcare facilities face a significant issue of finding and retaining staff near their workplaces due to high housing costs. Partner Insights engaged with JPMorganChase's Tucker Kaufmann and Lionel Lynch to address this problem. They are working on two fronts - building more workforce housing and enhancing healthcare organizations' community service.

JPMorganChase's Initiative to Solve Healthcare Staff Housing Woes

Tucker Kaufmann's Perspective

JPMorganChase is now actively implementing programs to finance multifamily communities with rental rates suitable for middle-income earners. By collaborating with the healthcare group, they are making workforce housing more affordable while serving medical workers. Over the past 20-plus years, the healthcare banking team has specialized in understanding the financial needs of healthcare services organizations and tailoring optimized solutions. They bring the resources of the entire JPMorganChase organization to address housing affordability issues. The banking team takes pride in helping clients create a brand in the communities they serve and improve patient care. This innovative financing program provides healthcare staff with an affordable place to live close to their work.For example, in a market like Scottsdale, Arizona, an entry-level nurse earns roughly $66,000 a year, but the median rent is about $3,300 a month. This creates a cost burden for employees, making it difficult for healthcare systems to hire and retain them.

Lionel Lynch's Perspective

In the healthcare system, there are more than 20 million directly employed workers. Many of them bear the burden of paying a large share of their wages for housing, which is not a sustainable situation. For every doctor, there are two to five people supporting patient needs and often being paid less than doctors. Affordable workforce housing can help sustain healthcare operations by attracting and retaining workers.Building workforce housing on or near healthcare campuses has additional benefits such as improving employee safety, reducing commute times, and increasing retention. With less time spent commuting, employees can focus more on their work and well-being.For instance, a client in the Northeast partnered with a private developer to build 295 apartments primarily for their workforce. They were able to invest equity at a lower cost of capital, allowing the developer to make returns while offering lower rents. Some clients start by contributing underutilized surface parking lots as land.Healthcare systems, especially larger ones, are always looking for real estate opportunities for future expansion. They can now pair these parcels with workforce housing development. Interested developers can learn about healthcare systems in their communities and recognize potential partnerships. JPMorganChase has a dedicated group with the knowledge and insights to finance these projects.If you want more information on JPMorganChase's Workforce Housing Solutions, please email the dedicated team at workforcehousing@jpmchase.com.

Massachusetts legislators have been hard at work this session, claiming to have achieved "historic work." However, a significant amount of it remains unfinished. With just weeks until a new legislative class arrives on January 1, Democratic leaders are facing the challenge of reaching deals on several high-profile bills before the year ends. There are proposals aimed at helping those in recovery from addiction, residents struggling to get prescriptions, and people with disabilities, all stuck in closed-door talks or stalled in the chambers.

Unfinished Bills and Legislative Challenges in Massachusetts

Opioid Package and Safe Consumption Sites

Legislators are having productive talks over a sweeping opioid package. This package may or may not include a proposal allowing for safe consumption sites. The issue of opioid addiction is a critical one in Massachusetts, and reaching a consensus on these measures is crucial. Safe consumption sites have been a topic of much debate, with advocates arguing for their potential to save lives while opponents raise concerns about their impact. The negotiations over this aspect of the opioid package are ongoing, and the outcome remains uncertain.There are also concerns about the regulation of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). These middlemen in the health industry have been accused of driving up drug prices. Former governor Jane Swift has pushed lawmakers to regulate PBMs, highlighting the need for accountability. The proposal to subject PBMs to a new licensure requirement is part of the larger effort to address the issue of drug pricing. However, well-heeled lobbyists may impede progress during the closed-door conference committee discussions.

Wheelchair Repairs and Legislative Schedule

A separate bill aimed at speeding up wheelchair repairs is another area of focus. Currently, wheelchair repairs can take weeks or even months, trapping people at home. The bill passed the Senate nearly a year ago but seems to have dim prospects in the House. The state's MassHealth program is incentivizing manufacturers to make quicker repairs, but there is pushback from manufacturers. House leaders are wary of passing language that only provides a "stick" instead of a "stick and carrot." This balance between accountability and incentivizing action is crucial in getting the wheelchair repair bill passed.Adding to the complexity is the legislative schedule, which is hemmed in by holiday breaks. With only a month left in the session, the climb to Governor Maura Healey's desk is getting steeper for most bills. Lawmakers need to navigate through these challenges to ensure that important legislation makes it through.

Health Care Oversight and Disparate Bills

Lawmakers are also trying to reconcile complex bills designed to create more oversight of the hospital industry. This includes measures to ban hospitals from leasing the land on which their main campuses stand from real estate investment trusts. The crisis at Steward Health Care and the hospitals it formerly owned in Massachusetts has led to the need for such changes. Both health care bills have been priorities for House Speaker Ron Mariano and Senate President Karen E. Spilka. However, talks are still "a ways away" even after lawmakers left for a trip to Cuba to discuss the importance of investing in health care systems.Negotiating these disparate issues and coming to an agreement has been a real challenge. Max Ratner, a spokesperson for Mariano, said lawmakers will keep trying to work toward agreements. But there are still many details to iron out, and the path to a final resolution is not clear.Alan Sager, a professor of health law and policy at Boston University, is pessimistic that the chambers will take more meaningful action on health care without more intense "political pressure." The efforts to address various aspects of the health care system in Massachusetts are ongoing, and the outcome remains uncertain.In conclusion, the Massachusetts legislative session is filled with unfinished business and complex challenges. The efforts to address issues such as opioids, wheelchair repairs, and health care oversight are ongoing, and the outcome will have a significant impact on the state and its residents.