Unmeasured costs of a child's death: perceived financial burden, work disruptions, and economic coping strategies used by American and Australian families who lost children to cancer.
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Collaboration to increase colorectal cancer screening among low-income uninsured patients.
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BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. CRC screening allows for prevention through the removal of precancerous lesions and early detection of cancer. COMMUNITY CONTEXT: Ride for Life Alaska (RFL), a nonprofit organization that raises funds to fight cancer, and the Anchorage Neighborhood Health Center (ANHC), which is Alaska's largest community health center, joined efforts to provide CRC screening and outreach to an ethnically diverse group of low-income underinsured or uninsured patients residing in and around Anchorage, Alaska. METHODS: RFL and ANHC worked with gastroenterologists, medical practices, and pathology services to contribute pro bono and reduced-fee services for CRC screening. Information to patients was distributed through signs in the clinic, flyers, and the ANHC website. OUTCOMES: CRC screening was increased in this population. During 2007-2009, there were 2,561 immunochemical fecal occult blood tests given to patients, and 1,558 were completed (61%); 24% were positive. Sixteen gastroenterologists, 4 medical practices, and 2 laboratories provided 111 follow-up colonoscopies and pathology services to patients identified through the CRC screening program who did not have other funding resources available for follow-up care. INTERPRETATION: This program provides a model for leveraging scarce screening resources by drawing on multiple partners to increase CRC screening. Recommendations for those seeking to initiate similar programs are to have memoranda of agreement in place and a clear scope of work for all participating people and organizations to avoid delays in program implementation; hire a screening care coordinator to manage patient care and collaborate with medical practices; and identify program champions who have the energy and persistence to craft such partnerships. (+info)
Philanthropy at the intersection of health and the environment.
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An analysis of lobbying activity on tobacco issues in the Wisconsin legislature.
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BACKGROUND: Although public and media attention has focused on the federal role in the regulation of tobacco products, state government remains an important arena for changing tobacco control policies. Lobbying state officials by public health and the tobacco industry is a commonly used mechanism to influence public policy. METHODS: Major bills of the 2007-2008 and 2009-2010 Wisconsin legislative sessions related to tobacco use regulation were analyzed by the hours engaged in lobbying and the estimated expenditures by supporters and opponents of tobacco control legislation in reports submitted to the Government Accountability Board. RESULTS: In the 2007-2008 legislative session, anti-tobacco control organizations reported lobbying expenditures of more than $2 million (2627 hours) while opposing bills to raise tobacco excise taxes and enact smoke-free legislation; pro-tobacco control organizations reported lobbying expenditures of $623,000 (3997 hours) while supporting these bills. In the first 6 months of the 2009 session, anti-tobacco control groups spent $1.25 million (1472 hours) and pro-tobacco control groups spent $172,000 (1727 hours). CONCLUSION: In the 2007-2008 legislative session, the proposal to increase the tobacco tax by $1 per pack was passed. However, the smoke-free indoor air bill was defeated. Anti-tobacco control organizations outspent pro-tobacco control organizations by a margin of over 3:1. In 2009 anti-tobacco control groups outspent health groups by a ratio of 7:1. Legislation for smoke-free workplaces and an increase in the cigarette tax was enacted. However, funding for tobacco prevention and treatment programs was substantially reduced. (+info)
Methods of generating state revenue for breast cancer prevention and early detection: an analysis of pink dollars.
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OBJECTIVE: We assessed income tax check-offs, specialty license plates, and lottery tickets as ways states raise funds for the early detection and prevention of breast cancer. METHODS: We conducted an inventory of state legislation allowing these revenue-generating methods, and collected and compared information on each initiative. We conducted logistic regression analyses to compare these methods with state breast cancer mortality rates. RESULTS: Eighteen states had programs for contributions through an income tax check-off. Revenue for tax check-offs and plates is influenced by state population. The median annual revenue for the income tax check-off was $115,000. Twenty-six states had breast cancer license plates generating more than $4.1 million in revenue. The extra cost of the plates ranged from $20 to 75 (mean = $37). Only Illinois offered a state breast cancer lottery ticket, which raised $4 million from 2005 to 2009. States with medium or high breast cancer mortality rates were 2.5 times more likely to offer breast cancer specialty license plates than states with low breast cancer mortality rates; however, we found no statistically significant difference in breast cancer mortality tertiles by income tax check-off. CONCLUSION: Revenue-generating breast cancer initiatives can be successful strategies for states to raise funds for breast cancer prevention and early detection programs. Although these initiatives can generate revenue, amounts are variable due to population differences, the number of other plates/check-offs/lotteries offered, and the choice to decrease donations during difficult economic times. State breast cancer mortality rates may influence the availability of these initiatives. (+info)
Stakeholders in cutaneous investigation: patients and patient advocates are essential.
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