Category: Issue Briefs

Stock Asthma Rescue Medication in Schools

Download the Issue Brief – Stock Asthma Rescue Medication in Schools.

Stock asthma rescue medication in schools is a viable policy solution to help prevent the poor health outcomes that can result when a child experiences an asthma emergency at school, but does not have access to medication. After years of studying this critical policy gap, Respiratory Health Association (RHA) and Legal Council for Health Justice came together in 2017 to actively explore pursuing a stock asthma rescue medication policy in Illinois. In furtherance of that end, we are now proud to present this issue brief assessing the fit and feasibility of stock asthma rescue medication in Illinois schools.

This issue brief explores the burden of asthma and the asthma policy landscape in Illinois and outlines elements of stock asthma rescue medication policies and lessons learned from other states. It concludes with recommendations for adoption of a stock asthma rescue medication in schools policy for Illinois. It is our conclusion that a stock asthma rescue medication policy for Illinois schools could achieve a safer school environment for those living with asthma, and that the most appropriate framework for adoption ofsuch a policy would be via the state’s existing stockundesignated epinephrine auto-injector law in the School Code (105 ILCS 5/22-30). RHA and Legal Council for Health Justice hope this paper will serve as a useful educational tool for asthma policy stakeholders statewide to better understand the need for a stock asthma rescue medication policy and how one could be best implemented in Illinois.

Date of Publication: March 2018

Issue Brief – ACA is Good for Lung Health

Download the Issue Brief – Affordable Care Act is Good for Lung Health PDF.

 

Executive Summary

In March 2010, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) was signed into law. Since that time, more than one million Illinois residents gained insurance coverage through either the Health Insurance Marketplace or the Medicaid Expansion, and the uninsured rate in Illinois has fallen by 49 percent.

With ongoing threats to the ACA from Congress, advocates are taking a close look at how its possible repeal will impact vulnerable populations, both locally and nationally, with a particular focus on the numbers who will lose their health care coverage.

With this brief, the Respiratory Health Association (RHA) focused on why a repeal of the ACA would be bad for lung health. Several provisions of the ACA have been particularly valuable to efforts to prevent and improve health outcomes for people living with asthma and other respiratory conditions; we highlight four of those:

  • Dependent Coverage for Young Adults: Reducing Asthma Emergency Room Visits
  • Medicaid Expansion: Improving Quality of Asthma Care
  • The Prevention and Public Health Fund: Supporting Tobacco Control
  • Requiring Coverage for Pre-Existing Condition: Making Treatment Affordable

Date of Publication: May 2017

 

If you have questions or would like additional information about the Affordable Care Act and lung health, please contact Erica Salem via email esalem@resphealth.org or by phone (312) 628-0235.