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A CONSUMER’S GUIDE TO DRUG DISCOUNTS

Have you ever had to choose between buying groceries or paying the rent and filling a drug prescription? Have you or has someone you know ever skipped taking medication because of the cost? You’re not alone. Millions of Americans are feeling the burden of increasingly costly prescription drugs, and they’re making choices that could jeopardize their health. We are here for the guide to drug discounts

Today, the amount consumers have to pay out of pocket for prescribed drugs is rapidly escalating, from about $25 billion in 2000 to a projected $67 billion in 2025. To make matters worse, more than 8.8 percent of American adults, or roughly 28.5 million people, do not have health insurance and must pay for all prescription medications themselves.

But there are ways that you can minimize the effect that the accelerating prescription drug crisis has on your healthcare. This guide to drug pricing and discounts provides the answers to common questions and offers practical information that every consumer needs to know.

Why Are Prescription Drug Prices So High?

Did you know that Americans pay the highest costs for prescription medications in the world? You can partly attribute the exorbitant prices to an intricate and extensive drug research and development (R&D) and approval process, along with an equally complex healthcare system.

No doubt, we have benefited from innovations in the management of diseases for which there were few or no treatment options before. But opponents of the pharmaceutical companies argue that just a small percentage of the drug companies’ costs are used for R&D, with most of the money spent on administration and brand-name drug marketing.

Drug companies don’t tell the whole story behind the rising cost of prescriptions. There are third-party administrators known as pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), who are paid to negotiate prices between pharmacies and large insurers.ThesePBMscharge pharmacy providers either a percentage or a flat fee for every prescription filled, which contributes to higherdrug prices.

How Can You Save Money on Medication?

Consumers have options when it comes to getting the lowest prices on prescription drugs.

First, if you aren’t shopping around for medications at local pharmacies, using online coupons, or joining buyers’clubs at drugstores, you’re probably paying way too much.

Just because your pharmacist quotes you a price does not mean that’s the lowest price for that prescription. Comparison shopping for prescription medications can be as quick and easy as following the helpful tips below, reviewing a few websites, and printing some money-saving coupons.

12 Ways You Can Cut Your Drug Costs

These 12 surefire tips will help you save on prescription medications so that you can put the extra funds into other important uses.

1.Try Generic Drug Options

More than 80 percent of all drugs today aregenerics, which use the same active ingredients as brand-name medicines and work the same way but tend to cost a lot less than their pricey brand-name counterparts.

The cost-saving news is that manufacturers of generic drugs do not have to repeat the animal and clinical (human) studies that were required of the brand-name medicines to demonstrate safety and effectiveness. Also, the competition among multiple companies producing a generic version of a drug helps keep the prices low for consumers.

According to theFood and Drug Administration (FDA), to gain approval a generic drug must be the same as the brand-name product in the following ways:

Able to reach the required level in the bloodstream at the correct time and to the same extent

The manner in which it is taken (whether inhaler, liquid, or pill)

Strength

Testing standards

Use and effects

Working ingredients

Generics may differ from brand-name counterparts in terms of other characteristics that don’t affect the drug’s performance or safety, like flavorings.

What you should doTalk to your physician and pharmacistabout generic equivalents of your brand-name drugs and consider switching.

2. Search for Discount Coupons Online

A simple Google search of your prescription drug, over-the-counter medicine, or healthcare supplies will bring up pages of websites offering money-saving coupons.

Drug coupons cannot lower your copay, but your pharmacist may apply the coupon to your drug purchase to lower the price.

What you should doBefore you head to the pharmacy to fill a prescription, do a quick Google search to check for money-saving coupons and rebates.

3.Use an App to Compare Local Drug Prices

There are several websites and mobile applications that can help you find the best price available for a prescription drug.

One of the most widely used isGoodRx, which allows you to comparison shop and get coupons toward medications. GoodRx collects and compares prices and discounts that you didn’t know existed from more than 70,000 U.S. pharmacies, including CVS, Rite Aid, and Walgreens. It allows you to print free discounted coupons or send them to your phone by email or text message. You can then useaGoodRxdiscount instead of your health insurance or Medicare Part D or Advantage planif the cost is lower than your copay.

When you go to GoodRx.com, they will ask for the name of the drug, the dosage, the number of pills, and your zip code. Click the “Find the Lowest Price” button. You will see what you might pay at different chain pharmacies with a GoodRx discount coupon or voucher. You can then print or download the generated coupons and vouchers to your smartphone and show your pharmacist to get savings on your drug purchase.

Similarly,Blink Healthlets users browse local prices by simply searching for a prescription drug’s name. It also offers the option of having your medication delivered or ready for pickup. Another online and mobile service isOneRx, which lists drug prices in your area and offers discounts to consumers using the OneRx card.

RetailMeNot Rx Saveris a popular and easy-to-use app and program. Here you can search for prices on brand-name and generic drugs. Their coupons can be used an unlimited number of times at retail pharmacies such as Walgreens and CVS.

Other websites and mobile apps that offer drug coupons and rebates includeScriptSave WellRx,Easy Drug Card, andSearch Rx.

What you should doCheck out these and other no-cost prescription pricing services to see what pharmacies in your area charge for your medications.

4. Join Your Pharmacy’s Prescription Club

No insurance or not enough coverage? You can find in-store pharmacy prescription clubs at many drugstores. These money-saving programs can lower drug and supply prices.

Also, the in-store programs provide up to an 85 percent savings on thousands of prescriptions, including commonly prescribed generic medications for heart health,diabetes,asthma,mental health issues, women’s health, gastrointestinal health, and other conditions.

While these savings clubs are not health insurance, they can save you money at the pharmacy.

What you should doCompare different in-store pharmacy prescription clubs to get the best prices when checking out. In-store pharmacies at retailers like Walgreens and Kmart also offer prescription clubs.

5. Shop Local or a Preferred Pharmacy Network

Independent pharmacies may beat major chain drugstores, supermarkets, and big-box discounters on price — and by an impressive margin. Independents can also easily beat membership warehouses and clubs.

In contrast, the preferred pharmacy networkis a group of chainpharmaciesthat likely give insurance plans a larger discount than otherpharmacies.

The point is that drugstores have different prices — they can vary by hundreds of dollars — so be sure to ask ahead before you pick a specific pharmacy.

What you should doCall your local and preferred retail pharmacies before filling your prescription to find the lowest prices.

6.Use a Verified Internet Pharmacy

Verified internetpharmacies are those that have passed stringent reviews by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP). These pharmacies often include “.pharmacy” in their URLs to show that they are in compliance with the NABP, although some verified pharmacies are .coms or .orgs. They also carry the designation VIPPS, for Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Site.

While verified internetpharmacies have passed inspection and are deemed safe, be careful not to use a rogue internet pharmacy that is not verified. Check your internet pharmacy against theFind a Safe Sitelist to buy safely.

In a revealing 2018 study,Consumer Reportssent secret shoppers to 150 pharmaciesin six cities across the country to ask for the retail cash prices for a one-month supply of five commonly prescribed drugs — essentially the prices someone without insurance might pay. The wide range in prices they uncovered was shocking. While the five-drug “basket” cost was just $66 at the verified internetpharmacy HealthWarehouse.com, two national chain retailers had prices closer to $900 for the five drugs. (7)

What you should doIt pays to shop around, and don’t forget to check internet pharmacies like HealthWarehouse.com for greater savings.

7. Use Mail Order for Medications and Supplies

Many pharmacies offer online ordering for drugs, diabetic supplies, over-the-counter medicines, hair supplies, and even pet medications. And you don’t have to have insurance. After placing your order, you will receive the drugs and supplies in the mail. Make sure the pharmacy isVIPPS accredited and certified. Your doctor will send the Rx by e-prescription to the proper phone number.

What you should doGenerally, it will take one to five business days to process your mail-order prescription, so it’s important to plan ahead.

8. Get Free or Low-Cost Birth Control Online

Not only can you get great prices on medications online, but several newer websites also offer free or low-costbirth controlto women in many states.Planned Parenthood Direct,Nurx,PrjktRuby, andMaven Clinicoffer telehealth services, virtual clinics, and prescription drugs delivered right to your door — and no insurance is needed.

What you should doExplore telehealth services and virtual specialty clinics that can save you time and money on birth control and other necessary medications.

9. Talk Openly With Your Doctor

Be vocal with your doctor about any financial issues you may have, and be sure to try one or more of the following five things at your next office visit:

· Ask yourdoctorfor free samples or coupons. Doctors usually have samples and coupons given to them by drug reps. It doesn’t hurt to try a free sample pack before filling a pricey prescription to make sure this drug will work for you.

· Ask your doctor for a 90-day supply. This gives you one copay every three months instead of one every month.

· Ask about mail order. If your drug plan has a mail-order option, you may be able to get the 90-day supply of medications at an even lower cost.

· Ask about pill-splitting. Your doctor can prescribe a higher dose of medicine at the same price as the lower dose. You can split the drug in half or fourths to save. Scored pills are easier to split, but use a pill splitter (usually between $3 and $9 at most pharmacies) to avoid crushing the medication.

· Ask for an exception. If you and your doctor can’t find an affordable option together, speak with your insurer about making a formulary exception and providing coverage for your drug. The formulary is a list of prescription drugs covered by a prescription drug plan or another insurance plan offering prescription drug benefits. Your doctor will most likely need to submit a supporting statement, detailing that your drug is medically necessary and that any alternatives would have an adverse effect.

What you should doBe open and persistent. If your insurer denies your request for an exception, file an appeal. This requires that you work with your doctor to submit an application or letter of appeal.

10. Consider Patient Assistance Programs

Patient assistance programs (PAPs) are typically offered by pharmaceutical companies to provide free orlow-cost prescription drugs to patients who lack health insurance or prescription drug coverage. You will need to fill out an application on the drug company’s website with your financial information. Your doctor may need to provide information about your prescribed medications.

The drug company will review the application and tell you if you’re eligible for assistance. If approved, many companies will ship a supply of the drug to your home or your doctor’s office. Your doctor will need to place a new order several weeks before the supply runs out.

What you should doCheck outRxAssist.org, an online database of drug companies offering patient assistant programs that provide free or affordable drugs and copay assistance.

11. Learn More About Medicare Part D

If you are 65 years or older and on Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage, it’s important to understand how to get discounts on drugs. Medicare Part D is an optional program to help Medicare beneficiaries pay for prescription drugs. Medicare Advantage Plan is a type of Medicare health plan offered by a private company that contracts with Medicare.

The insurer’s formulary of drugs that they cover can change at any time, so be sure to check the prescription medications you take on the Medicare.gov site to find the best Part D plan that works for you.

While some people are able to use discount coupons with Medicare Part D, most cannot unless they’re paying cash only. Of course, if you have a coupon for a drug not covered by your prescription drug plan, you can use this to lower your costs.

What you should doTake advantage of online education such as theDrugs.com Medicare Support Groupto ask questions, share opinions, and stay up with the latest news. Also, check theMedicare.govsite for more understanding on how Part D works with other insurance.

12. Get It for Free, if You Can

Some large supermarket chains, including Publix, Harris Teeter, Schnucks, Price Chopper, Walmart, Sam’s Club, Costco, and ShopRite,will fill basic antibiotic prescriptions like amoxicillin for free. Read more..

THE LATEST U.S. NUMBERS (AS OF MAY 18, 2020, AT 6:58 P.M. EDT)

U.S. cases have surpassed 1.5 million and the country’s death toll is more than 90,000.TheJohns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Centermaintains an ongoing count of the COVID-19 cases and deaths in the United States and worldwide. As of May 18, the tally is:

· Total cases worldwide: 4,786,672 (up from 4,516,360 Friday)

· Total deaths worldwide: 317,695 (up from 306,051 Friday)

· Total recoveries: 1,776,641 (up from 1,622,354 Friday)

· Total cases in the United States: 1,506,732 (up from 1,432,045 Friday)

· Total deaths in the United States: 90,236 (up from 86,851 Friday)

New York has added another region to reopen Tuesday, with many beaches set to reopen Memorial Day weekend.On Monday, New York State Governor Andrew Cuomotold the mediathat the region around Buffalo could reopen on Tuesday, making it the sixth of 10 regions in New York State to meet the criteria to lift lockdown measures,according to CBS News. The Finger Lakes, the North Country, the Southern Tier, the Mohawk Valley, and Central New York reopened last week. Cuomo said that these areas have met the required benchmarks, including declines in infections, deaths, and hospitalizations, and having sufficient numbers of hospital beds to handle a surge.

The governor also announced Friday that state beaches in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Delaware will reopen the Friday before Memorial Day.As of June 1, horse racing tracks statewide can resume races without fans.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, however, said Sunday that city beaches will not reopen Memorial Day weekend or in the near term, and that fences will be built if people start gathering on beaches,according to CBS New York. On Monday, he said that if the current downward trending of infections and hospitalizations continues, the city could ease social distancing restrictions and permit nonessential businesses to reopen by June,according toNewsday.

Texas recorded its highest single-day rise in cases as the state continues to reopen.Over the weekend, Texas reported its biggest daily case count to date of 1,801,according toNewsweek. The surge may be partially due to outbreaks at meat plants and increased testing capacity. The state allowed stores and restaurants to resume business on May 1; gyms are set to reopen today.

More than two-thirds of states have begun to reopen.According toThe New York Times, this week Minnesota is set to reopen stores and malls, Kentucky is looking to lift restrictions on restaurants and stores, and Connecticut is allowing salons, museums, and office buildings to resume activities.

More than 11.8 million Americans have been tested so far.A total of 11,834,508 individuals have been tested in the United States for the detection ofSARS-CoV-2as of May 18, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center.

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New Developments

Initial human trials of a vaccine have yielded encouraging results.Phase 1 results of Moderna’s mRNA vaccine trial show that all participants who received varying dose amounts of the potential treatment produced antibodies for the novel coronavirus, according todata released on Mondayby the biotechnology company.

In the study, led by theNational Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), three groups of 15 healthy participants ages 18 to 55 received dosing at either a low-level amount (25 micrograms), a medium level (50 micrograms), or a high level (100 micrograms). Low- and medium-level doses were shown to be safe, but those in the high dose group had significant “systemic symptoms.”

Moderna will discontinue the high dosing in its Phase 2 trials and expects to move to Phase 3 trials in July. If those trials go well,The New York Timesreportedthat a vaccine could become available for widespread use by the end of this year or early 2021, according to Tal Zaks, MD, Moderna’s chief medical officer.

David Bernstein, MD, vice chairman of medicine for clinicaltrials at Northwell Health in Manhasset, New York, who is not involved in the research, told Everyday Health: “It is important for the public and researchers to have realistic expectations, and I would estimate that at best we are looking at a possible vaccine 12 to 18 months from now, assuming current trials are successful.”

The Federal Reserve chair said the economic downturn could go through the end of next year.On60 Minuteson Sunday, Federal Reserve ChairmanJerome Powellsaid that the economic slump “could stretch through the end of next year.” He added, however, that the country will get through the recession. “In the long run, and even in the medium run, you wouldn’t want to bet against the American economy,” he said. “This economy will recover.”

Vitamin D may help beat the virus.Arecent statistical analysis published in MedRXivof coronavirus patient data from hospitals and clinics across China, France, Germany, Iran, Italy,South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States found a strong link between severe vitamin D deficiency and mortality rates.An article inForbesreviewing the latest research regarding vitamin and COVID-19 concluded that the “jury’s still out on its effects.”

Trump announced that he is taking hydroxychloroquine.President Trump said he is taking daily doses of the antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine,according to CNN. The president has touted the drug as a potential coronavirus treatment amid questions about its effectiveness and potential side effects.

A study suggests summer weather could help the slow virus spread.A working paper posted last weekfrom researchers at Harvard Medical School and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology indicates that the warmer summer months could have some positive effects in blocking COVID-19. Temperatures above 77 degrees were linked to a reduction in transmission. The authors found a “negative association between temperature and humidity and transmission.” They warned, however, that the “estimated effects of summer weather are not strong enough to seasonally control the epidemic in most locations.”

Japan’s economy fell into a recession in the first quarter.The Wall Street Journalon Sunday reportedthat Japan’s economy, the third-largest in the world, contracted by 3.4 percent in the first three months of the year. The economy minister, Yasutoshi Nishimura, warned on Monday that data for the second quarter is expected to be worse, and he expects the economy to “shrink substantially for the time being.”

China supports a WHO investigation of the outbreak’s origin.Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Monday told the World Health Organization’s annual assembly that he backs an international review of the pandemic led by the WHO once the emergency has ended,reportedThe Guardian. Jinping also announced that China would donate $2 billion to the international fight against COVID-19 and offered to help establish hospitals and health infrastructure in Africa.

Trump officially unveiled Operation Warp Speed.On Friday, President Trump announced that Moncef Slaoui, the ex-head of GlaxoSmithKline’s vaccines division, and four-star Army General Gustave Perna will lead Operation Warp Speed, the administration’s effort to have a coronavirus vaccine ready by the end of the year,according to CNN. “Operation Warp Speed means big and it means fast,” Trump said.

Retail sales and industrial production dropped dramatically in April.The Census Bureau released data on Fridayshowing that retail sales fell 16.4 percent from a month earlier. This plunge comes on the heels of an 8.3 percent drop in retail sales in March. The Federal Reserve also reported that industrial production plunged a record 11.2 percent in April,according to the Associated Press.

A Gallup poll shows social distancing has dropped significantly.AGallup poll released Fridayrevealed that 58 percent of U.S. adults report completely (17 percent) or mostly (41 percent) isolating themselves, continuing a decline from a high of 75 percent the week of March 30 through April 5. The results come as more states are taking steps to reopen their economies.

Tens of thousands of autoworkers are returning to jobs.The Associated Press estimatedthat 133,000 autoworkers are due to pour back into auto plants that are reopening next week. Ford is predicting stronger sales in the future in Europe, China, and the United States as the lockdowns ease.

Loud talking may leave viral droplets in the air for up to 14 minutes, a study found.A single minute of loud-speaking generates at least 1,000 virus-containing droplets, according to astudy published this week in theProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. Researchers found that infectious droplets may hang in the air for 8 to 14 minutes. “These observations confirm that there is a substantial probability that normal speaking causes airborne virus transmission in confined environments,” write the study authors.

At 108, she may be the country’s oldest coronavirus survivor.Sylvia Goldsholl, who is 108 years old, maybe the nation’s oldest COVID-19 survivor,according toUSA Todayon Friday. The resident of the Allendale Community for Senior Living in New Jersey had the virus but made a full recovery. Goldsholl has also lived through the Spanish Flu Pandemic of 1918, which struck when she was 6 years old.

Almost three million people filed jobless claims, and the unemployment rate has hit 15.7 percent.The Department of Labor released datalast Thursday showing that 2.9 million new claims for unemployment insurance were filed in the previous week. About 36.5 million Americans have filed applications in the past eight weeks.CNBC called itthe biggest job loss in U.S. history. The unemployment rate has now rocketed to 15.7 percent, up from about 3.5 percent in February.

The ousted vaccine director warned lawmakers that the country lacks a vaccine plan.In testimony before the House Energy and Commerce Committee last Thursday, Rick Bright, Ph.D., former director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, told representatives that the United States lacks a plan to produce and fairly distribute a coronavirus vaccine when it becomes available,according to the Associated Press. He warned that the nation could face “the darkest day in history” unless decisive action is taken.

Dr. Bright was removed from his post last month after pushing for rigorous vetting of hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malaria drug embraced by President Trump as a coronavirus treatment. He fileda whistleblower complaintsaying he was reassigned because he tried to “prioritize science and safety over political expediency.”

The CDC has confirmed the link between a mysterious syndrome in kids and COVID-19.New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed the link between a rare syndrome in children with COVID-19,according to NBC New York. New York City has found at least 145 cases of children sickened by the illness.

TheCDC issued a health advisoryregarding multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). The condition has been seen in several U.S. states and European countries.

“Healthcare providers who have cared or are caring for patients younger than 21 years of age meeting MIS-C criteria should report suspected cases to their local, state, or territorial health department,” according to the CDC advisory.

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), children with this syndrome have symptoms resembling Kawasaki disease, including “persistent fever, inflammation, and evidence of single or multi-organ dysfunction (shock, cardiac, respiratory, renal, gastrointestinal, or neurological disorder), and may or may not test positive for COVID-19.” Read more..

CAN FAMILY PRACTICE PROVIDERS HELP SAVE A LIFE?

Today, we will talk about just a few of the many important reasons to have a family practice provider and the advantages it can bring to your healthcare experience. Continue reading this blog to find out more!Usually, family practice providers do not specialize in any particular area but have vast overall knowledge of medicines and treatments.

If you experience an illness, your family practice provider will not only treat you with medication but can also arrange a referral to a specialist if it is needed.

Advantages of Having A Family Practice Provider

There are many benefits to having regular, close follow-up visits with a family practice provider.We all know that disease and danger can come at any time, and the family practice provider acts as your partner in care during difficult times. He or she can help you navigate the murky waters of today’s healthcare climate to best meet your needs.

Here are some other advantages of having afamily practice provider.

· They offer support to achieve your personal health goals

· Care is provided to patients of all ages across the lifespan

· They take time to learn your personal history & your family history

· They offer assistance to help you fight against any disease

· They can help improve your life while saving you money

Research shows that developing a relationship with your family practice provider is the best way to ensure continuity in patient care, and continuity provides better health outcomes for patients.

Family practice providers are advocates for you and work with specialists and other health care professionals to provide patient-centered care.

Family practice providers can help manage chronic conditions such as weight gain and weight loss, heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis. They can also treat acute illness such as sinus infections and injuries.

Would you like to make anappointmentwith a family practice provider? If yes, no need to wait!

Get In Touch With an Innovative Family Practice Provider

Looking for a family practice provider? Then don’t hesitate to contact Innovative Urgent Care & Family Clinic! If you are in San Antonio, Bandera, or the surrounding areas, one of our providers can meet your needs. Our providers pride themselves on professionalism, compassion and timely patient care to get you on the path to health.

During this pandemic, we encourage patients to utilize ourtelemedicine services. We offer a video call format or even simple phone visits instead of coming into the clinic if this is more suitable to you. These are secure options to visit with your provider from anywhere…using your phone…at your convenience. The providers at Innovative Urgent Care & Family Health Clinic strive to offer personalized, patient-driven care and are committed to personally knowing each patient and their values. We want to know what your ultimate goal is so that we can provide an excellent healthcare experience. Read more..

SPORTS PHYSICALS? – CHECK OUT WHAT OUR PROVIDERS HAVE TO SAY

While sports physicals seem to be a mere formality, they can be the key to uncovering certain signs or symptoms that can indicate the potential for something serious happening during a sporting event. Since prevention is ultimately the best practice, part of our mission is to prevent sports accidents.

Let’s take a look at some common questions answered by the professionals and also how to best prepare for your sports physical.

What is the difference between a sports physical and the traditional physical exam? How often should patients get asports physical?

Generally, sports physicals are done annually by most schools and recreational or team sport organizations. The sports physical focuses on your well-being as it relates to playing a sport. It’s more limited than a regular physical, but it’s a lot more specific to evaluating for athletic issues. You should still continue to have regular traditional physical exams annually or per the recommendation of your primary care provider.

How long does a sports physical usually take?

Generally, it takes about 20-30 minutes to gather all the necessary information and complete paperwork.

What if a problem is detected during the physical?

If you don’t get the “OK” from us, does that mean you’ll never participate in sports? No! Based on the reason the patient is not being cleared for participation at the time of the visit, our providers will arrange appropriate follow-up, either back at our clinic or with a specialist for further evaluation.

What is a sports physical comprised of?

As mentioned above, a detailed history is taken followed by a head-to-toe physical. A detailed medication history is taken from the patient or patient’s parent regarding any past medical problems, surgeries, medications, immunizations, or other pertinent information. Vital signs and vision screening are performed. Then, an in-depth physical examination takes place, usually with a chaperone present. Our experts are examining carefully for any concerning or abnormal signs that would raise a red flag for sports participation. Lastly, the provider will fill out any necessary paperwork.

What makes sports physicals so important?

Sports physicals are important in determining an athlete’s medical capability to participate in sports safely. Sports can be demanding on the physique. Muscles are engaged and taxed, the heart rate is elevated, breathing is more rapid as the body requires more oxygen intake. These are just a few of the many changes the body can experience. Our providers want to ensure everything is working properly as it should so our patients can feel safe and confident in whatever activity they are participating in. Read more..

6 THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING A PEDIATRIC CLINIC

Choosing the right caregiver for your child is one of the more important decisions you will make as their parent. A pediatric clinic caregiver will play a very important role in the dynamic of your family as your child grows. The right caregiver will help ensure the health of your child is never compromised. He or she will also guide you through making decisions regarding treating your child and protecting their health. You can expect to see him or her pretty frequently, especially throughout the first year of your child’s life as there are six regular check-ups routinely; and let’s not forget those unplanned visits that come up.

Pediatric Clinic

1. Get Referrals and Do Your Research

In preparing to choose a pediatric caregiver, be sure to ask your family, friends, colleagues, and other trusted individuals for recommendations. When narrowing the list, check out things like officelocationand available hours. Make sure you could easily and conveniently access the provider you choose. Also, make sure you know which providers take your health insurance and who is accepting new patients.

2. Checking Credentials and Experience Is Important

You will want to ensure the caregiver you choose is comfortable with evaluating and treating infants, children, and adolescents. Pediatric specialists can include Family Nurse Practitioners, Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, Physicians Assistants, or Physicians. You can typically find credentials and educational background by searching reference websites online.

3. Read Patient Reviews

It is important to read other peoples’ opinions. This will give you insight into the patient and family experience both with the caregiver and his or her office staff. You can learn more about how he or she practices medicine and gauge if you may or may not agree with the methods used. You can also learn more about how the clinic flows including appointment scheduling, wait times, office environment, and behavior of the staff.

4. The Pediatric Caregiver Should Be Up-To-Date with Current Practices

Healthcare practices and medical treatments advance rapidly. Having a pediatric caregiver who participates in continuing education and stays updated with the latest research ensures the best care for your child. Be aware of this when choosing a caregiver for this capacity.

5. Are You on The Same Page?

Many healthcare providers allow you to meet them and ask questions about their style and practice philosophy. Your pediatric caregiver will be your advisor regarding the care of your new baby and you as a parent. Be open regarding letting him or her know how you prefer your child to be treated and nurtured. There are various approaches to parenting. Similarly, there are various approaches to treating a child medically. For this reason, it is very important to make sure you are on the same page.

6. Observe How the Pediatrician Interacts with Your Child

You should observe how thepediatric caregiver communicatesand interacts with your child. This will help ensure he or she is a good fit for your child or not. Infants and children can develop a special bond with their pediatric caregiver and the comfort level should only blossom as your child grows. Read more..

A CONSUMER’S GUIDE TO DRUG DISCOUNTS

Have you ever had to choose between buying groceries or paying the rent and filling a drug prescription? Have you or has someone you know ever skipped taking medication because of the cost? You’re not alone. Millions of Americans are feeling the burden of increasingly costly prescription drugs, and they’re making choices that could jeopardize their health. We are here for the guide to drug discounts

Today, the amount consumers have to pay out of pocket for prescribed drugs is rapidly escalating, from about $25 billion in 2000 to a projected $67 billion in 2025. To make matters worse, more than 8.8 percent of American adults, or roughly 28.5 million people, do not have health insurance and must pay for all prescription medications themselves.

But there are ways that you can minimize the effect that the accelerating prescription drug crisis has on your healthcare. This guide to drug pricing and discounts provides the answers to common questions and offers practical information that every consumer needs to know.

Why Are Prescription Drug Prices So High?

Did you know that Americans pay the highest costs for prescription medications in the world? You can partly attribute the exorbitant prices to an intricate and extensive drug research and development (R&D) and approval process, along with an equally complex healthcare system.

No doubt, we have benefited from innovations in the management of diseases for which there were few or no treatment options before. But opponents of the pharmaceutical companies argue that just a small percentage of the drug companies’ costs are used for R&D, with most of the money spent on administration and brand-name drug marketing.

Drug companies don’t tell the whole story behind the rising cost of prescriptions. There are third-party administrators known as pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), who are paid to negotiate prices between pharmacies and large insurers.ThesePBMscharge pharmacy providers either a percentage or a flat fee for every prescription filled, which contributes to higherdrug prices.

How Can You Save Money on Medication?

Consumers have options when it comes to getting the lowest prices on prescription drugs.

First, if you aren’t shopping around for medications at local pharmacies, using online coupons, or joining buyers’clubs at drugstores, you’re probably paying way too much.

Just because your pharmacist quotes you a price does not mean that’s the lowest price for that prescription. Comparison shopping for prescription medications can be as quick and easy as following the helpful tips below, reviewing a few websites, and printing some money-saving coupons.

12 Ways You Can Cut Your Drug Costs

These 12 surefire tips will help you save on prescription medications so that you can put the extra funds into other important uses.

1.Try Generic Drug Options

More than 80 percent of all drugs today aregenerics, which use the same active ingredients as brand-name medicines and work the same way but tend to cost a lot less than their pricey brand-name counterparts.

The cost-saving news is that manufacturers of generic drugs do not have to repeat the animal and clinical (human) studies that were required of the brand-name medicines to demonstrate safety and effectiveness. Also, the competition among multiple companies producing a generic version of a drug helps keep the prices low for consumers.

According to theFood and Drug Administration (FDA), to gain approval a generic drug must be the same as the brand-name product in the following ways:

Able to reach the required level in the bloodstream at the correct time and to the same extent

The manner in which it is taken (whether inhaler, liquid, or pill)

Strength

Testing standards

Use and effects

Working ingredients

Generics may differ from brand-name counterparts in terms of other characteristics that don’t affect the drug’s performance or safety, like flavorings.

What you should doTalk to your physician and pharmacistabout generic equivalents of your brand-name drugs and consider switching.

2. Search for Discount Coupons Online

A simple Google search of your prescription drug, over-the-counter medicine, or healthcare supplies will bring up pages of websites offering money-saving coupons.

Drug coupons cannot lower your copay, but your pharmacist may apply the coupon to your drug purchase to lower the price.

What you should doBefore you head to the pharmacy to fill a prescription, do a quick Google search to check for money-saving coupons and rebates.

3.Use an App to Compare Local Drug Prices

There are several websites and mobile applications that can help you find the best price available for a prescription drug.

One of the most widely used isGoodRx, which allows you to comparison shop and get coupons toward medications. GoodRx collects and compares prices and discounts that you didn’t know existed from more than 70,000 U.S. pharmacies, including CVS, Rite Aid, and Walgreens. It allows you to print free discounted coupons or send them to your phone by email or text message. You can then useaGoodRxdiscount instead of your health insurance or Medicare Part D or Advantage planif the cost is lower than your copay.

When you go to GoodRx.com, they will ask for the name of the drug, the dosage, the number of pills, and your zip code. Click the “Find the Lowest Price” button. You will see what you might pay at different chain pharmacies with a GoodRx discount coupon or voucher. You can then print or download the generated coupons and vouchers to your smartphone and show your pharmacist to get savings on your drug purchase.

Similarly,Blink Healthlets users browse local prices by simply searching for a prescription drug’s name. It also offers the option of having your medication delivered or ready for pickup. Another online and mobile service isOneRx, which lists drug prices in your area and offers discounts to consumers using the OneRx card.

RetailMeNot Rx Saveris a popular and easy-to-use app and program. Here you can search for prices on brand-name and generic drugs. Their coupons can be used an unlimited number of times at retail pharmacies such as Walgreens and CVS.

Other websites and mobile apps that offer drug coupons and rebates includeScriptSave WellRx,Easy Drug Card, andSearch Rx.

What you should doCheck out these and other no-cost prescription pricing services to see what pharmacies in your area charge for your medications.

4. Join Your Pharmacy’s Prescription Club

No insurance or not enough coverage? You can find in-store pharmacy prescription clubs at many drugstores. These money-saving programs can lower drug and supply prices.

Also, the in-store programs provide up to an 85 percent savings on thousands of prescriptions, including commonly prescribed generic medications for heart health,diabetes,asthma,mental health issues, women’s health, gastrointestinal health, and other conditions.

While these savings clubs are not health insurance, they can save you money at the pharmacy.

What you should doCompare different in-store pharmacy prescription clubs to get the best prices when checking out. In-store pharmacies at retailers like Walgreens and Kmart also offer prescription clubs.

5. Shop Local or a Preferred Pharmacy Network

Independent pharmacies may beat major chain drugstores, supermarkets, and big-box discounters on price — and by an impressive margin. Independents can also easily beat membership warehouses and clubs.

In contrast, the preferred pharmacy networkis a group of chainpharmaciesthat likely give insurance plans a larger discount than otherpharmacies.

The point is that drugstores have different prices — they can vary by hundreds of dollars — so be sure to ask ahead before you pick a specific pharmacy.

What you should doCall your local and preferred retail pharmacies before filling your prescription to find the lowest prices.

6.Use a Verified Internet Pharmacy

Verified internetpharmacies are those that have passed stringent reviews by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP). These pharmacies often include “.pharmacy” in their URLs to show that they are in compliance with the NABP, although some verified pharmacies are .coms or .orgs. They also carry the designation VIPPS, for Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Site.

While verified internetpharmacies have passed inspection and are deemed safe, be careful not to use a rogue internet pharmacy that is not verified. Check your internet pharmacy against theFind a Safe Sitelist to buy safely.

In a revealing 2018 study,Consumer Reportssent secret shoppers to 150 pharmaciesin six cities across the country to ask for the retail cash prices for a one-month supply of five commonly prescribed drugs — essentially the prices someone without insurance might pay. The wide range in prices they uncovered was shocking. While the five-drug “basket” cost was just $66 at the verified internetpharmacy HealthWarehouse.com, two national chain retailers had prices closer to $900 for the five drugs. (7)

What you should doIt pays to shop around, and don’t forget to check internet pharmacies like HealthWarehouse.com for greater savings.

7. Use Mail Order for Medications and Supplies

Many pharmacies offer online ordering for drugs, diabetic supplies, over-the-counter medicines, hair supplies, and even pet medications. And you don’t have to have insurance. After placing your order, you will receive the drugs and supplies in the mail. Make sure the pharmacy isVIPPS accredited and certified. Your doctor will send the Rx by e-prescription to the proper phone number.

What you should doGenerally, it will take one to five business days to process your mail-order prescription, so it’s important to plan ahead.

8. Get Free or Low-Cost Birth Control Online

Not only can you get great prices on medications online, but several newer websites also offer free or low-costbirth controlto women in many states.Planned Parenthood Direct,Nurx,PrjktRuby, andMaven Clinicoffer telehealth services, virtual clinics, and prescription drugs delivered right to your door — and no insurance is needed.

What you should doExplore telehealth services and virtual specialty clinics that can save you time and money on birth control and other necessary medications.

9. Talk Openly With Your Doctor

Be vocal with your doctor about any financial issues you may have, and be sure to try one or more of the following five things at your next office visit:

· Ask yourdoctorfor free samples or coupons. Doctors usually have samples and coupons given to them by drug reps. It doesn’t hurt to try a free sample pack before filling a pricey prescription to make sure this drug will work for you.

· Ask your doctor for a 90-day supply. This gives you one copay every three months instead of one every month.

· Ask about mail order. If your drug plan has a mail-order option, you may be able to get the 90-day supply of medications at an even lower cost.

· Ask about pill-splitting. Your doctor can prescribe a higher dose of medicine at the same price as the lower dose. You can split the drug in half or fourths to save. Scored pills are easier to split, but use a pill splitter (usually between $3 and $9 at most pharmacies) to avoid crushing the medication.

· Ask for an exception. If you and your doctor can’t find an affordable option together, speak with your insurer about making a formulary exception and providing coverage for your drug. The formulary is a list of prescription drugs covered by a prescription drug plan or another insurance plan offering prescription drug benefits. Your doctor will most likely need to submit a supporting statement, detailing that your drug is medically necessary and that any alternatives would have an adverse effect.

What you should doBe open and persistent. If your insurer denies your request for an exception, file an appeal. This requires that you work with your doctor to submit an application or letter of appeal.

10. Consider Patient Assistance Programs

Patient assistance programs (PAPs) are typically offered by pharmaceutical companies to provide free orlow-cost prescription drugs to patients who lack health insurance or prescription drug coverage. You will need to fill out an application on the drug company’s website with your financial information. Your doctor may need to provide information about your prescribed medications.

The drug company will review the application and tell you if you’re eligible for assistance. If approved, many companies will ship a supply of the drug to your home or your doctor’s office. Your doctor will need to place a new order several weeks before the supply runs out.

What you should doCheck outRxAssist.org, an online database of drug companies offering patient assistant programs that provide free or affordable drugs and copay assistance.

11. Learn More About Medicare Part D

If you are 65 years or older and on Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage, it’s important to understand how to get discounts on drugs. Medicare Part D is an optional program to help Medicare beneficiaries pay for prescription drugs. Medicare Advantage Plan is a type of Medicare health plan offered by a private company that contracts with Medicare.

The insurer’s formulary of drugs that they cover can change at any time, so be sure to check the prescription medications you take on the Medicare.gov site to find the best Part D plan that works for you.

While some people are able to use discount coupons with Medicare Part D, most cannot unless they’re paying cash only. Of course, if you have a coupon for a drug not covered by your prescription drug plan, you can use this to lower your costs.

What you should doTake advantage of online education such as theDrugs.com Medicare Support Groupto ask questions, share opinions, and stay up with the latest news. Also, check theMedicare.govsite for more understanding on how Part D works with other insurance.

12. Get It for Free, if You Can

Some large supermarket chains, including Publix, Harris Teeter, Schnucks, Price Chopper, Walmart, Sam’s Club, Costco, and ShopRite,will fill basic antibiotic prescriptions like amoxicillin for free. Read more..

THE LATEST U.S. NUMBERS (AS OF MAY 18, 2020, AT 6:58 P.M. EDT)

U.S. cases have surpassed 1.5 million and the country’s death toll is more than 90,000.TheJohns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Centermaintains an ongoing count of the COVID-19 cases and deaths in the United States and worldwide. As of May 18, the tally is:

· Total cases worldwide: 4,786,672 (up from 4,516,360 Friday)

· Total deaths worldwide: 317,695 (up from 306,051 Friday)

· Total recoveries: 1,776,641 (up from 1,622,354 Friday)

· Total cases in the United States: 1,506,732 (up from 1,432,045 Friday)

· Total deaths in the United States: 90,236 (up from 86,851 Friday)

New York has added another region to reopen Tuesday, with many beaches set to reopen Memorial Day weekend.On Monday, New York State Governor Andrew Cuomotold the mediathat the region around Buffalo could reopen on Tuesday, making it the sixth of 10 regions in New York State to meet the criteria to lift lockdown measures,according to CBS News. The Finger Lakes, the North Country, the Southern Tier, the Mohawk Valley, and Central New York reopened last week. Cuomo said that these areas have met the required benchmarks, including declines in infections, deaths, and hospitalizations, and having sufficient numbers of hospital beds to handle a surge.

The governor also announced Friday that state beaches in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Delaware will reopen the Friday before Memorial Day.As of June 1, horse racing tracks statewide can resume races without fans.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, however, said Sunday that city beaches will not reopen Memorial Day weekend or in the near term, and that fences will be built if people start gathering on beaches,according to CBS New York. On Monday, he said that if the current downward trending of infections and hospitalizations continues, the city could ease social distancing restrictions and permit nonessential businesses to reopen by June,according toNewsday.

Texas recorded its highest single-day rise in cases as the state continues to reopen.Over the weekend, Texas reported its biggest daily case count to date of 1,801,according toNewsweek. The surge may be partially due to outbreaks at meat plants and increased testing capacity. The state allowed stores and restaurants to resume business on May 1; gyms are set to reopen today.

More than two-thirds of states have begun to reopen.According toThe New York Times, this week Minnesota is set to reopen stores and malls, Kentucky is looking to lift restrictions on restaurants and stores, and Connecticut is allowing salons, museums, and office buildings to resume activities.

More than 11.8 million Americans have been tested so far.A total of 11,834,508 individuals have been tested in the United States for the detection ofSARS-CoV-2as of May 18, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center.

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New Developments

Initial human trials of a vaccine have yielded encouraging results.Phase 1 results of Moderna’s mRNA vaccine trial show that all participants who received varying dose amounts of the potential treatment produced antibodies for the novel coronavirus, according todata released on Mondayby the biotechnology company.

In the study, led by theNational Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), three groups of 15 healthy participants ages 18 to 55 received dosing at either a low-level amount (25 micrograms), a medium level (50 micrograms), or a high level (100 micrograms). Low- and medium-level doses were shown to be safe, but those in the high dose group had significant “systemic symptoms.”

Moderna will discontinue the high dosing in its Phase 2 trials and expects to move to Phase 3 trials in July. If those trials go well,The New York Timesreportedthat a vaccine could become available for widespread use by the end of this year or early 2021, according to Tal Zaks, MD, Moderna’s chief medical officer.

David Bernstein, MD, vice chairman of medicine for clinicaltrials at Northwell Health in Manhasset, New York, who is not involved in the research, told Everyday Health: “It is important for the public and researchers to have realistic expectations, and I would estimate that at best we are looking at a possible vaccine 12 to 18 months from now, assuming current trials are successful.”

The Federal Reserve chair said the economic downturn could go through the end of next year.On60 Minuteson Sunday, Federal Reserve ChairmanJerome Powellsaid that the economic slump “could stretch through the end of next year.” He added, however, that the country will get through the recession. “In the long run, and even in the medium run, you wouldn’t want to bet against the American economy,” he said. “This economy will recover.”

Vitamin D may help beat the virus.Arecent statistical analysis published in MedRXivof coronavirus patient data from hospitals and clinics across China, France, Germany, Iran, Italy,South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States found a strong link between severe vitamin D deficiency and mortality rates.An article inForbesreviewing the latest research regarding vitamin and COVID-19 concluded that the “jury’s still out on its effects.”

Trump announced that he is taking hydroxychloroquine.President Trump said he is taking daily doses of the antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine,according to CNN. The president has touted the drug as a potential coronavirus treatment amid questions about its effectiveness and potential side effects.

A study suggests summer weather could help the slow virus spread.A working paper posted last weekfrom researchers at Harvard Medical School and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology indicates that the warmer summer months could have some positive effects in blocking COVID-19. Temperatures above 77 degrees were linked to a reduction in transmission. The authors found a “negative association between temperature and humidity and transmission.” They warned, however, that the “estimated effects of summer weather are not strong enough to seasonally control the epidemic in most locations.”

Japan’s economy fell into a recession in the first quarter.The Wall Street Journalon Sunday reportedthat Japan’s economy, the third-largest in the world, contracted by 3.4 percent in the first three months of the year. The economy minister, Yasutoshi Nishimura, warned on Monday that data for the second quarter is expected to be worse, and he expects the economy to “shrink substantially for the time being.”

China supports a WHO investigation of the outbreak’s origin.Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Monday told the World Health Organization’s annual assembly that he backs an international review of the pandemic led by the WHO once the emergency has ended,reportedThe Guardian. Jinping also announced that China would donate $2 billion to the international fight against COVID-19 and offered to help establish hospitals and health infrastructure in Africa.

Trump officially unveiled Operation Warp Speed.On Friday, President Trump announced that Moncef Slaoui, the ex-head of GlaxoSmithKline’s vaccines division, and four-star Army General Gustave Perna will lead Operation Warp Speed, the administration’s effort to have a coronavirus vaccine ready by the end of the year,according to CNN. “Operation Warp Speed means big and it means fast,” Trump said.

Retail sales and industrial production dropped dramatically in April.The Census Bureau released data on Fridayshowing that retail sales fell 16.4 percent from a month earlier. This plunge comes on the heels of an 8.3 percent drop in retail sales in March. The Federal Reserve also reported that industrial production plunged a record 11.2 percent in April,according to the Associated Press.

A Gallup poll shows social distancing has dropped significantly.AGallup poll released Fridayrevealed that 58 percent of U.S. adults report completely (17 percent) or mostly (41 percent) isolating themselves, continuing a decline from a high of 75 percent the week of March 30 through April 5. The results come as more states are taking steps to reopen their economies.

Tens of thousands of autoworkers are returning to jobs.The Associated Press estimatedthat 133,000 autoworkers are due to pour back into auto plants that are reopening next week. Ford is predicting stronger sales in the future in Europe, China, and the United States as the lockdowns ease.

Loud talking may leave viral droplets in the air for up to 14 minutes, a study found.A single minute of loud-speaking generates at least 1,000 virus-containing droplets, according to astudy published this week in theProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. Researchers found that infectious droplets may hang in the air for 8 to 14 minutes. “These observations confirm that there is a substantial probability that normal speaking causes airborne virus transmission in confined environments,” write the study authors.

At 108, she may be the country’s oldest coronavirus survivor.Sylvia Goldsholl, who is 108 years old, maybe the nation’s oldest COVID-19 survivor,according toUSA Todayon Friday. The resident of the Allendale Community for Senior Living in New Jersey had the virus but made a full recovery. Goldsholl has also lived through the Spanish Flu Pandemic of 1918, which struck when she was 6 years old.

Almost three million people filed jobless claims, and the unemployment rate has hit 15.7 percent.The Department of Labor released datalast Thursday showing that 2.9 million new claims for unemployment insurance were filed in the previous week. About 36.5 million Americans have filed applications in the past eight weeks.CNBC called itthe biggest job loss in U.S. history. The unemployment rate has now rocketed to 15.7 percent, up from about 3.5 percent in February.

The ousted vaccine director warned lawmakers that the country lacks a vaccine plan.In testimony before the House Energy and Commerce Committee last Thursday, Rick Bright, Ph.D., former director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, told representatives that the United States lacks a plan to produce and fairly distribute a coronavirus vaccine when it becomes available,according to the Associated Press. He warned that the nation could face “the darkest day in history” unless decisive action is taken.

Dr. Bright was removed from his post last month after pushing for rigorous vetting of hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malaria drug embraced by President Trump as a coronavirus treatment. He fileda whistleblower complaintsaying he was reassigned because he tried to “prioritize science and safety over political expediency.”

The CDC has confirmed the link between a mysterious syndrome in kids and COVID-19.New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed the link between a rare syndrome in children with COVID-19,according to NBC New York. New York City has found at least 145 cases of children sickened by the illness.

TheCDC issued a health advisoryregarding multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). The condition has been seen in several U.S. states and European countries.

“Healthcare providers who have cared or are caring for patients younger than 21 years of age meeting MIS-C criteria should report suspected cases to their local, state, or territorial health department,” according to the CDC advisory.

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), children with this syndrome have symptoms resembling Kawasaki disease, including “persistent fever, inflammation, and evidence of single or multi-organ dysfunction (shock, cardiac, respiratory, renal, gastrointestinal, or neurological disorder), and may or may not test positive for COVID-19.” Read more..

CAN FAMILY PRACTICE PROVIDERS HELP SAVE A LIFE?

Today, we will talk about just a few of the many important reasons to have a family practice provider and the advantages it can bring to your healthcare experience. Continue reading this blog to find out more!Usually, family practice providers do not specialize in any particular area but have vast overall knowledge of medicines and treatments.

If you experience an illness, your family practice provider will not only treat you with medication but can also arrange a referral to a specialist if it is needed.

Advantages of Having A Family Practice Provider

There are many benefits to having regular, close follow-up visits with a family practice provider.We all know that disease and danger can come at any time, and the family practice provider acts as your partner in care during difficult times. He or she can help you navigate the murky waters of today’s healthcare climate to best meet your needs.

Here are some other advantages of having afamily practice provider.

· They offer support to achieve your personal health goals

· Care is provided to patients of all ages across the lifespan

· They take time to learn your personal history & your family history

· They offer assistance to help you fight against any disease

· They can help improve your life while saving you money

Research shows that developing a relationship with your family practice provider is the best way to ensure continuity in patient care, and continuity provides better health outcomes for patients.

Family practice providers are advocates for you and work with specialists and other health care professionals to provide patient-centered care.

Family practice providers can help manage chronic conditions such as weight gain and weight loss, heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis. They can also treat acute illness such as sinus infections and injuries.

Would you like to make anappointmentwith a family practice provider? If yes, no need to wait!

Get In Touch With an Innovative Family Practice Provider

Looking for a family practice provider? Then don’t hesitate to contact Innovative Urgent Care & Family Clinic! If you are in San Antonio, Bandera, or the surrounding areas, one of our providers can meet your needs. Our providers pride themselves on professionalism, compassion and timely patient care to get you on the path to health.

During this pandemic, we encourage patients to utilize ourtelemedicine services. We offer a video call format or even simple phone visits instead of coming into the clinic if this is more suitable to you. These are secure options to visit with your provider from anywhere…using your phone…at your convenience. The providers at Innovative Urgent Care & Family Health Clinic strive to offer personalized, patient-driven care and are committed to personally knowing each patient and their values. We want to know what your ultimate goal is so that we can provide an excellent healthcare experience. Read more..

SPORTS PHYSICALS? – CHECK OUT WHAT OUR PROVIDERS HAVE TO SAY

While sports physicals seem to be a mere formality, they can be the key to uncovering certain signs or symptoms that can indicate the potential for something serious happening during a sporting event. Since prevention is ultimately the best practice, part of our mission is to prevent sports accidents.

Let’s take a look at some common questions answered by the professionals and also how to best prepare for your sports physical.

What is the difference between a sports physical and the traditional physical exam? How often should patients get asports physical?

Generally, sports physicals are done annually by most schools and recreational or team sport organizations. The sports physical focuses on your well-being as it relates to playing a sport. It’s more limited than a regular physical, but it’s a lot more specific to evaluating for athletic issues. You should still continue to have regular traditional physical exams annually or per the recommendation of your primary care provider.

How long does a sports physical usually take?

Generally, it takes about 20-30 minutes to gather all the necessary information and complete paperwork.

What if a problem is detected during the physical?

If you don’t get the “OK” from us, does that mean you’ll never participate in sports? No! Based on the reason the patient is not being cleared for participation at the time of the visit, our providers will arrange appropriate follow-up, either back at our clinic or with a specialist for further evaluation.

What is a sports physical comprised of?

As mentioned above, a detailed history is taken followed by a head-to-toe physical. A detailed medication history is taken from the patient or patient’s parent regarding any past medical problems, surgeries, medications, immunizations, or other pertinent information. Vital signs and vision screening are performed. Then, an in-depth physical examination takes place, usually with a chaperone present. Our experts are examining carefully for any concerning or abnormal signs that would raise a red flag for sports participation. Lastly, the provider will fill out any necessary paperwork.

What makes sports physicals so important?

Sports physicals are important in determining an athlete’s medical capability to participate in sports safely. Sports can be demanding on the physique. Muscles are engaged and taxed, the heart rate is elevated, breathing is more rapid as the body requires more oxygen intake. These are just a few of the many changes the body can experience. Our providers want to ensure everything is working properly as it should so our patients can feel safe and confident in whatever activity they are participating in. Read more..

6 THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING A PEDIATRIC CLINIC

Choosing the right caregiver for your child is one of the more important decisions you will make as their parent. A pediatric clinic caregiver will play a very important role in the dynamic of your family as your child grows. The right caregiver will help ensure the health of your child is never compromised. He or she will also guide you through making decisions regarding treating your child and protecting their health. You can expect to see him or her pretty frequently, especially throughout the first year of your child’s life as there are six regular check-ups routinely; and let’s not forget those unplanned visits that come up.

Pediatric Clinic

1. Get Referrals and Do Your Research

In preparing to choose a pediatric caregiver, be sure to ask your family, friends, colleagues, and other trusted individuals for recommendations. When narrowing the list, check out things like officelocationand available hours. Make sure you could easily and conveniently access the provider you choose. Also, make sure you know which providers take your health insurance and who is accepting new patients.

2. Checking Credentials and Experience Is Important

You will want to ensure the caregiver you choose is comfortable with evaluating and treating infants, children, and adolescents. Pediatric specialists can include Family Nurse Practitioners, Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, Physicians Assistants, or Physicians. You can typically find credentials and educational background by searching reference websites online.

3. Read Patient Reviews

It is important to read other peoples’ opinions. This will give you insight into the patient and family experience both with the caregiver and his or her office staff. You can learn more about how he or she practices medicine and gauge if you may or may not agree with the methods used. You can also learn more about how the clinic flows including appointment scheduling, wait times, office environment, and behavior of the staff.

4. The Pediatric Caregiver Should Be Up-To-Date with Current Practices

Healthcare practices and medical treatments advance rapidly. Having a pediatric caregiver who participates in continuing education and stays updated with the latest research ensures the best care for your child. Be aware of this when choosing a caregiver for this capacity.

5. Are You on The Same Page?

Many healthcare providers allow you to meet them and ask questions about their style and practice philosophy. Your pediatric caregiver will be your advisor regarding the care of your new baby and you as a parent. Be open regarding letting him or her know how you prefer your child to be treated and nurtured. There are various approaches to parenting. Similarly, there are various approaches to treating a child medically. For this reason, it is very important to make sure you are on the same page.

6. Observe How the Pediatrician Interacts with Your Child

You should observe how thepediatric caregiver communicatesand interacts with your child. This will help ensure he or she is a good fit for your child or not. Infants and children can develop a special bond with their pediatric caregiver and the comfort level should only blossom as your child grows. Read more..

A CONSUMER’S GUIDE TO DRUG DISCOUNTS

Have you ever had to choose between buying groceries or paying the rent and filling a drug prescription? Have you or has someone you know ever skipped taking medication because of the cost? You’re not alone. Millions of Americans are feeling the burden of increasingly costly prescription drugs, and they’re making choices that could jeopardize their health. We are here for the guide to drug discounts

Today, the amount consumers have to pay out of pocket for prescribed drugs is rapidly escalating, from about $25 billion in 2000 to a projected $67 billion in 2025. To make matters worse, more than 8.8 percent of American adults, or roughly 28.5 million people, do not have health insurance and must pay for all prescription medications themselves.

But there are ways that you can minimize the effect that the accelerating prescription drug crisis has on your healthcare. This guide to drug pricing and discounts provides the answers to common questions and offers practical information that every consumer needs to know.

Why Are Prescription Drug Prices So High?

Did you know that Americans pay the highest costs for prescription medications in the world? You can partly attribute the exorbitant prices to an intricate and extensive drug research and development (R&D) and approval process, along with an equally complex healthcare system.

No doubt, we have benefited from innovations in the management of diseases for which there were few or no treatment options before. But opponents of the pharmaceutical companies argue that just a small percentage of the drug companies’ costs are used for R&D, with most of the money spent on administration and brand-name drug marketing.

Drug companies don’t tell the whole story behind the rising cost of prescriptions. There are third-party administrators known as pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), who are paid to negotiate prices between pharmacies and large insurers.ThesePBMscharge pharmacy providers either a percentage or a flat fee for every prescription filled, which contributes to higherdrug prices.

How Can You Save Money on Medication?

Consumers have options when it comes to getting the lowest prices on prescription drugs.

First, if you aren’t shopping around for medications at local pharmacies, using online coupons, or joining buyers’clubs at drugstores, you’re probably paying way too much.

Just because your pharmacist quotes you a price does not mean that’s the lowest price for that prescription. Comparison shopping for prescription medications can be as quick and easy as following the helpful tips below, reviewing a few websites, and printing some money-saving coupons.

12 Ways You Can Cut Your Drug Costs

These 12 surefire tips will help you save on prescription medications so that you can put the extra funds into other important uses.

1.Try Generic Drug Options

More than 80 percent of all drugs today aregenerics, which use the same active ingredients as brand-name medicines and work the same way but tend to cost a lot less than their pricey brand-name counterparts.

The cost-saving news is that manufacturers of generic drugs do not have to repeat the animal and clinical (human) studies that were required of the brand-name medicines to demonstrate safety and effectiveness. Also, the competition among multiple companies producing a generic version of a drug helps keep the prices low for consumers.

According to theFood and Drug Administration (FDA), to gain approval a generic drug must be the same as the brand-name product in the following ways:

Able to reach the required level in the bloodstream at the correct time and to the same extent

The manner in which it is taken (whether inhaler, liquid, or pill)

Strength

Testing standards

Use and effects

Working ingredients

Generics may differ from brand-name counterparts in terms of other characteristics that don’t affect the drug’s performance or safety, like flavorings.

What you should doTalk to your physician and pharmacistabout generic equivalents of your brand-name drugs and consider switching.

2. Search for Discount Coupons Online

A simple Google search of your prescription drug, over-the-counter medicine, or healthcare supplies will bring up pages of websites offering money-saving coupons.

Drug coupons cannot lower your copay, but your pharmacist may apply the coupon to your drug purchase to lower the price.

What you should doBefore you head to the pharmacy to fill a prescription, do a quick Google search to check for money-saving coupons and rebates.

3.Use an App to Compare Local Drug Prices

There are several websites and mobile applications that can help you find the best price available for a prescription drug.

One of the most widely used isGoodRx, which allows you to comparison shop and get coupons toward medications. GoodRx collects and compares prices and discounts that you didn’t know existed from more than 70,000 U.S. pharmacies, including CVS, Rite Aid, and Walgreens. It allows you to print free discounted coupons or send them to your phone by email or text message. You can then useaGoodRxdiscount instead of your health insurance or Medicare Part D or Advantage planif the cost is lower than your copay.

When you go to GoodRx.com, they will ask for the name of the drug, the dosage, the number of pills, and your zip code. Click the “Find the Lowest Price” button. You will see what you might pay at different chain pharmacies with a GoodRx discount coupon or voucher. You can then print or download the generated coupons and vouchers to your smartphone and show your pharmacist to get savings on your drug purchase.

Similarly,Blink Healthlets users browse local prices by simply searching for a prescription drug’s name. It also offers the option of having your medication delivered or ready for pickup. Another online and mobile service isOneRx, which lists drug prices in your area and offers discounts to consumers using the OneRx card.

RetailMeNot Rx Saveris a popular and easy-to-use app and program. Here you can search for prices on brand-name and generic drugs. Their coupons can be used an unlimited number of times at retail pharmacies such as Walgreens and CVS.

Other websites and mobile apps that offer drug coupons and rebates includeScriptSave WellRx,Easy Drug Card, andSearch Rx.

What you should doCheck out these and other no-cost prescription pricing services to see what pharmacies in your area charge for your medications.

4. Join Your Pharmacy’s Prescription Club

No insurance or not enough coverage? You can find in-store pharmacy prescription clubs at many drugstores. These money-saving programs can lower drug and supply prices.

Also, the in-store programs provide up to an 85 percent savings on thousands of prescriptions, including commonly prescribed generic medications for heart health,diabetes,asthma,mental health issues, women’s health, gastrointestinal health, and other conditions.

While these savings clubs are not health insurance, they can save you money at the pharmacy.

What you should doCompare different in-store pharmacy prescription clubs to get the best prices when checking out. In-store pharmacies at retailers like Walgreens and Kmart also offer prescription clubs.

5. Shop Local or a Preferred Pharmacy Network

Independent pharmacies may beat major chain drugstores, supermarkets, and big-box discounters on price — and by an impressive margin. Independents can also easily beat membership warehouses and clubs.

In contrast, the preferred pharmacy networkis a group of chainpharmaciesthat likely give insurance plans a larger discount than otherpharmacies.

The point is that drugstores have different prices — they can vary by hundreds of dollars — so be sure to ask ahead before you pick a specific pharmacy.

What you should doCall your local and preferred retail pharmacies before filling your prescription to find the lowest prices.

6.Use a Verified Internet Pharmacy

Verified internetpharmacies are those that have passed stringent reviews by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP). These pharmacies often include “.pharmacy” in their URLs to show that they are in compliance with the NABP, although some verified pharmacies are .coms or .orgs. They also carry the designation VIPPS, for Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Site.

While verified internetpharmacies have passed inspection and are deemed safe, be careful not to use a rogue internet pharmacy that is not verified. Check your internet pharmacy against theFind a Safe Sitelist to buy safely.

In a revealing 2018 study,Consumer Reportssent secret shoppers to 150 pharmaciesin six cities across the country to ask for the retail cash prices for a one-month supply of five commonly prescribed drugs — essentially the prices someone without insurance might pay. The wide range in prices they uncovered was shocking. While the five-drug “basket” cost was just $66 at the verified internetpharmacy HealthWarehouse.com, two national chain retailers had prices closer to $900 for the five drugs. (7)

What you should doIt pays to shop around, and don’t forget to check internet pharmacies like HealthWarehouse.com for greater savings.

7. Use Mail Order for Medications and Supplies

Many pharmacies offer online ordering for drugs, diabetic supplies, over-the-counter medicines, hair supplies, and even pet medications. And you don’t have to have insurance. After placing your order, you will receive the drugs and supplies in the mail. Make sure the pharmacy isVIPPS accredited and certified. Your doctor will send the Rx by e-prescription to the proper phone number.

What you should doGenerally, it will take one to five business days to process your mail-order prescription, so it’s important to plan ahead.

8. Get Free or Low-Cost Birth Control Online

Not only can you get great prices on medications online, but several newer websites also offer free or low-costbirth controlto women in many states.Planned Parenthood Direct,Nurx,PrjktRuby, andMaven Clinicoffer telehealth services, virtual clinics, and prescription drugs delivered right to your door — and no insurance is needed.

What you should doExplore telehealth services and virtual specialty clinics that can save you time and money on birth control and other necessary medications.

9. Talk Openly With Your Doctor

Be vocal with your doctor about any financial issues you may have, and be sure to try one or more of the following five things at your next office visit:

· Ask yourdoctorfor free samples or coupons. Doctors usually have samples and coupons given to them by drug reps. It doesn’t hurt to try a free sample pack before filling a pricey prescription to make sure this drug will work for you.

· Ask your doctor for a 90-day supply. This gives you one copay every three months instead of one every month.

· Ask about mail order. If your drug plan has a mail-order option, you may be able to get the 90-day supply of medications at an even lower cost.

· Ask about pill-splitting. Your doctor can prescribe a higher dose of medicine at the same price as the lower dose. You can split the drug in half or fourths to save. Scored pills are easier to split, but use a pill splitter (usually between $3 and $9 at most pharmacies) to avoid crushing the medication.

· Ask for an exception. If you and your doctor can’t find an affordable option together, speak with your insurer about making a formulary exception and providing coverage for your drug. The formulary is a list of prescription drugs covered by a prescription drug plan or another insurance plan offering prescription drug benefits. Your doctor will most likely need to submit a supporting statement, detailing that your drug is medically necessary and that any alternatives would have an adverse effect.

What you should doBe open and persistent. If your insurer denies your request for an exception, file an appeal. This requires that you work with your doctor to submit an application or letter of appeal.

10. Consider Patient Assistance Programs

Patient assistance programs (PAPs) are typically offered by pharmaceutical companies to provide free orlow-cost prescription drugs to patients who lack health insurance or prescription drug coverage. You will need to fill out an application on the drug company’s website with your financial information. Your doctor may need to provide information about your prescribed medications.

The drug company will review the application and tell you if you’re eligible for assistance. If approved, many companies will ship a supply of the drug to your home or your doctor’s office. Your doctor will need to place a new order several weeks before the supply runs out.

What you should doCheck outRxAssist.org, an online database of drug companies offering patient assistant programs that provide free or affordable drugs and copay assistance.

11. Learn More About Medicare Part D

If you are 65 years or older and on Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage, it’s important to understand how to get discounts on drugs. Medicare Part D is an optional program to help Medicare beneficiaries pay for prescription drugs. Medicare Advantage Plan is a type of Medicare health plan offered by a private company that contracts with Medicare.

The insurer’s formulary of drugs that they cover can change at any time, so be sure to check the prescription medications you take on the Medicare.gov site to find the best Part D plan that works for you.

While some people are able to use discount coupons with Medicare Part D, most cannot unless they’re paying cash only. Of course, if you have a coupon for a drug not covered by your prescription drug plan, you can use this to lower your costs.

What you should doTake advantage of online education such as theDrugs.com Medicare Support Groupto ask questions, share opinions, and stay up with the latest news. Also, check theMedicare.govsite for more understanding on how Part D works with other insurance.

12. Get It for Free, if You Can

Some large supermarket chains, including Publix, Harris Teeter, Schnucks, Price Chopper, Walmart, Sam’s Club, Costco, and ShopRite,will fill basic antibiotic prescriptions like amoxicillin for free. Read more..

THE LATEST U.S. NUMBERS (AS OF MAY 18, 2020, AT 6:58 P.M. EDT)

U.S. cases have surpassed 1.5 million and the country’s death toll is more than 90,000.TheJohns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Centermaintains an ongoing count of the COVID-19 cases and deaths in the United States and worldwide. As of May 18, the tally is:

· Total cases worldwide: 4,786,672 (up from 4,516,360 Friday)

· Total deaths worldwide: 317,695 (up from 306,051 Friday)

· Total recoveries: 1,776,641 (up from 1,622,354 Friday)

· Total cases in the United States: 1,506,732 (up from 1,432,045 Friday)

· Total deaths in the United States: 90,236 (up from 86,851 Friday)

New York has added another region to reopen Tuesday, with many beaches set to reopen Memorial Day weekend.On Monday, New York State Governor Andrew Cuomotold the mediathat the region around Buffalo could reopen on Tuesday, making it the sixth of 10 regions in New York State to meet the criteria to lift lockdown measures,according to CBS News. The Finger Lakes, the North Country, the Southern Tier, the Mohawk Valley, and Central New York reopened last week. Cuomo said that these areas have met the required benchmarks, including declines in infections, deaths, and hospitalizations, and having sufficient numbers of hospital beds to handle a surge.

The governor also announced Friday that state beaches in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Delaware will reopen the Friday before Memorial Day.As of June 1, horse racing tracks statewide can resume races without fans.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, however, said Sunday that city beaches will not reopen Memorial Day weekend or in the near term, and that fences will be built if people start gathering on beaches,according to CBS New York. On Monday, he said that if the current downward trending of infections and hospitalizations continues, the city could ease social distancing restrictions and permit nonessential businesses to reopen by June,according toNewsday.

Texas recorded its highest single-day rise in cases as the state continues to reopen.Over the weekend, Texas reported its biggest daily case count to date of 1,801,according toNewsweek. The surge may be partially due to outbreaks at meat plants and increased testing capacity. The state allowed stores and restaurants to resume business on May 1; gyms are set to reopen today.

More than two-thirds of states have begun to reopen.According toThe New York Times, this week Minnesota is set to reopen stores and malls, Kentucky is looking to lift restrictions on restaurants and stores, and Connecticut is allowing salons, museums, and office buildings to resume activities.

More than 11.8 million Americans have been tested so far.A total of 11,834,508 individuals have been tested in the United States for the detection ofSARS-CoV-2as of May 18, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center.

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New Developments

Initial human trials of a vaccine have yielded encouraging results.Phase 1 results of Moderna’s mRNA vaccine trial show that all participants who received varying dose amounts of the potential treatment produced antibodies for the novel coronavirus, according todata released on Mondayby the biotechnology company.

In the study, led by theNational Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), three groups of 15 healthy participants ages 18 to 55 received dosing at either a low-level amount (25 micrograms), a medium level (50 micrograms), or a high level (100 micrograms). Low- and medium-level doses were shown to be safe, but those in the high dose group had significant “systemic symptoms.”

Moderna will discontinue the high dosing in its Phase 2 trials and expects to move to Phase 3 trials in July. If those trials go well,The New York Timesreportedthat a vaccine could become available for widespread use by the end of this year or early 2021, according to Tal Zaks, MD, Moderna’s chief medical officer.

David Bernstein, MD, vice chairman of medicine for clinicaltrials at Northwell Health in Manhasset, New York, who is not involved in the research, told Everyday Health: “It is important for the public and researchers to have realistic expectations, and I would estimate that at best we are looking at a possible vaccine 12 to 18 months from now, assuming current trials are successful.”

The Federal Reserve chair said the economic downturn could go through the end of next year.On60 Minuteson Sunday, Federal Reserve ChairmanJerome Powellsaid that the economic slump “could stretch through the end of next year.” He added, however, that the country will get through the recession. “In the long run, and even in the medium run, you wouldn’t want to bet against the American economy,” he said. “This economy will recover.”

Vitamin D may help beat the virus.Arecent statistical analysis published in MedRXivof coronavirus patient data from hospitals and clinics across China, France, Germany, Iran, Italy,South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States found a strong link between severe vitamin D deficiency and mortality rates.An article inForbesreviewing the latest research regarding vitamin and COVID-19 concluded that the “jury’s still out on its effects.”

Trump announced that he is taking hydroxychloroquine.President Trump said he is taking daily doses of the antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine,according to CNN. The president has touted the drug as a potential coronavirus treatment amid questions about its effectiveness and potential side effects.

A study suggests summer weather could help the slow virus spread.A working paper posted last weekfrom researchers at Harvard Medical School and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology indicates that the warmer summer months could have some positive effects in blocking COVID-19. Temperatures above 77 degrees were linked to a reduction in transmission. The authors found a “negative association between temperature and humidity and transmission.” They warned, however, that the “estimated effects of summer weather are not strong enough to seasonally control the epidemic in most locations.”

Japan’s economy fell into a recession in the first quarter.The Wall Street Journalon Sunday reportedthat Japan’s economy, the third-largest in the world, contracted by 3.4 percent in the first three months of the year. The economy minister, Yasutoshi Nishimura, warned on Monday that data for the second quarter is expected to be worse, and he expects the economy to “shrink substantially for the time being.”

China supports a WHO investigation of the outbreak’s origin.Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Monday told the World Health Organization’s annual assembly that he backs an international review of the pandemic led by the WHO once the emergency has ended,reportedThe Guardian. Jinping also announced that China would donate $2 billion to the international fight against COVID-19 and offered to help establish hospitals and health infrastructure in Africa.

Trump officially unveiled Operation Warp Speed.On Friday, President Trump announced that Moncef Slaoui, the ex-head of GlaxoSmithKline’s vaccines division, and four-star Army General Gustave Perna will lead Operation Warp Speed, the administration’s effort to have a coronavirus vaccine ready by the end of the year,according to CNN. “Operation Warp Speed means big and it means fast,” Trump said.

Retail sales and industrial production dropped dramatically in April.The Census Bureau released data on Fridayshowing that retail sales fell 16.4 percent from a month earlier. This plunge comes on the heels of an 8.3 percent drop in retail sales in March. The Federal Reserve also reported that industrial production plunged a record 11.2 percent in April,according to the Associated Press.

A Gallup poll shows social distancing has dropped significantly.AGallup poll released Fridayrevealed that 58 percent of U.S. adults report completely (17 percent) or mostly (41 percent) isolating themselves, continuing a decline from a high of 75 percent the week of March 30 through April 5. The results come as more states are taking steps to reopen their economies.

Tens of thousands of autoworkers are returning to jobs.The Associated Press estimatedthat 133,000 autoworkers are due to pour back into auto plants that are reopening next week. Ford is predicting stronger sales in the future in Europe, China, and the United States as the lockdowns ease.

Loud talking may leave viral droplets in the air for up to 14 minutes, a study found.A single minute of loud-speaking generates at least 1,000 virus-containing droplets, according to astudy published this week in theProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. Researchers found that infectious droplets may hang in the air for 8 to 14 minutes. “These observations confirm that there is a substantial probability that normal speaking causes airborne virus transmission in confined environments,” write the study authors.

At 108, she may be the country’s oldest coronavirus survivor.Sylvia Goldsholl, who is 108 years old, maybe the nation’s oldest COVID-19 survivor,according toUSA Todayon Friday. The resident of the Allendale Community for Senior Living in New Jersey had the virus but made a full recovery. Goldsholl has also lived through the Spanish Flu Pandemic of 1918, which struck when she was 6 years old.

Almost three million people filed jobless claims, and the unemployment rate has hit 15.7 percent.The Department of Labor released datalast Thursday showing that 2.9 million new claims for unemployment insurance were filed in the previous week. About 36.5 million Americans have filed applications in the past eight weeks.CNBC called itthe biggest job loss in U.S. history. The unemployment rate has now rocketed to 15.7 percent, up from about 3.5 percent in February.

The ousted vaccine director warned lawmakers that the country lacks a vaccine plan.In testimony before the House Energy and Commerce Committee last Thursday, Rick Bright, Ph.D., former director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, told representatives that the United States lacks a plan to produce and fairly distribute a coronavirus vaccine when it becomes available,according to the Associated Press. He warned that the nation could face “the darkest day in history” unless decisive action is taken.

Dr. Bright was removed from his post last month after pushing for rigorous vetting of hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malaria drug embraced by President Trump as a coronavirus treatment. He fileda whistleblower complaintsaying he was reassigned because he tried to “prioritize science and safety over political expediency.”

The CDC has confirmed the link between a mysterious syndrome in kids and COVID-19.New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed the link between a rare syndrome in children with COVID-19,according to NBC New York. New York City has found at least 145 cases of children sickened by the illness.

TheCDC issued a health advisoryregarding multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). The condition has been seen in several U.S. states and European countries.

“Healthcare providers who have cared or are caring for patients younger than 21 years of age meeting MIS-C criteria should report suspected cases to their local, state, or territorial health department,” according to the CDC advisory.

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), children with this syndrome have symptoms resembling Kawasaki disease, including “persistent fever, inflammation, and evidence of single or multi-organ dysfunction (shock, cardiac, respiratory, renal, gastrointestinal, or neurological disorder), and may or may not test positive for COVID-19.” Read more..

CAN FAMILY PRACTICE PROVIDERS HELP SAVE A LIFE?

Today, we will talk about just a few of the many important reasons to have a family practice provider and the advantages it can bring to your healthcare experience. Continue reading this blog to find out more!Usually, family practice providers do not specialize in any particular area but have vast overall knowledge of medicines and treatments.

If you experience an illness, your family practice provider will not only treat you with medication but can also arrange a referral to a specialist if it is needed.

Advantages of Having A Family Practice Provider

There are many benefits to having regular, close follow-up visits with a family practice provider.We all know that disease and danger can come at any time, and the family practice provider acts as your partner in care during difficult times. He or she can help you navigate the murky waters of today’s healthcare climate to best meet your needs.

Here are some other advantages of having afamily practice provider.

· They offer support to achieve your personal health goals

· Care is provided to patients of all ages across the lifespan

· They take time to learn your personal history & your family history

· They offer assistance to help you fight against any disease

· They can help improve your life while saving you money

Research shows that developing a relationship with your family practice provider is the best way to ensure continuity in patient care, and continuity provides better health outcomes for patients.

Family practice providers are advocates for you and work with specialists and other health care professionals to provide patient-centered care.

Family practice providers can help manage chronic conditions such as weight gain and weight loss, heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis. They can also treat acute illness such as sinus infections and injuries.

Would you like to make anappointmentwith a family practice provider? If yes, no need to wait!

Get In Touch With an Innovative Family Practice Provider

Looking for a family practice provider? Then don’t hesitate to contact Innovative Urgent Care & Family Clinic! If you are in San Antonio, Bandera, or the surrounding areas, one of our providers can meet your needs. Our providers pride themselves on professionalism, compassion and timely patient care to get you on the path to health.

During this pandemic, we encourage patients to utilize ourtelemedicine services. We offer a video call format or even simple phone visits instead of coming into the clinic if this is more suitable to you. These are secure options to visit with your provider from anywhere…using your phone…at your convenience. The providers at Innovative Urgent Care & Family Health Clinic strive to offer personalized, patient-driven care and are committed to personally knowing each patient and their values. We want to know what your ultimate goal is so that we can provide an excellent healthcare experience. Read more..

SPORTS PHYSICALS? – CHECK OUT WHAT OUR PROVIDERS HAVE TO SAY

While sports physicals seem to be a mere formality, they can be the key to uncovering certain signs or symptoms that can indicate the potential for something serious happening during a sporting event. Since prevention is ultimately the best practice, part of our mission is to prevent sports accidents.

Let’s take a look at some common questions answered by the professionals and also how to best prepare for your sports physical.

What is the difference between a sports physical and the traditional physical exam? How often should patients get asports physical?

Generally, sports physicals are done annually by most schools and recreational or team sport organizations. The sports physical focuses on your well-being as it relates to playing a sport. It’s more limited than a regular physical, but it’s a lot more specific to evaluating for athletic issues. You should still continue to have regular traditional physical exams annually or per the recommendation of your primary care provider.

How long does a sports physical usually take?

Generally, it takes about 20-30 minutes to gather all the necessary information and complete paperwork.

What if a problem is detected during the physical?

If you don’t get the “OK” from us, does that mean you’ll never participate in sports? No! Based on the reason the patient is not being cleared for participation at the time of the visit, our providers will arrange appropriate follow-up, either back at our clinic or with a specialist for further evaluation.

What is a sports physical comprised of?

As mentioned above, a detailed history is taken followed by a head-to-toe physical. A detailed medication history is taken from the patient or patient’s parent regarding any past medical problems, surgeries, medications, immunizations, or other pertinent information. Vital signs and vision screening are performed. Then, an in-depth physical examination takes place, usually with a chaperone present. Our experts are examining carefully for any concerning or abnormal signs that would raise a red flag for sports participation. Lastly, the provider will fill out any necessary paperwork.

What makes sports physicals so important?

Sports physicals are important in determining an athlete’s medical capability to participate in sports safely. Sports can be demanding on the physique. Muscles are engaged and taxed, the heart rate is elevated, breathing is more rapid as the body requires more oxygen intake. These are just a few of the many changes the body can experience. Our providers want to ensure everything is working properly as it should so our patients can feel safe and confident in whatever activity they are participating in. Read more..

6 THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING A PEDIATRIC CLINIC

Choosing the right caregiver for your child is one of the more important decisions you will make as their parent. A pediatric clinic caregiver will play a very important role in the dynamic of your family as your child grows. The right caregiver will help ensure the health of your child is never compromised. He or she will also guide you through making decisions regarding treating your child and protecting their health. You can expect to see him or her pretty frequently, especially throughout the first year of your child’s life as there are six regular check-ups routinely; and let’s not forget those unplanned visits that come up.

Pediatric Clinic

1. Get Referrals and Do Your Research

In preparing to choose a pediatric caregiver, be sure to ask your family, friends, colleagues, and other trusted individuals for recommendations. When narrowing the list, check out things like officelocationand available hours. Make sure you could easily and conveniently access the provider you choose. Also, make sure you know which providers take your health insurance and who is accepting new patients.

2. Checking Credentials and Experience Is Important

You will want to ensure the caregiver you choose is comfortable with evaluating and treating infants, children, and adolescents. Pediatric specialists can include Family Nurse Practitioners, Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, Physicians Assistants, or Physicians. You can typically find credentials and educational background by searching reference websites online.

3. Read Patient Reviews

It is important to read other peoples’ opinions. This will give you insight into the patient and family experience both with the caregiver and his or her office staff. You can learn more about how he or she practices medicine and gauge if you may or may not agree with the methods used. You can also learn more about how the clinic flows including appointment scheduling, wait times, office environment, and behavior of the staff.

4. The Pediatric Caregiver Should Be Up-To-Date with Current Practices

Healthcare practices and medical treatments advance rapidly. Having a pediatric caregiver who participates in continuing education and stays updated with the latest research ensures the best care for your child. Be aware of this when choosing a caregiver for this capacity.

5. Are You on The Same Page?

Many healthcare providers allow you to meet them and ask questions about their style and practice philosophy. Your pediatric caregiver will be your advisor regarding the care of your new baby and you as a parent. Be open regarding letting him or her know how you prefer your child to be treated and nurtured. There are various approaches to parenting. Similarly, there are various approaches to treating a child medically. For this reason, it is very important to make sure you are on the same page.

6. Observe How the Pediatrician Interacts with Your Child

You should observe how thepediatric caregiver communicatesand interacts with your child. This will help ensure he or she is a good fit for your child or not. Infants and children can develop a special bond with their pediatric caregiver and the comfort level should only blossom as your child grows. Read more..