As the third wave of Covid-19 spreads across the country, doctors, nurses and other medical professionals are being forced to work longer hours, see more patients and handle the emotional toll of coronavirus misinformation being spread by family, friends and neighbors. Many have expressed concern for their physical and mental health.
Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) announced at a recent hearing that it will request a budget increase of $80 million for Fiscal Year 2022, to cover a surge in Medicaid enrollments caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Public commenters at the hearing urged DHSS officials to fund school wellness programs, ensure equitable wages for direct support professional and expand disability services.
An analysis of almost 500,000 private insurance claims revealed that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are about three times as likely to die from Covid-19 than people with no other health conditions. The study found that developmental disabilities and intellectual disabilities were first and third, respectively, on a list of health conditions such as heart failure, chronic kidney disease, leukemia and lung cancer, that make Covid-19 more deadly.
Based on campaign promises, Joe Biden’s health care agenda during his time as president would include strengthening the Affordable Care Act, creating a unified coronavirus strategy implemented by infection disease experts and expanding Medicare and Medicaid eligibility and services.
When she won her 2020 race to become a state representative in Pennsylvania, Jessica Benham became the first state congressperson to have disclosed her autism diagnosis while running for office. Benham is also bisexual. Two other members of state legislatures have disclosed their autism diagnoses after their elections. The 2020 elections also saw firsts in political representation for gay Black men and transgender women, among others.
