CMS News
| For Immediate Release: | Contact: |
| Wednesday, July 11, 2001 | CMS Office of Public Affairs 202-690-6145 |
For questions about Medicare please call 1-800-MEDICARE or visit www.medicare.gov. |
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CMS AWARDS $350,000 GRANT TO COOK COUNTY, ILL., FOR ASTHMA PROJECT
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) today announced a $350,000 grant to the Cook County, Ill., Bureau of Health Services to help improve care for asthma and health status among low-income and minority people living in poor urban areas within the county.
CMS, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services which administers the Medicaid and Medicare programs, will oversee the project. CMS is the new name for the Health Care Financing Administration.
"The prevalence of asthma has grown by epidemic proportions over the past 20 years," Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson said. "Poor people and minorities suffer from asthma at a disproportionately high rate. This project will help expand access to quality medical care and improve health outcomes for people in those groups."
CMS approved a grant application for the Asthma Champion Initiative from June 1, 2001, through May 31, 2002. Funded through an appropriation in the fiscal year 2001 budget, the initiative's primary goals are to create two clinical centers of model asthma care; develop culturally appropriate educational materials; train a group of physicians, nurses and other medical personnel who work in areas where asthma is highly prevalent; and provide services for patients who receive emergency department care for asthma.
In addition, the Cook County Bureau of Health Services will assess the work sites of trained providers, known as Asthma Champions, and integrate the Asthma Champion approach with related activities in the Chicago metro area. The grant also requires Cook County to share any data and results with CMS, particularly with regard to Medicaid beneficiaries.
The number of Americans afflicted with asthma nearly doubled between 1980 and 1996. Asthma now affects nearly 15 million Americans, including nearly 5 million children.
Although asthma affects Americans of all ages, races and ethnic groups, low income and minority populations experience significantly higher rates of emergency room visits, hospital admissions, and death due to the disease. From 1993-1995, there were an average of 38.5 deaths per million from asthma in African-Americans, compared to 15.1 per million in whites. In addition, research has indicated that low-income and minority groups are less likely to obtain quality medical care to treat their asthma.
