Kara Gavin

Plymouth

Medical Writer at Michigan Health Lab

Science/medical writer & media relations @umichmedicine & @UM_IHPI with focus on #healthpolicy #mentalhealth #aging & #primarycare . Fellow of @aaas. J! bronze

Articles

What does Medicaid do?

1 week ago | michiganmedicine.org | Kara Gavin

No matter where you live in the United States, or where you get your health insurance, you probably know people who have Medicaid coverage for their health care. After all, Medicaid covers nearly 80 million people right now. Most of them are older adults, people with disabilities, children and pregnant women. But many others also rely on it too. That’s one out of every five people in the U.S., all of them with low incomes.
Medicaid unwinding linked to opioid addiction treatment disruptions

1 week ago | michiganmedicine.org | Kara Gavin

The first group included the states where the percentage of people with Medicaid dropped the most from the month before unwinding began to the end of 2023: Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, West Virginia and Wyoming. The second group was states with the smallest percentage drops: California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, Virginia and Wisconsin.
To keep high risk patients out of hospitals, at-home monitoring shows promise

1 month ago | michiganmedicine.org | Kara Gavin

For someone with heart failure, very high blood pressure, or severe COVID-19, going home from the hospital can feel like falling off a cliff. Suddenly, they lose the round-the-clock monitoring of their vital signs that can give early warning of a potential health crisis. And those missed signs can lead to another trip back to the hospital within days or weeks. It’s an expensive and life-disrupting cycle. It also contributes to crowded emergency rooms and hospitals for everyone.
Medicaid telehealth study shows positive impacts

1 month ago | michiganmedicine.org | Kara Gavin

The ability to have an appointment with a doctor or other health care provider by video visit or telephone call has improved access to care for people with low incomes in Michigan’s Medicaid expansion program, a University of Michigan study finds.
U-M study: Investing in COVID-19 vaccine paid off for U.S.

1 month ago | record.umich.edu | Kara Gavin

Five years ago, volunteers rolled up their sleeves in the first clinical trial of a vaccine against COVID-19, as the new pandemic surged around them. By a year later, 66 million American adults had gotten at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, at no cost to them. Now, a study shows how wise that national investment in testing, buying and delivering those first vaccines was.
COVID-19 analysis shows that US investment in vaccine more than paid off

1 month ago | medicalxpress.com | Kara Gavin

Five years ago, volunteers rolled up their sleeves in the first clinical trial of a vaccine against COVID-19, as the new pandemic surged around them. By a year later, 66 million American adults had gotten at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, at no cost to them. Now, a new study shows how wise that national investment in testing, buying, and delivering the first vaccines was.
Quitting menthol cigarettes is extra hard, but a new U-M study will test the best way to do it

1 month ago | michiganmedicine.org | Kara Gavin

Nearly half of Americans who smoke use menthol cigarettes that are harder to quit, driving up their health risks with every puff. Now, a new University of Michigan study will test the best way to help people who smoke menthol break that habit. The five-year, multimillion dollar study, funded by the nonprofit Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), will work with 1,200 adults who smoke menthol cigarettes.
Life Sciences Orchestra blends science and music for 25 years

1 month ago | record.umich.edu | Kara Gavin

On a recent Sunday night, musicians began tuning up for rehearsal in a hall at the School of Music, Theatre & Dance building on North Campus. One was in scrubs. A few were just days away from finding out where they had matched for residency after medical school. And one came straight from the lab, because the cells he’s growing for his doctoral work had not cooperated with the rehearsal schedule.
Weather emergencies affect older adults' health views

1 month ago | michiganmedicine.org | Kara Gavin

Nearly 3 out of every 4 older Americans have experienced at least one extreme weather event in the last two years, a new University of Michigan poll finds. And living through such an event appears to make a big difference in how they view the potential impact of climate change on their health. The new findings from the National Poll on Healthy Aging show that 59% of people aged 50 and over are concerned about how climate change could affect their health.
Does getting ADHD drugs via telehealth increase addiction risk?

2 months ago | michiganmedicine.org | Kara Gavin

For nearly five years, people with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder have had the option of getting their stimulant medications prescribed and renewed by doctors they see only over a computer screen, despite the risks that these stimulant drugs can pose if misused. But with expiration dates coming up for the telehealth rules that made this possible, a study offers key evidence about the safety of virtual ADHD care that could inform policymakers.

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Kara Gavin @karag

7 May 25

Some big numbers in here about the potential impact on Michigan if federal #Medicaid dollars are rescinded: https://t.co/DO9pcqK5LO

Kara Gavin @karag

6 May 25

Stress is running super-high in teens right now. Please know the warning signs and make sure they know about calling or texting 988 for help.

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline @988Lifeline

May is #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth. Learn the warning signs of suicide risk in young people, and if you notice these signs in yourself or others, it's important to take them seriously. If you or someone you care about needs support, text, chat, or call 988. 💜 #MHAM https://t.co/No4s8umj9h

Kara Gavin @karag

2 May 25

RT @UM_IHPI: NEW: We've just released #poll data showing most older Americans mistakenly think #Medicare will pay if they need to move into…