Health4all : Free and Cheap Health Care #7

Health4all

Every year more Alaskan families lose health insurance and can't afford health care. Every year more families with health insurance cannot afford to use it because of expensive out-of-pocket charges. Every year more Alaskan elders with Medicare are refused treatment by local physicians. And every year health care in Alaska continues to cost 30 percent more than down south. These problems are a reflection of the crisis across the nation. Not surprisingly, the United States ranks last in preventable deaths compared to 14 Western European nations. We have a lot to talk about.

Lawrence D. Weiss retired from UAA in 2004 as a research professor in public health. He designed and built the Master of Public Health program at UAA, and has published three books and numerous articles on public health and health policy issues. He completed a post-doctoral degree at Harvard School of Public Health in 1982, and has been in Alaska ever since. His favorite expression is "facts matter." Occasionally he can be found in a local pub drinking beer and eating pizza while engaged in passionate conversation with friends.

Free and Cheap Health Care #7

Posted by health4all

Posted: February 22, 2008 - 3:15 pm

In this blog posting, the seventh in a series on free and cheap health care in Alaska, I would like to introduce you to health fairs. Health fairs feature health education exhibits, models, and learning centers. People of all ages can be actively involved in learning about health and wellness, and health fairs are offered all over Alaska.

Numerous health screenings are offered at Alaska Health Fairs. These screenings might include blood pressure screenings, height and weight, BMI/body fat, vision screenings, dental screenings, glaucoma screenings, hearing, etc. The Basic Stations include:

Registration
Blood Pressure
Height/Weight
Visual Acuity (near and far only)
Evaluation and Checkout

The last station, Evaluation and Checkout, provides an opportunity for individual counseling, review of test results and health history, attention to potential risk areas, determination of personal health goals, referral to medical care, and answers to health questions. Volunteer health professionals such as nurses, doctors and physician assistants staff this station. All interaction between health professionals and health fair participants is confidential. Special Stations include:

Blood Chemistry tests (participants receive blood test results in the mail approximately four weeks after the test)
Breast Health
Glaucoma
Pap Smear
Tuberculosis skin tests
Hearing
Colorectal
Foot
Oral Hygiene and Cancer
Skin Cancer
Immunizations (excluding flu shots)

Most of the screenings and services are free at a health fair, but there are modest charges for some tests. Prices at a recent health fair included:

Comprehensive Blood test, $40 (see details--you need to fast for 12 hours and drink water)
Thyroid Blood Test Screening, $30
Prostate Blood Test Screening, $30
Rectal health screening, $5

Health Fairs are offered all over Alaska. To find out when the next one will be held in your area, visit the Alaska Health Fair website, or call 907.278.0234.

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Free and Cheap Health Care #7