The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is working with domestic and international partners in an international response to the current Ebola outbreak in West Africa. CDC has developed key messages about the outbreak and responses to cases of the Ebola Virus Disease.
  

Patient Being Tested for Ebola at D.C.'s Howard University Hospital

A patient with Ebola-like symptoms is being treated at Howard University Hospital in Washington, D.C., a hospital spokesperson confirmed late Friday morning.

The patient had traveled to Nigeria recently.

• What You Need to Know: How the Ebola Virus Is Spread

That person has been admitted to the hospital in stable condition, and is being isolated and tested. The medical team is working with the CDC to determine whether the patient has Ebola.

"In an abundance of caution, we have activated the appropriate infection control protocols, including isolating the patient," said hospital spokesperson Kerry-Ann Hamilton in a statement. "Our medical team continues to evaluate and monitor progress in close collaboration with the CDC and the Department of Health."

Primary Care Rate Increase:  Considerations Beyond 2014

The Medicaid primary care rate increase, enacted under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), requires Medicaid programs to reimburse qualified primary care services at Medicare levels in 2013 and 2014. Funded entirely by the federal government, the rate increase was designed to increase access to Medicaid primary care services. Federal funding for the increase will cease as of December 31, 2014, raising questions about next steps for states. Prior to the rate increase's implementation, Medicaid programs paid, on average, 66 percent of Medicare rates for all services and just 58 percent of Medicare rates for primary care services.  A new brief from the Centers for Health Care Strategies looks at the impact of the increase in PCP payment, recommendations to improve the program should states elect to continue it, and more.  

Rep. John Sarbanes (D-Md.) wants to use retrained physicians returning to the work force to ameliorate the nation's primary care physician shortage. He has introduced the Primary Care Physician Reentry Act, which would provide training and financial assistance to these returning doctors.  In return for this assistance, the physicians would serve at Community Health Centers , VA medical centers or school-based health centers to help fill the shortage of primary care doctors. The legislation would establish a grant program for medical schools, hospitals and non-profit organizations to create or expand their physician reentry programs that give physicians a streamlined process for credentialing and continuing medical education to return to medical practice after an absence. Rep. Sarbanes in an online interview said he will reintroduce the bill in the new 2015-16 Congress and that he expects bipartisan support. .

Fiscal Year 2015 Affordable Care Act New Access Point (NAP) Grants (HRSA-15-016)

Gearing up for Marketplace Open Enrollment

Choose Health Delaware is the state's official program for health care reform and the Health Insurance Marketplace and is focused on reaching the uninsured and underinsured to increase their access to high-quality, affordable health care.

Through August, more than 22,000 Delawareans had enrolled in health care coverage either through private coverage purchased on the Marketplace or through the state's expanded Medicaid program. The Marketplace's next open-enrollment period, for coverage in 2015, starts November 15 and ends February 15, 2015.  If you've recently moved, gotten married, had a child or experienced a similar life-changing event, you might qualify to enroll in coverage before November 15.  And qualified applicants can enroll in coverage through Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) throughout the year.

There are many reasons to get covered through the Health Insurance Marketplace:

• Free checkups. Annual checkups and preventive care, including mammograms, vaccinations and screenings, are all covered - without a co-pay. That means free.
• Prescription drugs, emergency services, maternity and newborn care, mental health and substance abuse services are all covered, too.
• Health insurance companies compete for business, so consumers can compare offers and choose the best plan for them.
• You are prepared if a crisis hits. Having health insurance means you're prepared for any health crisis - from a car-accident injury to a sudden illness or unexpected health condition. Health insurance can also help you avoid health issues before they become major problems.
• Financial help. People with moderate and low incomes can get financial help to offset the cost of premiums and out-of-pocket expenses.
• It's the law. If you or your dependents don't have insurance that qualifies as minimum essential coverage you'll pay a penalty.  The penalty for being uninsured in 2015 will be whichever of these amounts is higher: 2% of your yearly household income(only the amount of income above the tax filing threshold, $10,150 for an individual, is used to calculate the penalty) or $325 per person ($162.50 per child under 18).  You'll pay the fee on your 2015 federal income tax return. Most people will file this return in 2016.

All 2014 Marketplace health plans will come up for renewal in 2015. Those who signed up for coverage in 2014 will receive notices from the Marketplace shortly before November 15, explaining the automatic enrollment process and how they can return to the Marketplace to see if they qualify for additional financial assistance and shop for plans. Consumers will also receive notices from their insurance company about their new 2015 premium and the amount they may save on their monthly bill with a premium tax credit.  

Generally, if consumers do nothing, they will be automatically enrolled in the same plan with the same premium tax credit and other financial assistance, if applicable, as their 2014 plan.  

Getting covered has already made a difference for many Delawareans. "My life has improved a lot," says Felipe Hernandez, a 25-year-old machine operator from Wilmington and a married father of a toddler. He's used his new coverage to pay for prescriptions and get a physical exam and other preventive care. "I feel less stress and more hopeful about the future for me and my family," Felipe says. "I want to buy a house, and having health insurance will help keep me out of debt."

The state's Marketplace Guides, who are trained and certified to educate residents about their health insurance options and to help them enroll, are available to provide free in-person assistance throughout the state.  Visit www.ChooseHealthDE.com for a list of where Marketplace Guides will be available and for more information on the Health Insurance Marketplace and Delaware's expanded Medicaid program.