Delaware Becomes the First State to Hold Statewide Lung Cancer Screening Event

The American Cancer Society (ACS) has partnered with hospitals and imaging facilities across Delaware to present National Lung Cancer Screening Day (NLCSD) as a statewide event. On Saturday, November 11, representatives from the Bureau of Cancer Prevention and Control within the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) will be on-site at several imaging facilities. Delaware is the first state to have all the health systems and major imaging facilities formally collaborate to support lung cancer screening and open weekend hours to address screening barriers for those that can’t make it Monday through Friday.

Lung cancer is one of the deadliest forms of cancer and is estimated to claim the lives of over 127,000 Americans this year. According to the latest Cancer Incidence and Mortality in Delaware report, lung and bronchus cancer was the leading cause of death from cancer in the First State (38.4 deaths per 100,000 population) in 2016-2020. Lung and bronchus cancer are also the third most common type of cancer (56.9 cases per 100,000 population) following prostate and female breast cancer. Only a small percentage of individuals get recommended screening tests, and 1 in 10 people at higher risk get screened nationwide.

The partnership with ACS asks that healthcare providers open their doors on the second Saturday in November for low-dose CT lung screenings (LDCT). By opening on a Saturday, individuals who have already been referred for LDCT can access screening without having to take a day off work. It will also raise awareness among those in the community who may not know about early detection of lung cancer.

“We are excited to help host Lung Cancer Screening Day and bring together the community to prioritize lung health,” said Cancer Prevention and Control Bureau Chief Dawn Hollinger. “By increasing awareness and providing access to screenings, we aim to save lives by detecting lung cancer at its earliest stages when treatment options are most effective.”

LDCT screenings are quick, painless and can help save lives. The following locations offer lung cancer screenings to Delawareans during National LCS Day: 

  • Bayhealth

302-744-7060 (Kent County)

302-430-5707 (Sussex County)

www.bayhealth.org

 

  • Beebe Healthcare

302-645-3278

www.beebehealthcare.org

 

  • ChristianaCare

302-623-0552

www.christianacare.org/lung-screenings

 

  • Delaware Imaging Network

877-990-2121

www.delawareimagingnetwork.com

 

  • TidalHealth

410-543-7006

www.tidalhealth.org

For more locations, visit the Lung Cancer Screening Locator Tool at https://www.acr.org/Clinical-Resources/Lung-Cancer-Screening-Resources/LCS-Locator-Tool.

To participate in National Lung Cancer Screening Day in Delaware, individuals are encouraged to contact their local healthcare provider to determine their eligibility and schedule an appointment. It is important to note that screening eligibility criteria may vary, but generally include individuals aged 55 to 80 who have a history of smoking or exposure to environmental risk factors.

The National Lung Cancer Screening Day aims to stimulate screening across the board. Health systems, clinicians and patients are encouraged to make lung cancer screening a year-round priority rather than waiting until November. For more information, visit https://www.healthydelaware.org/individuals/cancer/lung#intro or https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/lung-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/detection.html.

Delaware Celebrates Health for All on One Health Day and Every Day

To recognize the interconnectedness between the health of people, animals and the environment we share, the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) celebrates One Health Day on November 3, 2023. Today, we are awakening to the fact that without open discussions and mutual understanding, we are unable to solve issues such as climate change, pandemics and food insecurity. According to DPH, the One Health approach helps us work together towards a common goal: preserving tomorrow starting today.   

In the United States and around the world, One Health is gaining popularity as an effective way to combat zoonotic diseases and other health issues. By involving experts from human, animal, environmental and other relevant disciplines and sectors, the CDC monitors and controls public health threats and learns about how diseases spread among humans, animals, plants and the environment. Efforts to improve public health require the cooperation of partners from the fields of animal, human and environmental health. The interaction between animals, humans and the environment cannot be handled by one person, organization or sector alone.   

After the Ebola crisis in Africa and the Avian Influenza outbreak in the U.S. in 2014, Delaware began embracing the One Health concept. During this time, One Health was called a “New Beginning.” A number of health concerns are shared by people, animals and the environment, including emerging, re-emerging, and endemic diseases, neglected tropical diseases, vector-borne diseases, antimicrobial resistance, food safety, food security, environmental contamination and climate change.    

“Animals also share our susceptibility to some diseases and environmental hazards,” said State Public Health Veterinarian Dr. Doug Riley. “Because of this, they can sometimes serve as early warning signs of potential human illness. For example, birds often die of West Nile Virus before people in the same area get sick with West Nile Virus infection.”   

There are a number of areas that One Health can address in Delaware, including:   

  • Infections caused by antibiotic-resistant germs can quickly spread in communities, food supply, healthcare facilities, and the environment, such as in soil or water.  
  • Warmer temperatures and more mosquito and tick habitats are causing vector-borne diseases to rise.  
  • Animal diseases threaten supplies, livelihoods and economies.  
  • Animals can help improve mental well-being.  
  • People and animals may become sick from contaminated water used for drinking, recreation and other purposes.  

Collaboration across all sectors allows a One Health approach to achieve the best health outcomes across people, animals and plants through:   

  • Preventing outbreaks of zoonotic disease in animals and people    
  • Improving food safety and security   
  • Reducing antimicrobial-resistant infections and improve human and animal health  
  • Protecting global health security  
  • Protecting biodiversity and conservation  

“We must embrace the reality that we are all interdependent and that our home, Mother Earth, needs to be cared for and nurtured,” said Riley. “By promoting collaboration across all sectors, a One Health approach can achieve the best health outcomes for people, animals and plants in a shared environment.”   

For more information about One Health initiatives, visit: https://www.dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dph/epi/onehealth.html  or call 302-744-4990.   

Open Enrollment on Delaware’s Health Insurance Marketplace Starts Nov. 1

NEW CASTLE – Delawareans seeking coverage for 2024 will find more choice in insurers and plans than ever before on the Health Insurance Marketplace in the 11th year of open enrollment.

The marketplace’s open enrollment period started today, Nov. 1, and ends Jan. 15, 2024. Consumers can renew existing coverage or sign up for a new plan at www.HealthCare.gov. Coverage for enrollees who sign up by Dec. 15 and pay their first month’s premium will be effective Jan. 1.

Individuals who don’t act by Jan. 15, 2024, cannot get coverage for 2024 unless they qualify for a Special Enrollment Period based on circumstances such as a loss of qualifying health coverage, change of income, becoming a parent, or other qualifying factors.

Delawareans have four insurers to choose from this year, one more than the year prior, and a total of 55 plans compared to 30 plans last year. Insurance Commissioner Trinidad Navarro announced in June that a new insurer – Celtic Insurance Company Ambetter Health of Delaware – would join Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware, AmeriHealth Caritas, and Aetna CVS Health in offering coverage on the marketplace for 2024.

“All Delaware families need access to affordable, quality health care,” said Governor John Carney. “This year, individuals have the most options available since the marketplace began 11 years ago. With four insurers and 55 plans, I encourage all Delawareans to closely consider those selections, especially small-business owners, independent contractors, and individuals who don’t have access to health insurance through an employer. Please make your health a priority.”

Plans on the marketplace are spread among metal-level categories – bronze, silver, gold, platinum and catastrophic – and are based on how enrollees choose to split the costs of care with their insurance company. Bronze plans have low monthly premiums but high costs when you need care; gold plans have high premiums but lower costs when you need care. In a silver plan, the insurer pays about 70% of medical costs and the consumer pays about 30%. Consumers who pick silver health care plans might also qualify for additional savings through discounts on deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance.

For 2024:

  • Aetna CVS Health will offer six plans – two gold and four silver.
  • AmeriHealth Caritas will offer seven plans – one gold, three silver, one bronze and two expanded bronze.
  • Celtic/Ambetter Health of Delaware will offer 24 plans – eight gold, eight silver, and eight expanded bronze.
  • Highmark will offer 18 plans – three platinum, six gold, three silver, five bronze, and one catastrophic.
  • Two dental insurers – Delta Dental of Delaware, Inc. and Dominion Dental Services, Inc. – will offer a collective 12 stand-alone dental plans on the marketplace seven with a low actuarial level (pay less monthly, but more when you get dental services) and five with a high actuarial level (pay more monthly, but less when you get dental care). Delta Dental will offer two plans, one high and one low, while Dominion Dental will offer 10 plans, four high and six low.

“As recently as the 2022 plan year, Delawareans had just one insurer and 12 plan options to choose from. This Open Enrollment, you’ll find four carriers and more than 50 plan options. Improving health care accessibility and affordability across our state is one of my top priorities, and I’m proud that our work has led both options and enrollments to an all-time high,” said Insurance Commissioner Trinidad Navarro. “I encourage you to contact your trusted navigators so you can find the right plan for the coming year.”

All plans on the marketplace offer essential health benefits such as coverage of pre-existing conditions, outpatient care, emergency services, hospitalization, prescription drugs, mental health and substance use disorder services, lab services, pediatric services, birth control, and breastfeeding coverage. In addition, coverage cannot be terminated due to a change in health status.

“Providing access to high-quality, affordable health care is one of the ways that we can improve the overall health and well-being of Delawareans,” said Department of Health and Social Services Secretary Josette Manning. “We are grateful that this open enrollment period offers the highest number of plan options in the marketplace’s 11-year history and appreciate the stability the Biden administration, our congressional delegation, the Insurance Commissioner, and our own reinsurance program have all brought to the marketplace. I encourage everyone to visit HealthCare.gov for a look at the affordability of the available plans and how the coverage can fit into your family’s budget.”

“Health care is a right, not just a privilege for the few,’ said U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Acting Region 3 Director Melissa Herd. “The health insurance marketplace offers high quality, affordable health coverage options for Delawareans.”

Assistance for Delaware enrollees

Consumers can go to HealthCare.gov or CuidadodeSalud.gov now to explore their options for 2024 coverage, and they can enroll anytime between Nov. 1 and Jan. 15, 2024.

Delawareans who need help enrolling in coverage will have access to free in-person assistance from federally funded and trained specialists at Westside Family Healthcare (statewide) and Quality Insights, Inc., (New Castle and Sussex counties) and by certified application counselors at Henrietta Johnson Medical Center in Wilmington and La Red Health Center in Georgetown. Westside and Quality Insights each received increased federal funding for navigators to help people enroll for coverage.

State-licensed insurance agents and brokers are also available to help individuals re-enroll and to help employers update their coverage, at no extra charge.

For more information, go to www.ChooseHealthDE.com. Delawareans can enroll in marketplace coverage at HealthCare.gov or by calling 1-800-318-2596 (TTY: 1-855-889-4325).

Support from Congressional Delegation

Delaware’s U.S. senators and representative urged uninsured Delawareans to find out what’s available for them on the marketplace.

“Open enrollment begins today, and quality, affordable health care coverage is available to everyone on the health insurance marketplace,” said U.S. Senator Tom Carper. “Health insurance navigators are available at no cost to help Delawareans review plans and pick the best one for themselves and their families, and I encourage Delawareans to get covered without delay.”

“For 11 years, the Affordable Care Act has provided quality, affordable health care coverage for Delawareans,” said U.S. Senator Chris Coons. “I urge Delawareans to explore open enrollment, find the plan that works best for them, and gain the peace of mind that comes with ensuring that they and their families are covered.”

“The pandemic showed us just how critical access to quality, affordable health care is, and I am committed to ensuring that Delawareans can get the care they deserve,” said Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, member of the House Health Subcommittee. “As we mark the beginning of the open enrollment period, I want to encourage Delawareans to utilize HealthCare.gov to find an affordable health care plan that works for them and their families. Don’t wait to get covered – open enrollment ends on January 15th!”

In addition to the Health Insurance Marketplace, some residents might be eligible for coverage though Delaware’s expanded Medicaid program, which is open year-round. To be screened for or to apply for Medicaid benefits, visit Delaware ASSIST.

Treat Yourself to a Healthy and Safe Halloween

Halloween is hauntingly around the corner. While it is known for its fun, costumes and candy, Halloween can also be a little scary for parents and pet owners – but it doesn’t have to be! The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) offers health and safety tips for a safe and fun celebration this Halloween.

“Creep” It Healthy with These Treats

Halloween can be a fun and exciting holiday for people of all ages, but it can also be difficult to stay on track with healthy eating habits. To help satisfy a child’s sweet tooth, consider opting for healthier and commercially wrapped alternatives such as:

  • Mini bags of fresh fruit and vegetables such as apples, raisins, grapes, carrots, or celery.
  • Mini bags of dried fruit or vegetable “chips.”
  • Squeeze fruit, fruit chews, or fruit rolls.
  • Mini bags of trail mix made with whole grain cereals.
  • Peanut butter in single-serve containers.
  • Individually packaged granola, cereal, soy, yogurt, and fig bars.
  • Mini bags of pretzels, animal crackers, mini rice cereal or granola bars, or whole grain cheddar cheese crackers.
  • Small bottles of water.
  • If candy is served, choose bite-size candy bars that are lower in fat and sugar.
  • Non-food treats like pencils, crayons, glow sticks, or bottles of bubbles.

Remember: Whether it’s candy or a healthy sweet snack like fruit, after the snacking is done, grab your toothpaste and toothbrush. Moderation is also key when it comes to indulging in Halloween treats. You can still enjoy the occasional candy or cookie but try to limit your intake and practice portion control.

Stay Safe with These Tricks

As fun as Halloween can be, there are some traditions that can be a bit dangerous as well. For the safety of all Halloween participants, follow these tips:

  • Parents should walk with their children when trick-or-treating and stick to familiar neighborhoods. Do not let them go alone. Teach children never to go into strangers’ homes or cars. In case young children become lost, put a nametag with two phone numbers on their costumes. Children should know their home phone number and how to call 911.
  • Choose light-colored costumes that are labeled “flame-retardant,” meaning the material will not burn. Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape or stickers and, if possible, choose light colors. Since costume masks can sometimes obstruct a child’s vision, try non-toxic face paint and makeup whenever possible. Make sure all costumes are appropriately sized to reduce trip and fall hazards.
  • At home, turn on outside lights and remove any tripping hazards.
  • Walk on well-lit sidewalks and driveways with flashlights. Use crosswalks and never assume that vehicles will stop for pedestrians. Insist that trick-or-treaters walk, not run or ride bicycles at night.
  • Teens and adult drivers should learn what day and time your city/town is holding trick-or-treating hours and be especially alert for children during these times.
  • Avoid candles and other flames.
  • Stay away from unknown or unattended pets.
  • Before eating any candy or treats, inspect them carefully to ensure they are safe to consume. Discard treats that are unsealed, have holes in the packages, are spoiled, or are homemade treats that were not made by someone you know. To prevent choking, do not allow young children to have hard candy or gum.

Finally, let’s not forget Halloween safety for our pets: Halloween can be stressful for pets. Doorbells ringing and strangers coming to their doors make some pets very anxious. All but the most social dogs and cats should be kept in a separate room away from the front door during peak trick-or-treating hours.

  • Candy can cause illnesses, vomiting and diarrhea in pets. Make sure you keep candy in a safe place out of your pets’ reach. Don’t let your children “share” their Halloween treats (especially chocolate) with the family pet.
  • Pet costumes are cute, but make sure it’s a good fit for your animal. Make sure the costume does not limit his or her movement, sight or ability to breathe, bark or meow. Check the costume carefully for small, dangling or easily chewed-off pieces that could present a choking hazard. If you put it on and your pet seems overly anxious, then it’s best to let them be their glorious selves.
  • Make sure your pet is properly identified (microchip, collar and ID tag) in case it escapes through the open door while you’re distracted with trick-or-treaters.
  • Keep lit candles and jack-o-lanterns out of reach of pets.

DEA National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day for Delaware is October 28th

Delaware will hold its 25th National DEA Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on Saturday, October 28, 2023. Delawareans can discard their expired or unused medications at locations statewide between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Sharps disposals for needle disposal will be available at select locations, as well as overdose response education with free Narcan available at select locations. 

Organized nationally by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Prescription Drug Take-Back Day is operated locally by the Division of Public Health (DPH). The twice-a-year event is aimed at reducing the risk of prescription medications being diverted for misuse and has resulted in 114,470 pounds of medication being collected in Delaware since 2010. Properly discarding unused medications through this event is an important ongoing activity in the effort to address the nationwide opioid epidemic. Doing so reduces the risk of addiction by keeping prescription medications out of the hands of people who may misuse, abuse, or divert them and helps reduce the risk of drug overdoses. 

Help reduce the risk of having unused prescription drugs in the house by participating in this free event. Addiction can begin with easy access to prescription medications in the homes of someone they know. Many misused prescription drugs are obtained from family or friends.  

A total of 4,200 pounds of unneeded medication were collected at 23 Delaware locations on October 29, 2022.   

In addition to the sites participating in National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day activities, there are permanent medicine drop-off locations available year-round. In addition to medicine drop-off locations, DPH and community partners also distribute Deterra bags (medication deactivation bags) to use at home.  

The medications to be disposed of at the Take-Back Day locations must be in a container such as a pill bottle, box, blister pack, or zipped plastic bag, with personal information removed. Liquid medications must be in their original containers. Besides medications, vape pens and e-cigarettes will be collected if the batteries are removed. Twenty (20) locations in Delaware are currently participating in the National Prescription Drug Take-Back event. You can find the current list of locations here: https://www.dea.gov/takebackday. 

Delawareans can bring any used needles to be disposed of properly at the Laurel, Milton, Middletown and Wilmington police departments. The used needle disposal containers are only for the public and not commercial entities. Individuals will need to sign a waiver stating that needles are from home use. Outside of healthcare facilities, an estimated 7.8 billion injections occur a year according to solid waste and recycling organization Waste 360. The safest way to dispose of needles is to use a designated Sharps disposal container which is delivered to incinerators to avoid accidental exposure. 

To further enhance overdose prevention and education efforts, six of the DEA National Prescription Drug Take-Back locations (Wilmington, New Castle, Middletown, Dover, Milford, and Laurel Police Departments) will also offer Overdose Response Training and Narcan distribution to the public. It is recommended that anyone who has a prescription for opioids or has friends and family who use opioid prescriptions or illicit drugs receive this training and the overdose reversal medication, Narcan. For other community trainings and where to get free Narcan, visit: https://www.helpisherede.com/addiction/prevention 

If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction in Delaware, call DHSS’ 24/7 Crisis Hotline to be connected to treatment and recovery options. In New Castle County, call 1-800-652-2929. Or in Kent and Sussex counties, call 1-800-345-6785. For free 24/7 counseling, coaching, and support, as well as links to mental health, addiction, and crisis services call the Delaware Hope Line at 833-9-HOPEDE. To search online for treatment and recovery services in Delaware or nearby states, visit HelpIsHereDE.com.