Friday, January 17, 2025
1/17/2025
New Hampshire (NH) has remained in the top 5 for asthma burden for adults and children in the past 4 out of 5 years. BRFSS 2022 data estimates that 13.1% of adults and 5.3% of children in NH have asthma. Within this high-burden state, specific populations experience especially high rates of asthma. BRFSS data, 2018 – 2022 shows the following: adult women (15.4%), multiracial, non-Hispanic individuals (17.2%), people with less than a high school education (18.4%), and people with less than $15,000 annual income (30.6%) all have higher asthma prevalence. Hospital Discharge Data lends insight into geographic areas with higher rates of Emergency Department (ED) visits for asthma for both children and adults, specifically the cities of Manchester and Nashua, as well as the Coos, Sullivan, Carroll counties, and several high burden areas of Strafford County. Building on existing infrastructure and partnerships, the New Hampshire Asthma Control Program (NHACP) aims to reduce the burden of asthma in these high burden areas by improving access to complete and interdisciplinary asthma services for the families that need them most. Through strengthening coordinated care, expanding asthma self-management education (AS-ME) and environmental home assessments through Mobile Integrated Healthcare (MIH) programs, and promoting guidelines-based medical management the NHACP will work towards improving the health and quality of life for people living with asthma. Throughout the proposed four-year grant period, the NHACP will work toward this goal through the maintenance of current infrastructure, embodied in state leadership and a statewide asthma collaborative, and through the implementation of EXHALE strategies in NH’s high burden communities. To increase access to asthma self-management education (AS-ME), the NHACP will conduct educational sessions with providers, caregivers, and through community programs such as Granite YMCA, as well as promote culturally appropriate asthma educational tools and trainings for partners. The program will increase access to asthma education and home assessments for triggers by continuing to support and expand on the MIH model. Building a referral system, along with targeted provider outreach, will increase linkages and improve the coordination of care for children and families navigating asthma services and programs. An important component of this system will be connection to community-based housing, childcare, transportation, and faith-based organizations to help identify those in need of asthma-related supports and services and to help address factors that contribute to health inequities. Partnership is foundational to advancing the goals of the grant. The NHACP will continue to convene the Asthma Learning Collaborative which brings partners together to support one another and advance the goals of the Asthma Strategic Plan, which will be updated in the early part of the grant. The NHACP will also partner with the state Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program (TPCP) and other chronic disease programs which reach similar focus populations to leverage resources. All these initiatives will be complemented by work to achieve Medicaid reimbursement for asthma home visiting programs and AS-ME and supporting NHACP partners toward sustainable financing. With such coordinated efforts of key stakeholders implementing evidence-based interventions throughout the high burden areas, communities will e xperience reduced hospitalizations and stronger health outcomes. The NHACP’s evaluation and surveillance infrastructure will continue to guide the program’s work, assess its efforts to achieve its goals, and inform any mid-course corrections needed to enhance effectiveness and impact.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).