In this blog post, BPC’s Dr. Anand Parekh and BPC Action’s Kate Cassling urge policymakers to develop a plan to address vaccine safety and efficacy, production, distribution, prioritization, affordability, and public education to prepare for the extraordinary challenge of distributing a vaccine in record time.

Even before COVID-19, there were serious challenges to the delivery of primary care services in Medicaid, but the pandemic has further exacerbated the crisis. In this blog post, BPC’s Kevin Wu outlines recommendations from BPC’s recent report to improve services for this high-need population, increase access to services, and ease the burdens on hospitals and emergency rooms.

The federal government has provided vital support to states during the pandemic, but looming budget shortfalls could seriously derail efforts to improve primary care in Medicaid. In this blog post, BPC’s Lisa Harootunian highlights recommendations from BPC’s recent report that would provide pathways for Medicaid expansion, long-term funding to enhance services, and track state spending.

In this week’s episode, experts from our July 21st event discuss COVID-19's adverse impact on mental health access for people of color.

As the country grapples with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, food assistance programs continue to be a lifeline for struggling Americans. In this blog post, BPC’s Tyler Barton identifies ways to bolster these initiatives by creating flexibility in school meal programs, increasing benefits, and removing barriers to access.

On July 15, BPC joined with Tufts’ Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy for a discussion on strategies to improve nutrition research and coordination, public health, and the nation’s resilience to new threats. Dan Glickman, Former Agriculture Secretary and co-chair of BPC’s SNAP Task Force, moderated the panel.
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The incidence of mental health and substance use problems has increased dramatically due to COVID-19. The crisis is even worse for Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) populations, which have long experienced disparities in access to care. On July 21, BPC hosted an expert panel to discuss this alarming trend and the benefits of integrating behavioral health services with primary care, featuring keynote speaker Surgeon General Jerome Adams.
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In 2018, over 12 million Americans were “dual-eligible” for both Medicare and Medicaid. These individuals must navigate the programs separately, which can result in poorly coordinated care and worse health outcomes. On July 27, BPC released policy recommendations to provide a seamless experience for this vulnerable population and discussed the impact of COVID-19 on them.
Watch the Webcast.