Dr. Doug Olsen, MD; Chief Medical Officer Medicaid/CHIP, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. He is our first guest today and will discuss the importance of the flu vaccine and how CMS is helping eligible children and teens obtain health coverage through Medicaid and CHIP. Many parents may have held off on getting immunizations or postponed medical appointments for their children due to COVID-19. For uninsured kids in families with limited incomes, Medicaid and CHIP offer eligible children and teens up to age 19 access to routine and emergency care, eye exams, dental visits, mental health services, prescriptions, and other care. And this gives parents peace of mind. Eligibility is dependent on household size and income and varies by state. On average, a family of four earning up to $50,000 a year or more may qualify for Medicaid or CHIP. To get more information, call 1-877-KIDS-NOW (1-877-543-7669) or visit the “Find Coverage for Your Family” section on InsureKidsNow.gov
Dr. Hunter Cherwek, global ophthalmologist; Vice President, Clinical Services, of Orbis International . We will learn how an innovative nonprofit is continuing to treat patients and train doctors during the global pandemic. Did you know at least one in seven people live with visual impairment or blindness that is completely avoidable. Often something as simple as getting a routine cataract surgery or a pair of glasses is all that is needed to change a person’s life. He will discuss the work that Orbis is doing to combat this issue. For more information please visit www.orbis.org
Our last guest today is, Dr. Ingrid Taylor, veterinarian and research associate for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. She will discuss despite all the evidence from scientific studies funded by NIH that animals are sentient, and despite a wealth of modern-day alternatives, the agency continues to fund deadly experiments on them. In response to this practice, PETA is calling on the government to acknowledge that animals are living feeling beings and end of animal experiments. For more information, please visit www.PETA.org