How to resolve AdBlock issue? 
North Carolina --December 16,2022: Because of a limited-time telemedicine program launched by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services i
n collaboration with StarMed Healthcare, people who test positive for
COVID
-19 will have better access to treatments, especially those who are uninsured or don't have a primary care doctor.
Treatment as soon as a test comes back positive is essential for preventing serious sickness and hospitalizations, and it
may also lessen difficulties from illnesses that develop after COVID has cleared the body, a condition known as late COVID.
North Carolinians who have tested positive for COVID-19 via an at-home test or other technique will have access, while funds last, to free telemedicine sessions to screen for treatment eligibility. Visit https://starmed.care/nc or contact staff
at 704-941-6000 any day of the week between 9 AM and 7 PM to schedule an appointment. Oral antiviral therapy, such as Paxlovid, can be prescribed by a telemedicine practitioner and sent to the patient's local pharmacy or a mail-order pharmacy.
"Authorized COVID-19 treatments like Paxlovid can prevent hospitalizations and save lives if started within five days of symptoms," said NCDHHS Assistant Secretary for Public Health and State Public Health Officer Dr. Susan Kansagra.
"Everyone, especially people at high risk of getting very sick from COVID-19, should have a plan to contact a health care provider right away if they test positive. This telemedicine program offers another option for quick access to lifesaving treatments."
It is not necessary to show identification or have health insurance to use this telemedicine screening service.
StarMed Healthcare will submit insurance claims, and NCDHHS will pick up any remaining costs.
The cost of your appointment will be waived if you do not have medical insurance. Individuals can obtain antiviral medication in pill form at no cost to themselves.
Starting this week, StarMed's online registration form for telemedicine appointments will be available in eight languages, including English and Spanish. Through an on-demand interpretation service, we can provide consultations in over 200 more languages. There is also the option of an ASL interpreter. Midway through December, the telemedicine program will begin, and it will operate until the money runs out, which is expected to be around mid-March.
The COVID-19 dashboard at NCDHHS shows rising patterns yet again. This year's flu and RSV outbreaks have put a strain on hospital resources. If you want to help, getting vaccinated and immune-boost against COVID-19 is one option. In order to prevent the spread of COVID-19, it is important for all children and adults over the age of 6 months to maintain a complete vaccination and booster schedule. Visit MySpot.nc.gov to locate a vaccination center in your area. The CDC recommends annual flu shots for everyone 6 months and older. Go to MySpot.nc.gov/flu for location details and other relevant info.
The NCDHHS stresses the importance of being ready in the event of a COVID-19 illness.
Even if you are fully vaccinated, it is always a good idea to keep a home test on hand and take it if you develop symptoms or have had close contact with someone who has COVID-19. Five days should have passed since the last time you were in close touch with the person to be tested. Visit MySpot.nc.gov/FindTests for details and to locate tests, including free at-home testing (Spanish).
Isolate yourself per CDC recommendations if your test comes back positive. If you are having problems breathing or experiencing any other symptoms, get medical help right once. Effective therapies for COVID-19 are currently in development, which will hopefully reduce the likelihood of serious health complications. To schedule a telemedicine appointment, go to MySpot.nc.gov/FindTreatment (Spanish) or call 704-941-6000.
StarMed Healthcare managed 750 testing locations throughout 29 counties in North Carolina and provided over 900,000 diagnostic tests and over 500,000 vaccinations during the epidemic.
Those who test positive for COVID-19 and do not have health insurance or access to a primary care physician will have better access to treatment thanks to a short-term telemedicine program launched by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services in partnership with StarMed Healthcare. Receiving treatment quickly after testing positive is a critical component in preventing a severe illness and hospitalization, and treatment may even lessen the risk of complications from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), often known as COPD prolongation.
Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Kody H. Kinsley said, "In North Carolina, more than a million people do not have medical insurance, which has made it difficult for many to have access to attunement for the COVID, as well as for other diseases." It has been said that "this initiative provides temporary support to provide care to many people in rural and historically marginalized communities. But we still need long-term investments to close this gap in health insurance coverage.
As long as funding allows, residents of North Carolina who have tested positive for COVID-19 through any means (including at-home tests) will have access to free telemedicine appointments to determine whether or not they are eligible to receive treatment. Booking an appointment can be done at https://starmed.care/es/nc/. Please contact us at (704) 941-6000. The phone is available Monday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. If a telemedicine provider determines that a patient meets the criteria for receiving oral antiviral treatment, like Paxlovid, the patient can either pick his or her preferred pharmacy to fill the prescription or get the medication through a mail-order pharmacy.
Dr. Susan Kansagra, NCDHHS undersecretary and state health official, said, "The COVID-19 authorized treatments such as Paxlovid can save hospitalizations and save lives if taken within the five days after symptoms begin." "People at high risk of severe illness from COV-19 should make preparations to notify a medical care provider right away if they test positive for the virus. This telemedicine initiative provides an additional means of rapidly gaining access to lifesaving treatments ".
This telemedicine assessment service is offered regardless of medical insurance and does not necessitate proof of identity. StarMed Healthcare will bill your health insurance company and NCDHHS will cover any costs not covered by your plan. Even if you don't have health insurance, you won't have to pay anything for your appointment, and antiviral medication will be provided at no cost to you.
StarMed's registration form is currently available in English and Spanish, and will be translated into six additional languages by the end of the week. Consultations are available via an interpretation service in over 200 languages. American Sign Language interpretation services are also offered. From about the middle of December until about the middle of March (when it is expected that funding will run out), the telemedicine program will be active.
According to data from NCDHHS's COVID information table, COVID trends are on the rise once again. The influenza and respiratory syncytial virus outbreaks this year have overwhelmed hospital resources. Vaccinating yourself and getting the booster dose against COVID-19 can help you avoid getting sick in the first place and can also help you deal with the situation at hand. Adults and children older than 6 months should be up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccinations and booster shots. Visit Vacunate.nc.gov to look up a local vaccination center. People over the age of 6 months should get a yearly flu shot as well. Visit Vacunate.nc.gov/gripe to learn where vaccination centers are located and for further details.
The National Center for Chronic Disease Health and Safety encourages everyone to stay prepared, so that they know what to do and where to go if they become ill with COVID-19.
Keep at-home tests handy and take one if you develop symptoms or close contact with someone who has COVID-19, even if you're up-to-date on your vaccinations. Make the test after five days have passed since that close encounter. Visit Vacunate.nc.gov/Pruebas for more information and to locate testing locations, including at-home, no-cost testing.
If the test comes back positive, it's important to stay isolated from others and follow the CDC's quarantine guidelines. Seek immediate medical attention if you're having trouble breathing or showing any other warning signs. Available treatments for swine flu A/H1N1 can lessen the likelihood of hospitalization or death. To schedule an online telemedicine appointment, call (704) 941-6000 or visit Vacunate.nc.gov/BuscarTratamiento for more information.
Over the course of the pandemic, StarMed Healthcare ran 750 testing sites across 29 North Carolina counties, conducting over 900,000 tests and administering over 500,000 vaccines.
WNCTIMES by Marjorie Farrington
