TOP NEWS
THANK YOU! Happy New Year and THANK YOU for your support which makes all our work possible! We closed out 2022 with a series of important accomplishments, including a flood of legislative victories that will protect lung health for all Americans.
Have You Tested for Radon? January is National Radon Action Month. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer. This January, we’re urging you to learn more and test your home for radon.
- What is it? Radon is an odorless, tasteless and colorless naturally occurring radioactive gas emitted from the ground.
- How does radon get into your home? Radon gas can enter a home through cracks in floors, basement walls, foundations and other openings.
- How is it dangerous? Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the US, responsible for an estimated 21,000 deaths each year.
- How do you test your home for radon? DIY affordable & easy tests are available to test your home.
- Want to know more? Take the Lung Association’s Radon Basics free, online course.
FY23 Federal Funding Bills Loaded with Wins for Lungs! The year-end federal funding package gave us much to celebrate in the New Year! It includes important healthcare and health equity legislation that will protect better lung health for all. The American Lung Association has worked non-stop for these provisions. Highlights include:
- Critical increases in topline funding for CDC, EPA and NIH.
- Funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) through 2029;
- Children under 19 who are eligible for CHIP or Medicaid will have continuous healthcare coverage for one year once they qualify, regardless of any changes in their family’s income;
- A five-year extension of Medicaid funding for Puerto Rico and funding for other territories was made permanent.
- Postpartum Medicaid coverage for 12 months for pregnant persons was made permanent in the 37 states with current coverage.
- Funding for telehealth in Medicare for an additional two years;
- Provisions to enhance diversity in clinical trials; and
- The Legacy IRA Act, which allows seniors to make tax-free contributions from their individual retirement accounts to charitable 501c3 organizations.
Go Tobacco Free in 23! The start of the new year is the perfect time to go tobacco free. While tobacco use has been declining for decades, more than 30 million Americans still smoke cigarettes and 47 million use at least one tobacco product. Through the new “Tobacco-Free ‘23” campaign, the Lung Association is working to increase awareness of the many resources, programs and services we offer in creating a tobacco-free future in the new year.
American Lung Association Honors Conference of National Black Churches for Work to Address COVID-19 Health Disparities – In December, Harold Wimmer, our National President and CEO and Cheryl Calhoun, Chair of our National Board of Directors presented the 2022 Community Health Impact Award to the Conference of National Black Churches (CNBC) for their work to educate the Black community on COVID-19 and encourage vaccination. Learn more.
Big Opportunity to Tell EPA to Set Stronger Soot Limits – The Lung Association has been calling on EPA for years to tighten the national limits on particle pollution, also known as soot, because the current limits aren’t strong enough to keep everyone’s lungs safe. In January, EPA proposed updating the limits, but not enough to match what the science shows is needed to protect health. Please help tell EPA to finalize truly protective limits on soot by adding your name at Lung.org/stronger-standards.
SUPPORT THE LUNG ASSOCIATION
Climb Stairs to Show You Care! Our Fight For Air Climbs are rapidly approaching. Now’s the time to sign up and show your support for healthier lungs! There are opportunities near you throughout the year for you to help drive our lifesaving mission. Explore our events that appeal to a full range of interests.
LUNG CANCER
LUNG FORCE Hero: Aaron shares the inspiring story and how his lung cancer diagnosis rekindled his desire to get active in his community, encourage others to be positive and create positive change wherever he can.
ASTHMA
Severe Asthma Educational Webinar: February 15, 2 p.m. CT: Please join us for our upcoming educational patient webinar: Learning to Understand and Manage Severe Asthma. This webinar will feature an expert speaker who will provide educational information and resources for patients living with asthma and their caregivers. Lung Association staff will also provide additional resources patients can use for assessing asthma control and to discuss personal asthma management with their provider. Register today
RESEARCH
Important Proposal Urges Accelerated Efforts Toward Asthma Relief – Nationwide asthma experts, including many members of our Airways Clinal Research Centers network, have released a widely circulated proposal paper that calls for the United States to accelerate the implementation of reliever combination ICS-formoterol inhalers in asthma. Asthma has a high prevalence with increased morbidity and mortality due to income, race, and minority status. Effective treatment requires an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS)-containing treatment. This proposal paper discusses new inhaler approaches for asthma, factors contributing to increased morbidity and mortality, challenges to treatment in a real-world application, such as drug costs, and more. It also recommends treatment be transitioned from prescription to over the counter. The paper’s recommendations, if widely adopted, could result in significant improvements in the lives of those with poorly controlled asthma.
TOBACCO
Lung Association and American Academy of Pediatrics Partner to Help Teens Quit All Tobacco Products: More than three million middle and high school students use at least one tobacco product and more than 2.5 million use e-cigarettes. To address this crisis, and help teens quit or never start, the American Lung Association and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) have launched Ask, Counsel, Treat (ACT) to Address Youth Cessation. ACT for Youth Cessation is a one-hour online course based on the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Youth Tobacco Cessation: Considerations for Clinicians that aims to teach healthcare professionals, school personnel and others how to conduct a brief intervention for teens who use tobacco. Learn more.
EACH BREATH BLOG
With colder weather here, many are turning to woodburning stoves and fireplaces for heat. But did you know that emissions from burning wood pose many health risks? Learn more in our blog “What You Need to Know About Your Wood-Burning Stove and Heater.”
Get Your 2023 Firefighter Calendar Now
The Lung Association is honoring firefighters and first responders who competed in the Fight For Air Climbs across the nation to raise awareness and funds to support our vision of a world free of lung disease. Top firefighting fundraisers are featured in the annual calendar alongside fire-safety tips, stats on how fires affect our lung health and more. Order yours today!
Thank you, Volunteers!
As we reflect on our many accomplishments of the past year, we want to thank our priceless volunteers across the country. Whether you attended a program, are an e-advocate, storyteller, event participant, one of our thousands of trained volunteer health program facilitators, or volunteer in your community in your own unique way - We salute you! Your generosity and devotion drive our lifesaving mission. Happy New Year and THANK YOU for all you do!
Blog last updated: August 25, 2023
