Here’s what’s happening in health in Rhode Island:

  • DHS SYSTEM: Officials report some ongoing problems with the state’s new online benefits system, and some resolutions. The multi-million dollar system was meant to replace a number of decades-old legacy systems and make it easier for Rhode Islander to determine their eligibility for and apply for benefits like food stamps. But the roll out has faced serious problems. Officials say clients are waiting in long lines, employees have had difficulty logging in to the system, and some account data for Medicaid and HealthSource RI clients transferred incorrectly. Officials say they’re working to resolve the problems.
  • INSURANCE CREDITS: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates an additional 4000 Rhode Islanders could be getting tax credits to help pay for their health insurance when they buy on the state’s online marketplace, HealthSource RI. Read the HHS analysis here: HHS analysis. 
  • HACK-A-THON: Students and the public are invited to join “HealthHacks RI 2016,” a so-called hack-a-thon to tackle health and wellness problems, the weekend of October 14.  The idea is for small teams to try to “identify a problem related to aging, diet/nutrition and medical technology and brainstorm, design, build and pitch a practical solution,” says URI. That should be something tangible, like a design for a smart home that enables seniors to live more independently. Cash prizes will be given and the public gets to vote for its favorite “hack.” For more information visit https://healthhacks.ele.uri.edu./.
  • MENTAL ILLNESS WALK: On Saturday, Oct. 22, the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Rhode Island (NAMI) invites the public to help end the stigma associated with mental illness by participating in NAMIWalks Rhode Island at the Temple to Music, Roger Williams Park, 1000 Elmwood Avenue, Providence. The 3.5-mile walk kicks off at 10:15 am. More information at www.namiwalks.org/rhodeisland.
  • DEMENTIA STUDY: Researchers at Rhode Island Hospital are recruiting participants for a study of the use transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) as a treatment for frontotemporal dementia—“a group of neurodegenerative brain disorders that cause a progressive breakdown of language abilities.”  The project is a collaboration between Rhode Island Hospital, Bradley Hospital, and Brown University. According to the organizations, “TMS is a noninvasive investigational device that stimulates the brain from outside the head to affect the function of specific brain areas. An electric current creates a magnetic field next to the patient’s skull and stimulates a portion of the brain.” For details, email:  memory@lifespan.org.