NEW ULM — Asthma patients should breathe easier after Brown County commissioners unanimously approved application of up to $3,000 in grant funding for Asthma Home Based Services (AHBS) Tuesday.

Brown County Public Health Director Jaimee Brand talked about why the services are important. She said patients would be referred to public health staff by schools and other community entities.

Brand said meeting with families at home creates opportunities to provide individualized patient education, review asthma action plans and assessing patient questions in a comfortable environment.

“It’s important that asthma patients understand what triggers may cause their asthma to flare up and learn ways to reduce exposure or eliminate triggers as much as possible. What may trigger a person’s asthma is very specific to that individual. Some of the more challenging triggers are inside the home–tobacco smoke, dust mites, mold, saliva and danger from furry and feathered pets and pests like cockroaches and mice,” said Brand.

She said the grant can help identify and engage schools and other entities that may serve as referral sources, develop program structure, include initial and follow-up visits, use validated asthma control assessment tools and demonstrate correct inhaler use.

Brand said home environment assessments will be made through observation and questions and educate people about environmental triggers.

Grants can help determine if its feasible to collect data to learn if visits improve patient ability to control their asthma.

After an at home based services program is established at Brown County Public Health, the service is billable as a home visit to insurance.

“I think it’s a good idea to apply for this grant to help people dealing with asthma learn how they can make their lives better,” said Commissioner Brian Braun. He made a motion to approve grant application, seconded by Jeff Veerkamp.