DENVER – La salud de diversos grupos de Coloradeños -niños, familias que viven con bajos ingresos y personas de color- se está rezagando del resto, de acuerdo al Colorado Health Report Card 2015 (Reporte de Desempeño en Salud 2015), dado a conocer el jueves en la Legislatura Estatal.

El Reporte recibido por Colorado muestra que los Coloradeños no obtuvieron puras A’s de calificación. Los adultos quedaron primeros del país en cuanto a actividad física, y a mantener la obesidad y la diabetes bajo control. Pero los niños -especialmente los pobres y los de color- quedaron significativamente abajo de sus contrapartes con ingresos más altos.

Sara Hughes, directora de investigación en la Campaña por los Niños de Colorado, dice que los pequeños necesitan más acceso a la atención a la salud. También necesitan acceso al tipo de ambientes donde las familias pueden tomar decisiones saludables.

“Si en tu área tienes acceso a un parque que sea seguro, te será más factible salir, correr, llevar a tus niños a los juegos, que si tienes ingresos bajos y vives en una comunidad de bajos ingresos y hay crimen en la comunidad.”

Hughes informa que el Reporte de Desempeño en Salud 2015, dado a conocer el jueves por la Legislatura, muestra que el estado necesita enfocarse en los niños de bajos ingresos y niños de color. El documento indica que la mortalidad infantil de bebés Afro-Americanos es más del doble que la de niños blancos; y que las mujeres hispanas tienen menos posibilidades de recibir atención prenatal que otras mujeres.

Más de uno de cada cinco niños de Colorado viven en una familia de ingresos bajos. Hughes dice que contactarlos en su edad infantil marcará una gran diferencia en cuanto a prevenir condiciones crónicas en su vida adulta, tales como diabetes y padecimientos cardíacos. Hace la observación de que los malos resultados en materia de salud se traducirán en una fuerte presión financiera para el futuro del estado.

“Así que asegurar que los niños tengan hábitos saludables cuando son jóvenes, y acceso a los cuidados necesarios para permanecer sanos, nos afectará a todos.”

En otro reporte, los adultos con bajos ingresos también calificaron bajo en comparación con los que ganan salarios altos. Por ejemplo, sólo 15 % de los adultos mayores que viven con 75 mil dólares al año o más, reportaron mala salud. Pero de los que viven con 10 mil dólares al año o menos, 43% reportaron mala salud.

El Reporte de Desempeño de Colorado en Salud 2015 está disponible (en inglés) en el siguiente enlace: Colorado Health Report Card 2015.


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After more than 50 years of use, some Michigan lawmakers say naloxone may not be the best choice in an overdose situation.

Naloxone is sometimes called the "Lazarus drug" because of its powerful ability to seemingly resurrect people after a drug overdose.

Sen. Kevin Hertel, D-St. Clair Shores, and some of his colleagues have introduced a bill which would open the door for what they say are more costly, but more powerful, antidotes.

"Given the prevalence of fentanyl in our communities, and how much stronger some of these drugs that we're now seeing are, we believe -- and in talking with others -- that there should be other tools to respond to an overdose," Hertel explained. "To make sure we're doing everything we can to save somebody's life."

Not everyone is on board with the proposed legislation, Senate Bill 542. Opponents argued the more expensive naloxone alternatives are not necessary, and using them would only increase profits for the pharmaceutical industry.

Jonathan Stoltman, director of the Opioid Policy Institute in Grand Rapids, said while the naloxone alternatives do help in overdose situations, they can also cause nasty side effects.

"The newer approaches, they put people into more severe withdrawal," Stoltman pointed out. "That's a pretty profound negative side effect. The one approach is very inexpensive and works great; the other approach is far more expensive and has this strong negative side effect."

Sponsors of the bill say they're hoping to give Michigan residents a chance to chime in on the issue in a public hearing sometime in June. Michigan saw more than 3,000 opioid overdose deaths in 2021.


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New Mexico saw record enrollment numbers for the Affordable Care Act this year and is now setting its sights on lowering out-of-pocket costs - those not reimbursed by insurance. More than 56,000 New Mexicans are enrolled in a medical health insurance plan on the state exchange - an increase of 12,000 people overall.

Colin Baillio, deputy superintendent with the state's Office of Insurance, said the state has boosted its outreach and made efforts to improve the overall consumer experience.

"We saw a 40% year-over-year increase, and New Mexico saw the biggest percentage increase during the open-enrollment period among all of the state-based marketplaces," he explained

Part of the enrollment increase is due to what's called the "unwinding" - a federal directive that required all states to redetermine Medicaid eligibility following a three-year pause on checks during the COVID pandemic. He said by using expanded tools made available by the federal and state government, 8% of New Mexico's population is now uninsured - down from 23% in 2010.

Following approval by lawmakers in the 2024 legislative session, the New Mexico governor signed seven health care-related bills into law - one of which requires annual reporting of prescription drug pricing. Baililo said the Affordable Care Act built the foundation that has allowed the state to pursue additional affordability initiatives.

"I'm really glad to see that there's so much interest in the next step of health reform, really leaning into these out-of-pocket cost issues and making it easier for people to afford to stay covered and see their doctors," he continued.

Two years ago, the state also passed a one-of-a-kind law that did away with behavioral health co-pays for people in certain insurance plans.

New York's medical aid-in-dying bill is gaining further support. The Medical Society of the State of New York is supporting the bill. New York's bill allows terminally ill people with only six months to live to use this option, with safeguards requiring two physicians' approval.

The bill's Assembly sponsor Amy Paulin, D-Westchester, said despite the growing support, other hurdles lie ahead.

"Now we have what I believe, if it came to the floor, a majority. There's still a hesitation on the part of leadership. You know, we need members to assure leadership that they no longer have reservations," she said.

Other newly resolved concerns center on making sure insurance companies and doctors who don't support this aren't held liable. She's optimistic the bill will pass after nine years in the Legislature. New York would be the 11th state along with Washington, D.C. to have medical aid in dying legislation.

Corinne Carey, senior New York campaign director with Compassion and Choices finds the pandemic drew a vivid picture of a person's end-of-life experience. There were images of people dying on ventilators, apart from loved ones, and unable to communicate. She said people began thinking about a "good death."

"And, what is a good death is being surrounded by loved ones, having some measure of control, experiencing the touch of your loved ones, and being the one in the driver's seat," she explained.

Now people have different options for end-of-life care, each of which presents various challenges. Polls show medical aid in dying has garnered considerable support since being introduced in 2015. A 2022 Compassion and Choices poll finds 57% of nurses support medical aid in dying professionally, although fewer support it personally.