OLYMPIA, Wash. -- La legislación de Olympia crearía un año de seguro de atención de largo plazo para los washingtonianos, a través de una deducción en la nómina.

Con una población que envejece rápidamente, ¿cómo brindará el estado de Washington cuidados de largo plazo? Muchos grupos creen que una solución es la legislación bipartidista conocida como la Ley de Fideicomiso de Cuidado a Largo Plazo ("Long-Term Care Trust Act"). Estel novedoso programa ofrecería seguro de atención a largo plazo a través de una deducción en la nómina de aproximadamente un medio del uno por ciento. De esa manera tales fondos podrían cubrir completamente el costo promedio de un cuidado de largo plazo durante un año.

Marita Gupta, co-directora del grupo Cuidados a Través de Generaciones ("Caring Across Generations"), dice que esta legislación sería especialmente útil para los 830 mil cuidadores familiares de Washington que atienden a sus padres "Baby Boomers".

"Viven mucho mas tiempo que antes -unos 20 anos mas que cuando se puso en su lugar nuestra red de seguridad. Asi que necesitamos mas apoyos para el cuidado de los mayores y mucho del peso financiero actualmente recae en las familias."

Gupta dice que es importante que Medicare no cubra la atención de largo plazo. El miércoles, el Comité Camaral sobre Atención a la Salud y Bienestar celebró una audiencia pública sobre la Iniciativa "House Bill 2533". Hoy, el Comité Senatorial sobre Salud y Atención de Largo Plazo ("Senate Comitee on Health and Long Term Care") tiene una audiencia pública sobre su ley complementaria.

El profesor de ciencias políticas de la Universidad de Hawaii, Lawrence Nitz, está en Olympia apoyando las iniciativas. El año pasado Hawaii aprobó una legislación similar que brinda beneficios a los trabajadores cuidadores. Nitz dice que este tipo de legislación es crucial no sólo para mantener bajos los costos de la atención a la salud en los presupuestos estatales. También permite a los cuidadores familiares seguir trabajando.

"Cada vez que tenemos alguien que abandona la fuerza laboral innecesariamente, cuando un poco de dinero podria haberle mantenido ahi, es una perdida para la economia. Perdemos todo su salario y eso aumenta muy rapido."

Gupta dice que los seguros de cuidados de largo plazo en el sector privado típicamente benefician sólo a la gente rica, porque son los únicos que pueden pagarlos durante mucho tiempo.

"Tendremos millones de familias que lucharan y haran piquetas para cubrir sus necesidades de cuidados, y muchas que caeran en las grietas. Asi que la urgencia es ya, la oportunidad es ya, antes de que alcance ese nivel de crisis."

La legislación recibe apoyo de una amplia gama de grupos, incluyendo la Asociación de Atención a la Salud de Washington ("Washington Health Care Association"), el capítulo estatal de la Asociación Alzheimer's, Casa Latina y la unión de cuidadores SEIU 775.

La iniciativa HB 2533 esta (en ingles) en leg.WA.gov.


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Access to reduced-price medication is a necessity for many rural Missourians with low income.

Rep. Cindy O'Laughlin, R-Shelbina, the Senate Floor Leader, said Big Pharma is trying to confuse legislators with unrelated hot-button topics such as abortion access and illegal immigration in a last-ditch effort to stop the state from joining a program to force drugmakers to sell medicines at a discount.

"Appealing to nuclear topics, which really do not apply in this situation, is a disingenuous way to try to defeat a bill that is actually good for Missouri," O'Laughlin asserted.

O'Laughlin pointed out the program is transparent, and uses the tax money saved to help low-income families deal with chronic conditions such as diabetes.

The drugmakers object to the government forcing them to give significant discounts, arguing hospitals' and for-profit pharmacies' bottom lines, particularly those owned by pharmacy benefits managers, are being exploited. Nationally, 46% of contract pharmacy agreements involve pharmacies linked to the three largest benefits managers.

Rep. Tara Peters, R-Rolla, introduced the 340B contract pharmacy access billand said the lobbying is absurd.

"Federally, 340B program does not allow for abortion drugs," Peters stressed. "Why would any legislation that we're trying to pass in the state allow for that? I mean, the thought of that even being in existence is absolutely ludicrous."

The Missouri Senate passed the bill 27-3 on Monday and it now goes to the House.


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Alabama is running out of time to tackle Medicaid expansion this legislative session.

More than 230 people gathered earlier this month with the group Alabama Arise, urging state lawmakers to prioritize the issue. Their message: Access to health care isn't just a matter of policy, it can be a matter of life and death.

Debbie Smith, Cover Alabama campaign director for Alabama Arise, said as the session winds down, the group will continue to echo the call for increased access to health coverage. She thinks it would not only save lives but revitalize communities across the state.

"Over 80% of our rural hospitals are operating in the red," Smith pointed out. "Not a great stat. About 19 rural hospitals are at immediate risk of closure, and those are the lifeblood of those communities. They're on life support."

Smith emphasized hospitals at financial risk also put their workforce at risk. Those who are against Medicaid expansion believe it is ultimately unaffordable for the state. However, Smith argued it could save the state nearly $400 million over the next six years. According to the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama, those savings would be enough to cover the cost.

The council's study also showed Medicaid expansion would generate nearly $2 billion of economic growth. Beyond economic benefits, Smith pointed to the stark disparities in maternal and infant mortality rates in Alabama.

She stressed Medicaid expansion would do more than provide health care coverage during pregnancy or postpartum, it is about ensuring comprehensive coverage.

"We've been lucky enough to expand Medicaid coverage up to 12 months postpartum but we still need to figure out how to cover people before they even get pregnant," Smith asserted. "It's really important for people to have health coverage so they can address any kind of issues they might have, like if they have diabetes or high blood pressure that might affect their pregnancy in the future."

With limited time left in the legislative session, she noted one option could be Gov. Kay Ivey's executive authority to enact Medicaid expansion. Smith added using the power could be the simplest path forward, backed by the promise of additional funding from the American Rescue Plan.

A Connecticut bill would expand the state's paid sick leave law.

The initial 2011 law requires 40 hours of paid sick leave for workers at employers with 50 businesses or more. The new bill covers all workers regardless of their employer's size.

Janée Woods Weber, executive director of the nonprofit She Leads Justice, said the legislation can benefit workers without access to paid sick leave.

"These are people for whom taking a few hours off when their child has a cold or perhaps they need to take themselves to a doctor's appointment are the kinds of challenges that many of us don't worry about, those of us who do have access to paid sick days," Woods Weber explained.

Small businesses were concerned about how the change could affect them. To address worries, the bill has a three-year implementation cycle giving them time to adapt. It also creates a task force studying the feasibility of providing tax credits to businesses with the smallest workforces. The bill passed the House and awaits a vote in the Senate.

An estimated 11% of workers are eligible for paid sick leave under the current criteria. Though expanding the law has taken over a decade, Woods Weber argued it has always been necessary.

"Nobody should be forced to make what is often times a very difficult and sometimes impossible choice between their livelihood," Woods Weber emphasized. "Getting a paycheck and getting to take paid time off to take care of themselves or a loved one if they get sick."

She added once the bill is passed, the state can build on it by allowing people to earn additional time off, at least up to 40 hours. It stems from the pandemic, when people had to isolate for up to five days if they contracted COVID-19, which could burn through their allotted sick time.


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