TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Existe presión para que estados como Florida amplíen Medicaid, ahora que están perdiendo miles de millones de subsidios de atención médica en el paquete de $1.9 trillones para la ayuda por COVID-19.

Además de los cheques de estímulo de $1,400, que algunos estadounidenses recibirán pronto, la ley de ayuda pandémica ofrece miles de millones en incentivos a Florida y otros 11 estados para atraerlos a expandir Medicaid.

Anne Swerlick, analista senior de políticas y abogado del Instituto de Políticas de Florida (Florida Policy Institute), dice que la negativa de este estado para expandirse no solo está perjudicando a los adultos que necesitan cobertura, sino que también afecta a los niños de Florida.

Swerlick apunta al seguimiento de datos de 2016 a 2019 con caídas significativas en la cobertura de salud a los niños.

"Vimos un aumento de 50,000 ninos mas sin seguro, lo que nos situa en unos 343,000 ninos mas. En realidad, esta afectando una vez y media mas a los ninos hispanos."

Florida podría obtener un estimado de $3.5 billones federales.

Aún así, el gobernador Ron DeSantis y otros estados reducidos como Texas continúan resistiendo, y los críticos argumentan que su razonamiento es más ideológico que práctico dados los beneficios.

Un informe del Centro para Niños y Familias de la Universidad de Georgetown (Georgetown University Center for Children and Families) encontró que los niños en estados que expandieron Medicaid tienen el doble de probabilidades de tener cobertura médica.

Adam Searing es profesor de investigación en la universidad y autor principal del informe que encontró que los niños en los estados que expandieron Medicaid tienen el doble de probabilidades de tener cobertura médica.

"Florida realmente podria beneficiarse de la expansion de Medicaid, y es uno de nuestros cuatro estados principales. En Texas, Carolina del Norte, Georgia y Florida, viven la mayoria de los ninos que no tienen seguro y la mayoria de las personas que se beneficiarian de la expansion de Medicaid."

La ley de alivio para la pandemia ofrece ahora subsidios más generosos y créditos fiscales para que la Ley del Cuidado de Salud a Bajo Precio ayuden a los estadounidenses de bajos y medios ingresos a comprar planes individuales en la ley de intercambios de seguros de salud.

Swerlick dice que el esfuerzo de varios años para aprobar la expansión de Medicaid en Florida continúa.

Ella y otros defensores seguirán intentándolo mientras respaldan proyectos de ley con disposiciones que podrían ayudar a mover la aguja, como un proyecto de ley, House Bill 645 que ampliaría la cobertura de Medicaid posparto de 60 días a un año.

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.