A medida que la emergencia de salud pública llega a su fin, los requisitos para que los estados mantengan a las personas inscritas en Medicaid están cambiando. Los expertos dicen que eso podría llevar a millones a perder el servicio. Comentarios de Kendall Lyons, director de políticas de salud, Children's Advocacy Alliance en Las Vegas; y Joan Alker, directora ejecutiva del Centro para Niños y Familias de la Universidad de Georgetown y profesora de investigación en la Escuela de Políticas Públicas McCourt.

Defensores advierten que miles de niños y niñas de Nevada podrían perder la cobertura de Medicaid durante el próximo año, a partir del primero de mayo. Se espera que el gobierno federal declare pronto el fin de la emergencia de salud pública, lo que significa que los estados comenzarán a reevaluar la elegibilidad de todos. Kendall Lyons de Children's Advocacy Alliance en Las Vegas dice que el sistema podría verse abrumado una vez que tengan que contactar a cerca de 350 mil familias de Nevada con niños en Medicaid. Defensores advierten que miles de niños y niñas de Nevada podrían perder la cobertura de Medicaid durante el próximo año, a partir del 1 de mayo.

Se espera que el gobierno federal declare pronto el fin de la emergencia de salud pública, lo que significa que los estados comenzarán a reevaluar la elegibilidad de todos.

Kendall Lyons de Children's Advocacy Alliance en Las Vegas dice que el sistema podría verse abrumado una vez que tengan que contactar a cerca de 350 mil familias de Nevada con niños en Medicaid.

"Realmente queremos asegurarnos de trabajar con la oficina de Medicaid de nuestro estado para garantizar que una vez que termine la emergencia de salud publica," advierte Lyons. "Aquellos que son elegibles, no pierdan su cobertura por razones administrativas o de procedimiento."

Las familias pueden actualizar su dirección e inscribirse para recibir avisos electrónicos en el sitio web de Access Nevada.

Un nuevo informe del Centro para Niños y Familias de la Universidad de Georgetown dice que los niños y niñas en Nevada están especialmente en riesgo porque el estado no ha financiado 12 meses de cobertura continua para niños.

Las familias que ganan demasiado para calificar para Medicaid pueden inscribir a los niños en Nevada Check Up, pero ese programa cobra primas y requiere una solicitud por separado.

La División de Bienestar y Servicios de Apoyo dice que está trabajando para mejorar los sistemas informáticos para que se puedan escanear otras bases de datos gubernamentales y renovar automáticamente a las personas.

Joan Alker, de Georgetown, dice que el problema a escala en todo el país es enorme.

"Por todas estas razones, estimamos hoy que 6.7 millones de niños y niñas corren un riesgo extremadamente alto de quedarse sin seguro durante este proceso," asegura Alker. "A pesar de lo grande que es este numero, creemos que es una estimación conservadora."

Según Kaiser Family Foundation, casi el 20 por ciento de los nevadenses tienen Medicaid, incluido uno de cada tres niños.


"Realmente queremos asegurarnos de trabajar con la oficina de Medicaid de nuestro estado para garantizar que una vez que termine la emergencia de salud publica, aquellos que son elegibles, no pierdan su cobertura por razones administrativas o de procedimiento."

Las familias pueden actualizar su dirección e inscribirse para recibir avisos electrónicos en el sitio web de Access Nevada. Un nuevo informe del Centro para Niños y Familias de la Universidad de Georgetown dice que los niños y niñas en Nevada están especialmente en riesgo porque el estado no ha financiado 12 meses de cobertura continua para niños.

Las familias que ganan demasiado para calificar para Medicaid pueden inscribir a los niños en Nevada Check Up, pero ese programa cobra primas y requiere una solicitud por separado. La División de Bienestar y Servicios de Apoyo dice que está trabajando para mejorar los sistemas informáticos para que se puedan escanear otras bases de datos gubernamentales y renovar automáticamente a las personas. Joan Alker, de Georgetown, dice que el problema a escala en todo el país es enorme.

"Por todas estas razones, estimamos hoy que 6.7 millones de ninos y ninas corren un riesgo extremadamente alto de quedarse sin seguro durante este proceso. A pesar de lo grande que es este numero, creemos que es una estimacion conservadora."

Según Kaiser Family Foundation, casi el 20 por ciento de los nevadenses tienen Medicaid, incluido uno de cada tres niños.

Defensores advierten que miles de ninos y ninas de Nevada podrian perder la cobertura de Medicaid durante el proximo ano, a partir del primero de mayo.

de cobertura continua para ninos.

Comuniquese con Alker a traves de Catherine Hope al 202-687-1058; Lyon al 702-970-4536. Actualizar direccion: AccessNevada.DWSS.nv.gov. Informe: https://pnsne.ws/3LYr6E3 Estadistica 1 en 3: https://pnsne.ws/3q3CyVx

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.


get more stories like this via email

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.