PORTLAND, Ore. -- Open enrollment for healthcare plans has begun, and for the first time in two decades low income Pacific Islanders in Oregon are eligible for coverage as well.

Earlier this year, low income citizens of the Compact of Free Association, or COFA, nations of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands and Palau gained health coverage under the COFA Healthcare Premium Assistance Program, passed unanimously by Oregon lawmakers.

Welfare reform in 1996 had barred COFA citizens from health services such as Medicaid. Joe Enlet, senior policy analyst and community liaison with the Health Equity Initiative, said the new legislation is the first of its kind in the nation.

"Oregon is the only one that actually has a premium assistance program that not only covers premiums but also helps to pay for co-pays and pays for medication as well,” Enlet said. “So Oregon is breaking new ground."

Events are planned throughout the open enrollment period to help eligible COFA citizens in Oregon enroll in a health plan - including an event Thursday at Northwest Family Services in Portland from noon to 6 p.m.

Oregon has the third-largest COFA population in the nation.

The COFA Alliance National Network and the Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon introduced the premium-assistance bill and worked to see it passed. David Anitok is lead community organizer for CANN, which will host 13 events across the state to help people sign up for the program. He said before the bill was passed, members of the community had few healthcare options, often relying on checkups at free clinics before being referred somewhere else.

"They get referred to an emergency service, which is the only service again they're eligible for," Anitok said. "And based on the case there's been folks that have been in the emergency and rang up a couple thousand dollars, up to $50,000 bills, and unable to pay for it.”

Residents of COFA countries are allowed to live and work in the United States because of the military testing of nuclear weapons near their home islands during the Cold War. Enlet said Oregon lawmakers felt they were righting a historic wrong with this program.

"But to me, the bigger victory is actually that we are heard, that people are not invisible, that they're somebody, and that people are beginning to see and hear our story,” Enlet said.

Information on enrollment events is available at cann.us.



get more stories like this via email

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.