DENVER – En un esfuerzo por reducir el gasto gubernamental, el nuevo presupuesto del Presidente Trump propone un recorte de $800 mil millones a Medicaid.

Algunos líderes de este campo dicen que eso obstaculizaría otras medidas exitosas de reducción de costos, como la “Medicaid Prime” de Colorado, y que podría poner a 400 mil personas en riesgo de perder su cobertura.

El recorte propuesto por el Presidente Donald Trump, tiene preocupados a algunos funcionarios de la salud en Colorado, porque la medida podría revertir el progreso logrado por un programa piloto que ha logrado mejorar los resultados en salud y reducir costos.

Ross Brooks, Director General de los Centros Mountain de Salud Familiar, dice que el programa “Medicaid Prime”, que actualmente funciona en seis condados de Colorado, ha sido especialmente importante para la clase media y los trabajadores de bajos ingresos que viven en las comunidades del estado con escasos recursos.

“Acceder a lo básico está fuera del alcance de muchas familias, lo que significa que posponen la atención preventiva de salud que sirve, y en cambio esperan hasta que los problemas se vuelven graves –y luego se tardan en buscar ayuda– hasta que muchas veces es demasiado tarde.”

La “Prime” comenzó en 2014 como una forma de administrar los pagos bajo la expansión de Medicaid, y ha demostrado que cuando más gente accede a la atención preventiva, los costos pueden ser controlados.

Brooks dice que los recortes propuestos a Medicaid pondrían a 400 mil coloradeños en riesgo de perder su cobertura, pero espera que el Senado de los Estados Unidos verá el valor de expandir programas como el “Prime” cuando revise la Ley Americana de Atención a la Salud (“American Health Care Act”).

Un reporte reciente sobre los resultados de salud encontró en todo Colorado grandes diferencias entre los condados ricos y los pobres. Brooks dice que los programas como el “Prime”, trabajando en coordinación con los centros de rescate de salud estatales, puede asegurar que la atención sea asequible para todos. Agrega que otra clave es un esfuerzo agresivo para contactar a las familias de bajos ingresos.

“Para ayudarles a recibir la atención primaria de salud mental que necesitan, o la atención oral o dental que necesitan –a un precio accesible– para tratar de cerrar algunos de esos vacíos. Y eso vemos en nuestras comunidades, que esas desigualdades están cerrándose.”

Los Registros de Salud 2017 para los Condados muestran que la gente de color sigue corriendo el mayor riesgo de tener malos resultados en materia de salud. Vivienda inadecuada, acceso limitado a las tiendas de alimentos y comida saludable, y vivir en áreas inseguras para que los niños jueguen fuera, fueron citados como factores que contribuyen a la mala salud.

El reporte “Prime" está aqui. Las evaluaciones del condado están aqui.


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.