PHOENIX -- Repealing Obamacare without a replacement would be a disaster for Arizona families and the health care system according to a new report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

The report showed that either a total repeal or a revival of the Republican health care bill would put 400,000 Arizonans at risk of losing coverage. Jessica Schubel, author of the report and senior policy analyst with the center, said policymakers would do well to remember the budget crisis of 2011 - when Arizona had to slash the state's Medicaid program, even cutting coverage for certain types of transplants.

"Cutting these transplants, while saving the state $4.5 million per year, had devastating effects on people's lives,” Schubel said. "A father of six died before he could receive a bone marrow transplant, and a father of four with hepatitis-C lost the opportunity to get a new liver."

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell put off the Better Care Reconciliation Act for lack of votes and has said he may call a vote on a repealing the ACA without a replacement next week. The Congressional Budget Office said Wednesday that the solo repeal option would cause 32 million Americans to lose health coverage over the next 10 years - 17 million in the first year alone.

State Rep. Heather Carter, a Republican who chairs the House Health Committee, said Arizona reversed its cuts in 2013 because they were wreaking havoc.

"And the human toll from these cuts was real and it was heartbreaking,” Carter said. "And it also had a tremendous impact on our Arizona hospitals and our health care providers. The cost associated for caring for the uninsured brought many of our health care systems to the brink of bankruptcy."

After the cuts were restored, Carter said, coverage went up, uncompensated care dropped by 60 percent and billions of dollars flowed back into the economy. Former Gilbert Mayor John Lewis, now president of the East Valley Partnership, urged all sides to start from scratch and fix Obamacare by addressing rising costs and lack of competition among insurance providers.

"I understand the importance of input from both parties and especially governors being critical to produce a bill that will truly decrease health care costs, minimize the negative impact on state governments, and avoid taking away coverage without providing for transition options,” Lewis said.

The BCRA would transform Medicaid from an open-ended guarantee to a capped block grant program, which Gov. Doug Ducey has called "the single largest transfer of risk ever from the federal government to the states."


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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.