GREELEY, Colo. – Apenas un año después de que los líderes del estado se reunieron a desarrollar el “Plan de Colorado para Acabar con el Hambre” (Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger”), arrancaron los trabajos y en el Valle San Luis ya cuentan con modelos en tiempo real para crear los locales de alimento sustentable que pueden alcanzar a todos los residentes, sin importar su estatus económico.

Sólo un año desde que los líderes de Colorado se reunieron a crear un plan para acabar con el hambre en el estado, y ya se cuenta en el remoto Valle San Luis con gente innovadora y siempre de vanguardia.

Ideas creativas y además efectivas, como la de duplicar el valor en dólares de una estampilla de alimento en mercados y misceláneas, hasta ayudar a los granjeros pequeños a repartir productos frescos a cafeterías escolares, restaurantes y tiendas de alimentos.

Liza Marron, directora fundadora y miembro de la “Coalición Local de Alimento del Valle de San Luis” (San Luis Valley Local Foods Coalition), dice que los ladrillos con los que se está construyendo una red sustentable a la que todos puedan acceder, van cayendo en su lugar.

“Así que estamos tratando de crear un sistema local y equitativo de alimentos, esa es nuestra misión, que restituya la salud de la gente, de la comunidad, la economía y el ecosistema. Nos acercamos a la causa raíz y vamos reduciendo la presencia de la inseguridad alimentaria en nuestras comunidades.”

La coalición ayuda asegurando tierra para que granjeros inmigrantes cultiven su propio alimento cuando no haya disponible trabajo pagado, y para que los nuevos agricultores mejoren sus habilidades.

También desarrolló un eje regional de alimentos que abarca toda la zona, el cual funciona con unas 60 familias pequeñas encargadas del reparto de alimentos nutritivos a puntos de venta al menudeo.

El programa bilingüe de la coalición, “Cocinar Importa – Cooking Matters”, también enseña a los residentes locales cómo transformar los productos naturales de su tierra en suculentos platillos.

Marron dice que la falta de acceso a comida nutritiva, especialmente en el caso de personas con bajos ingresos y comunidades de color, pueden llegar a ser serios impactos negativos a la salud.

Opina que la comida procesada con altos niveles de grasa y azúcar, como la que se puede comprar en las gasolineras y tiendas rápidas de comestibles que hay en el valle, contribuyen de manera importante a las tasas peligrosamente elevadas de obesidad, diabetes y presión arterial elevada que hay en la región.

Marron agrega que la gente que vive en pueblos tiende a tener más fácil acceso a una alimentación muy poco sana.

“De todas maneras la gente vive afuera. Hay gente sin vehículo, hay ancianos. Realmente es una hazaña entrar a una tienda de abarrotes –algunas abren de 8am a 6pm–. Si trabajas en un rancho o algo así, es difícil ir a una tienda de alimentos.”

Recientemente Marron recibió el Premio Dr. Virgilio Licona de Liderazgo de Salud Comunitaria 2018 (“Community Health Leadership Award “) que le otorgó la Fundación de la Salud de Colorado (“Colorado Health Foundation”).

Esta presea reconoce a los Coloradenses apasionados que van encontrando estrategias innovadoras y efectivas para salvar los obstáculos comunitarios de salud en todo el estado.


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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.