COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Sólo uno de cada tres Coloradeños que necesitan atención a su salud mental o conductual están recibiendo la ayuda que necesitan, en gran parte debido a la falta de psiquiatras y otros profesionales de la salud.

Colorado enfrenta un déficit de profesionales de la salud conductual, y como resultado se está cubriendo menos del 30 por ciento de la demanda estatal de atención a la salud mental y conductual.

Los parámetros federales mínimos estipulan que debe haber al menos un psiquiatra por cada 30 mil habitantes. Colorado necesitaría añadir más de 90 profesionales de la salud mental para alcanzar ese mínimo.

La Dra. Sherri Sharp es Vice-presidenta de Salud Mental en los Centros Comunitarios de Salud Peak Vista (“Peak Vista Community Health Centers”), que cubren la región de Colorado Springs.

“La conciencia de los problemas de salud mental ha crecido, y el estigma de buscar servicios de ayuda va mejorando, ya la gente cada vez busca más ayuda. Pero tratar de encontrar apoyo es el problema, y más en áreas rurales.”

Sharp dice que para abordar el problema, los centros de salud están etiquetando nuevos programas federales y estatales de perdón de préstamos estudiantiles.

Agrega que la perspectiva de eliminar miles de dólares de deuda con la escuela médica deberá atraer y retener a estudiantes de alta calidad, para las áreas menos atendidas del estado.

Los centros de salud también están ofreciendo entrenamiento como practicantes de enfermería, para obtener el certificado como proveedores de tratamientos asistidos médicamente.

Y Sharp destaca que los centros de salud han implementado políticas orientadas a identificar pronto problemas potenciales de salud conductual, y contactar a los pacientes con las opciones de tratamiento. Sharp señala que uno de cada cinco adultos en los Estados Unidos sufrió alguna enfermedad mental durante el año pasado.

“Eso, más la crisis de opioides, es enorme. Hay como 28.6 millones de personas que usaron drogas ilícitas el mes pasado. Así que el hecho de que esas cifras estén creciendo es un tema que debe ser atendido y normalmente no tenemos suficientes proveedores para hacerlo.”

Agrega Sharp que, como los centros comunitarios de salud ofrecen a sus pacientes un lugar en el que pueden hallar de todo, los residentes tienen más posibilidades de recibir un tratamiento efectivo.

Si alguien viene al dentista, por ejemplo, recibe una revisión de su salud mental y casi siempre puede recibir atención en el mismo sitio. Sólo el 12 por ciento son pacientes referidos por alguien externo, dice Sharp, pero si pueden recibir atención ahí mismo, el 75 por ciento acaba recibiendo el tratamiento completo.

El estigma que existe en torno a la atención de la salud mental comienza a esfumarse, pero eso pudiera no significar tanto si los pacientes no pueden encontrar un proveedor de salud mental.


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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.