DETROIT – Es la Semana Nacional del Centro de Salud ("National Health Center Week") y los centros comunitarios de salud celebran su mayor cobertura de pacientes en toda su historia. Este año, los centros de salud atienden a 29 millones de personas en áreas que carecen de proveedores -un millón más que en 2018. A grandes rasgos, cuatro de cada cinco pacientes que vienen a estos sitios vecinales de salud están sub-asegurados o asegurados a través de un programa público, como Medicaid. Una gran parte del fondeo de los centros de salud expira al final de septiembre, y los centros siguen a la espera de que el Congreso extienda el plazo. Cuentan con el apoyo bipartidista. Lisa Rutledge, administradora de proyectos especiales en los Centros de Salud Familiar Western Wayne ("Western Wayne Family Health Centers"), en las afueras de Detroit, dice que eso podría dar a los legisladores una oportunidad muy singular de sumar fuerzas este año.

"Conseguir que aprueben esta legislacion es un buen ejemplo de como los partidos pueden trabajar juntos y como el Congreso y el Senado pueden trabajar juntos y hacer que sea un triunfo para los muchos millones de personas de los Estados Unidos que usan los centros comunitarios de salud."

La Senadora por Michigan Debbie Stabenow encabeza la carga para obtener la re-autorización de fondos, junto con el Senador por Missouri Roy Blunt. En 2017 los centros de salud dieron servicio a casi 700 mil michiguenses, incluso más de 215 mil infantes. Hay 45 centros con más de 300 sitios satélite en el estado.

Cerca de la mitad de los centros están en áreas rurales, lejos de los proveedores. Los sitios también pueden brindar una atención integral, como ayudar en casos de abuso de substancias y acceso al cuidado dental, del que Rutledge dice que conservarlo sano es vital. Agrega que la expansión de Medicaid en Michigan hizo bajar significativamente la cantidad de pacientes que acuden a las instalaciones sin seguro y ahora la gente acude más para hacerse revisiones regulares.

"Estar en primera fila donde la gente necesita recibir atencion -sea por la distancia o por el precio- es una oportunidad real para que logre la deteccion oportuna, el tratamiento, visitas en salud y ayuda para manejar su padecimiento cronico."

Para celebrar la Semana del Centro Nacional de Salud (National Health Center Week), los Centros de Salud Familiar Western Wayne serán sede de una feria de la salud el Sábado en su locación de Inkster, y ayudarán a los pequeños a prepararse para el regreso a clases. La feria también presentará un modelo inflable gigante de un gran colon para promover los exámenes de detección de cáncer colo-rectal.

Cifras sobre los centros de salud de Michigan: www.nachc.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MI_19.pdf; informacion sobre la feria de la salud: healthcenterweek.org/event/health-fair-10.


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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.