NEW YORK – Un informe reciente del Centro para los Niños y las Familias de la Universidad Georgetown (Georgetown University Center for Children and Families) revela que el Estado de Nueva York sigue anotándose grandes logros en conseguir que los niños hispanos se incorporen a los seguros de salud.

A nivel nacional, dos tercios de los niños hispanos que son elegibles para Medicaid y CHIP no están inscritos. Pero en Nueva York la cantidad es menos del cuatro por ciento, según revela la investigación

Lorraine González-Camastra, directora de salud pública en el Fondo de la Defensa de los Niños (Children’s Defense Fund), explica que una de las razones del éxito es que el estado ofrece seguridad médica a precio accesible para las familias con ingresos hasta del 400 por ciento del nivel nacional de pobreza, el rango más elevado de todo el país.

“Además, sin importar el estatus migratorio, puedes solicitar el CHIP. Así que en Nueva York decimos que tenemos cobertura universal para los niños y políticas que apoyan esto.”

Desde 1999 Nueva York también ha tenido en todos los condados programas para facilitar la inscripción a los programas públicos de seguridad médica.

Los niños hispanos son el segmento de mayor crecimiento en la población de los Estados Unidos. Sin embargo, tienen uno punto cinco más posibilidades que otros niños de no contar con seguro médico. Sonya Schwartz, del Centro de la Universidad Georgetown para los Niños y las Familias (Georgetown University Center for Children and Families), dice que reducir ese número es crítico, porque niños sanos son aprendices sanos.

“Tenemos disponibles nuevas investigaciones que muestran que la cobertura médica en los niños está vinculada a una mejor salud a lo largo de la niñez; vinculada al éxito escolar y a una mejor seguridad financiera para sus familias.”

Las proyecciones indican que los hispanos serán un tercio de la fuerza laboral de los Estados Unidos en 2050.

A nivel nacional, casi el 25 por ciento de los adultos hispanos no tienen seguro médico, y bajar esta cifra también significará más niños asegurados. González-Camastra destaca que el siguiente obstáculo a superar será eliminar cualquier estigma asociado a solicitar un seguro con subsidio.

“Detectamos que el temor y el estigma son las principales barreras que enfrentan los padres nacidos en el extranjero al entrar al mercado de la seguridad médica.”

La inscripción a través del mercado de seguridad médica del Estado de Nueva York termina el 31 de enero, pero tanto en Medicaid como en CHIP permanece abierta todo el año.

El reporte (en inglés) está en bit.ly/1ZvbIUz.


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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.