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A new lifeline helps inmates transition to life outside the bars
Ted Alcorn, The New York Times, March 13
When Jon Desantis was released from jail, he had lost his home, his job, and his transportation, making it difficult to transition to a stable life. He received a vital assist from an unexpected place: California’s Medicaid program. A county health worker assessed his needs and set him up with a 30-day supply of medications and a case manager to help him line up appointments with a psychiatrist and a therapist. Until recently, jail and prison inmates were excluded from Medicaid coverage, despite their elevated rates of mental and physical illness. It now pays for a narrow set of services beginning up to 90 days before an inmate is released.
The threats to Minnesota’s Medicaid funds are unprecedented. Other states could be next
Juliana Kim, NPR, March 18
Hundreds of millions of dollars for Minnesota’s Medicaid program are in limbo because of a federal crackdown on fraud. Health care policy experts say the threats to funding are unprecedented and go far beyond the typical steps to address fraud and at a scale that could disrupt services for patients. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is halting federal funds in two ways – retroactively and going forward. Experts say doing both is rare. Other states have been sent letters by CMS raising concerns about potential fraud, something experts say could be an early warning sign of deferring or withholding Medicaid funding.
Medicaid can share data with ICE. Here’s how that 180-degree change spreads fear
Alex Olgin, NPR, March 13
For decades, people applying for Medicaid were told their personal information would not be used for immigration enforcement. A recent court ruling changed that, sending ripples of fear through communities. Health care workers say patients are increasingly asking whether it’s safe to stay covered by Medicaid. For many, it is a lifeline. One immigrant family with a medically fragile child depends on the program to keep their daughter alive. Her care would cost tens of thousands of dollars without Medicaid. They now live in fear that receiving that health coverage could put them at risk of being detained or deported.
Detained pregnant people are entitled to full medical care. They say it’s not happening.
Shefali Luthra, The 19th, March 18
Immigration detention standards state that when pregnant people are detained, they should receive comprehensive health care, including routine prenatal visits, specialized follow-ups if needed, prenatal vitamins, and proper nutrition and exercise. But allegations of improper medical care for pregnant people are piling up. Court documents and interviews with detainees and attorneys across the country reveal that pregnant people in detention facilities say they are receiving sporadic and slow medical care. Many report not receiving proper care even when they experience complications that could threaten their pregnancies. A new report found that this treatment is endangering pregnant immigrants.
Colorectal cancer’s alarming rise in young adults
Carly Mallenbaum, Axios, March 17
Colorectal cancer is now the deadliest cancer for Americans under 50. Since the early 2000s, colorectal cancer cases in people under 50 have risen nearly 60%. Experts say no one is certain what is behind the increase, but they do know that early screening could help save lives. AI-assisted colonoscopy devices have been shown to help spot more precancerous polyps, and while it is unclear if they will become the standard of care, experts say for now, they serve as a second set of eyes for doctors during screenings.