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CT advocates urge doula certification during Black Maternal Health Week
Katy Golvala, The Connecticut Mirror, April 11
In 2021, the maternal death rate among Black Americans was 2.6 times higher than the rate for white Americans. Those trends are playing out right here in Connecticut. To raise awareness about this crisis, legislators and advocates called for change at a recent press conference. Many spoke of the importance of doula certification – which is currently under consideration by the legislature – in improving experiences and outcomes for Black pregnant people.
How ‘weathering’ contributes to racial health disparities
Alisha Haridasani Gupta, The New York Times, April 12
Dr. Arline Geronimus coined the term “weathering” in the 1990s: A form of chronic stress from experiencing racism and discrimination. She experienced immediate backlash, but continued to publish more than 130 papers documenting evidence about weathering. In recent years, particularly at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, her research has been put to great use.
Ruling on Affordable Care Act muted in Connecticut
Christine Stuart, CT News Junkie, April 5
A federal judge in Texas caused concern recently when he ruled that certain preventive health coverage requirements are unconstitutional under the Affordable Care Act. But the ruling, which is being challenged by the Biden Administration, won’t have as big an impact in Connecticut. That’s because Connecticut is one of 15 states that has written the same coverage requirements that are a part of the ACA into state law.
For uninsured people with cancer, securing care can be like spinning a roulette wheel
Charlotte Huff, KFF Health News, April 10
In the face of potentially daunting bills, uninsured adults with cancer sometimes delay care, which can result in worse outcomes. The odds of patients getting insurance to help cover the cost of treatment often depends on if they live in a state that has expanded Medicaid and what type of cancer they have. In all states, lower-income uninsured patients with breast or cervical cancer may be eligible for Medicaid through a national early detection program. People with other cancers may face significant obstacles in getting affordable treatment.
In CT, a ‘battle royale’ over lowering health care costs
Erica E. Phillips and Katy Golvala, The Connecticut Mirror, April 10
Armed with new data about the rising costs of health care, the governor and members of the General Assembly are now bracing for a legislative confrontation that pits insurance and health care industries directly at odds. Two bills that the legislature is considering aim to better control health care costs, including a price cap on out-of-network care.