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Report: Federal cuts deepening food insecurity in Connecticut
Theo Peck-Suzuki, The Connecticut Mirror, Jan. 19
Food insecurity is rising in Connecticut and the problem is likely to get worse amid major cuts to federal food programs, according to a new report. Connecticut has the highest rate of food insecurity in New England and spends less on combating the problem than neighboring states. The state is projected to spend roughly $27.6 million more through fiscal year 2027, but that amount won’t be nearly enough to make up for the $180 million in cuts to federal programs. The report’s primary recommendation is to establish a special fund to support food and nutrition programs. It also includes three new recommendations aimed at improving food and nutrition knowledge as a way to reduce food insecurity.
H.R.1’s Medicaid cuts threaten children’s health
Carlie N. Myers and Andrew F. Beck, Health Affairs, Jan. 20
Cuts to federal Medicaid funding pose a substantial risk to the health of all children, regardless of their insurance coverage. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the changes set to be made to Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) would increase the number of uninsured individuals by 9.1 million by 2034. Medicaid and CHIP provide coverage for 38 million children and are critical drivers of access to health care and improved, more equitable health outcomes. Medicaid funds hospitals, community health centers, and programs that provide healthy food and safe housing. Experts say that defunding coverage will have downstream consequences for all children.
Medicaid has a new way to pay for costly sickle cell treatment: Only if it works
Phil Galewitz, NPR, Jan. 20
Serenity Cole spent much of her time in the hospital because of sickle cell disease. The genetic condition caused debilitating pain in her arms and legs for years. In May, she completed a gene therapy treatment for the disease. She was among the first Medicaid enrollees nationally to benefit from a new payment model in which the federal government negotiates the cost of a cell or gene therapy with pharmaceutical companies on behalf of state Medicaid programs—and then holds them accountable for the treatment’s success. If the treatments don’t work as promised, participating states will receive “discounts and rebates” from the drugmakers.
This Texas county is the deadliest place in the U.S. for Black mothers to give birth
Monique Welch-Rutherford, Capital B News, Jan. 14
In Harris County, Texas, which encompasses most of Houston, public health officials, researchers, and advocacy groups are trying to determine why more Black mothers and their babies are dying. In recent years, the county has reported maternal and infant mortality and maternal morbidity rates that at times exceeded both Texas and national averages. Experts say that finding an answer involves examining several issues at once: race and the enduring legacy of bias in Texas, inequitable health care access, delays in care, and systemic gaps in treatment.
New Orleans brings back the house call, sending nurses to visit newborns and moms
Rosemary Westwood, NPR, Jan. 20
When Lisa Bonfield’s daughter was only a few weeks old, a registered nurse made her first visit to their home to check on mom and baby and offer hands-on help and advice. It was a relief for the first-time mom, who didn’t have to worry about getting the baby out of the house to visit the pediatrician or a clinic. The visit was made possible by the Family Connects New Orleans program, which was created in response to Louisiana’s poor health outcomes for mothers and babies. The state has some of the highest rates of preterm births, unnecessary C-sections, and maternal and infant deaths. The hope is that health issues can be caught earlier and families can get off to an easier start by bringing back old-fashioned house visits.