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America’s next big healthcare reform might already be underway
Rachel Cohen Booth, Vox, Oct. 19
A public health insurance option was supposed to be part of the Affordable Care Act but was dropped before passage. It was intended to improve access, costs, and reliability. While the debate over public options stalled in Congress, some states have created their own. Colorado is among them, and about 139,000 people are enrolled in the state’s public plan. Enrollees pay $0 for primary care visits, certain mental health visits and for prenatal and postpartum care. A growing number of elected officials and policy experts are asking if the idea should be revived on a national scale, given soaring health care costs and upcoming cuts to Medicaid.
The cost of health care is hitting America where it hurts: the wallet
Renuka Rayasam and Sam Whitehead, KFF Health News, Oct. 26
Janet Marx of Milford has insurance through both her husband’s employer and Medicare because she has disabling chronic conditions. Still, the couple had to sell their home to afford their medical care. Across the United States, people are struggling to afford the premiums, copayments, prescriptions and medical bills. Meanwhile, American health costs are expected to continue to grow faster than the overall economy. Low-income and middle-class people with health conditions are feeling the brunt.
1 in 5 CT medical trainees lacks reliable access to food. Here’s why it matters for your care
Liese Klein, CT Insider, Oct. 28
A new study found that 1 in 5 medical trainees in Connecticut reported a lack of access to food. Researchers said food insecurity can add to the stress of training alongside burnout and social isolation, which can in turn impact the level of care patients receive. “Characterizing food insecurity among trainees matters because it has been linked to fatigue, impaired concentration, and adverse mental health, which may compromise educational performance and patient care,” the study said. In addition to financial stress, the doctors said a “lack of accessible grocery stores” played a role in their food insecurity.
Residents sue CT for using IQ score to deny intellectual disability services
Isabelle Marceles, Connecticut Public Radio, Oct. 26
Connecticut is one of a handful of states that rely solely on IQ scores to determine if someone is eligible for intellectual disability services. Those services include access to case managers, paid family caregivers, jobs, day programs, and supportive housing. However, in order to be eligible, applicants must have an IQ of 69 or lower, and the score must be recorded before the person turns 18. Those who exceed the cutoff remain ineligible, even if they exhibit other behavioral deficits. Four Connecticut residents are now suing the state for denying them services based on their IQ scores.
Many Asian American, Pacific Islander women don’t have a reproductive health provider
Kelcie Moseley-Morris, Stateline, Oct. 27
A survey of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander women found that nearly half of respondents don’t have a reproductive healthcare provider. Twenty-three percent said they or someone they know have avoided travel, medical care, work or public spaces because of concerns about immigration status. Fajer Saeed Ebrahim, vice president of policy and research at the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum, which commissioned the survey, said more providers trained to provide culturally sensitive care for AAPI women would help bridge gaps. “I think our women face many of the same challenges as many other communities of color, but our experiences are often missing from policy discussions,” she said.