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Many immigrants with legal status could lose Medicare coverage
Keith M. Phaneuf, The Connecticut Mirror, Aug, 14
Hundreds of immigrants with legal status are expected to lose their Medicare coverage by January. The change stems from a provision in H.R.1 to a rule that allows certain noncitizens to participate in Medicare and other benefits. Lawfully present immigrants had been eligible if they met certain work history, disability or age requirements. Now, eligibility will be limited to green card holders and certain immigrants from Cuba, Haiti, Micronesia, Palau and the Marshall Islands. Advocates worry that in addition to people losing coverage, this change could put additional strain on federally qualified health centers, hospitals and emergency departments.
Will CT’s new health care affordability measures lower costs?
Katy Golvala, The Connecticut Mirror, Aug. 18
In an effort to understand and curtail rapidly rising health care costs, Connecticut lawmakers and elected officials gathered data to measure annual growth in health care spending and established benchmark growth rates. This year, they approved penalties for when hospital costs exceed the state’s benchmarks. Officials say the policy, which takes effect in 2029, could save millions of dollars. However, critics argue that the penalties for exceeding the benchmark aren’t strong enough. Plus, sweeping federal policy changes to Medicaid, Medicare and Affordable Care Act plans could increase the number of uninsured patients seeking care — further driving up costs for providers.
Hospitals say they found a tool to help reduce childbirth risks: wristbands
Andrew Jones, KFF Health News, Aug. 12
Hospitals across the U.S. are trying to reduce postpartum deaths and complications using a small tool: a silicone wristband that reads “I gave birth.” The wristbands are meant to give mothers and providers a visual reminder of the life-threatening health risks after birth. They’re also intended to alert first responders and other providers to check for postpartum complications, such as low blood pressure, bleeding, or infections. Experts praise the initiative but say it is only one part of what is needed to combat the maternal mortality crisis in the U.S. Connecticut is among the states participating in the initiative.
Saint Francis Hospital will bring more healthy food to North Hartford bodegas
Sujata Srinivasan, Connecticut Public Radio, Aug. 18
Saint Francis Hospital is launching a pilot program to help bodegas in North Hartford increase their capacity to source and sell fresh, nutritious, and culturally relevant foods. The neighborhood lacks a full-service supermarket, making it difficult for many residents to get groceries. Residents without their own transportation often take two bus lines to reach stores that stock healthy foods in other towns. The pilot program will bring in locally grown food and is looking at options to ensure it is affordable.
CT’s first state-funded methadone vans expand access to treatment
Calista Oetama, The Connecticut Mirror, Aug. 16
Mobile methadone clinics did not exist in Connecticut when Frankie DeJesus started his recovery in 2012, but he wishes they did. At the time, he had to drive 20 miles from Enfield to Hartford to receive his dose of methadone before returning to work. Short dosing windows often coincided with rush hours, causing him to miss doses. “It was a huge barrier to my recovery,” DeJesus said. The state has now invested $4 million, drawn from opioid settlement funds, for mobile clinics that will bring the treatment to parts of northeastern and southeastern Connecticut that experience high opioid overdose rates.