Un nuevo desarrollo en el barrio Elyria-Swansea de Denver, que combina viviendas asequibles, un proveedor de atención médica, una farmacia y, más adelante, una tienda de comestibles con productos frescos está demostrando que las asociaciones de colaboración con aportaciones reales de la comunidad pueden satisfacer las necesidades de barrios históricamente desatendidos.

Jim García, fundador y director general del Centro Comunitario de Salud Tepeyac, afirma que esta innovadora combinación facilita a las personas con dos o tres empleos satisfacer las necesidades básicas de sus familias.

"Una familia que tiene muy poco tiempo a lo largo del día o de la semana para ir al médico, al dentista o a que le surtan una receta," dice García. "Así que poder ofrecer todos esos servicios bajo un mismo techo representa una enorme ventaja para las familias trabajadoras."

Tepeyac está a tan sólo unas cuadras de paradas de autobús y tren ligero, lo que, según García, fue clave para la decisión de construir un nuevo centro de salud de 24,000 pies cuadrados que atiende a todos los pacientes, independientemente de su capacidad de pago.

Un promotor con sede en Georgia ha añadido 150 apartamentos asequibles, al sitio, y se espera que el año que viene se abran más unidades para personas mayores y un centro comunitario al otro lado de la calle.

En una época en la que prácticamente toda la construcción de nuevas viviendas se destina a unidades de lujo para inversionistas de fondos y ricos, Tepeyac representa un modelo de trabajo para abordar lo que se ha convertido en una crisis nacional de vivienda asequible y de personas sin hogar.
El consejo de García a los futuros promotores de proyectos multiuso es que estén abiertos a asociaciones que puedan aportar componentes clave a proyectos complejos con muchas partes móviles.

"El nivel de servicios de atención médica, viviendas asequibles y oferta de alimentos frescos como parte del proyecto general," agrega García. "Así que yo diría que estemos abiertos a ideas innovadoras y a colaborar con socios que, intuitivamente, no nos parezcan una oportunidad de colaboración."

Tepeyac empezó a funcionar en 1995 en un bungalo de dos dormitorios en el norte de Denver. En 2022, Tepeyac atendía a unos 4,600 clientes, el 90% de los cuales se identificaban como hispanos o latinos.

García dice que el impacto de las nuevas instalaciones ha sido significativo desde su apertura el año pasado.

"Hemos podido ampliar considerablemente nuestra capacidad de atender a más pacientes," asegura García. "Prevemos que con el tiempo podremos triplicar el número de pacientes atendidos y ofrecer servicios médicos, odontológicos, de salud mental y farmacéuticos de alta calidad."



get more stories like this via email

After more than 50 years of use, some Michigan lawmakers say naloxone may not be the best choice in an overdose situation.

Naloxone is sometimes called the "Lazarus drug" because of its powerful ability to seemingly resurrect people after a drug overdose.

Sen. Kevin Hertel, D-St. Clair Shores, and some of his colleagues have introduced a bill which would open the door for what they say are more costly, but more powerful, antidotes.

"Given the prevalence of fentanyl in our communities, and how much stronger some of these drugs that we're now seeing are, we believe -- and in talking with others -- that there should be other tools to respond to an overdose," Hertel explained. "To make sure we're doing everything we can to save somebody's life."

Not everyone is on board with the proposed legislation, Senate Bill 542. Opponents argued the more expensive naloxone alternatives are not necessary, and using them would only increase profits for the pharmaceutical industry.

Jonathan Stoltman, director of the Opioid Policy Institute in Grand Rapids, said while the naloxone alternatives do help in overdose situations, they can also cause nasty side effects.

"The newer approaches, they put people into more severe withdrawal," Stoltman pointed out. "That's a pretty profound negative side effect. The one approach is very inexpensive and works great; the other approach is far more expensive and has this strong negative side effect."

Sponsors of the bill say they're hoping to give Michigan residents a chance to chime in on the issue in a public hearing sometime in June. Michigan saw more than 3,000 opioid overdose deaths in 2021.


get more stories like this via email

New Mexico saw record enrollment numbers for the Affordable Care Act this year and is now setting its sights on lowering out-of-pocket costs - those not reimbursed by insurance. More than 56,000 New Mexicans are enrolled in a medical health insurance plan on the state exchange - an increase of 12,000 people overall.

Colin Baillio, deputy superintendent with the state's Office of Insurance, said the state has boosted its outreach and made efforts to improve the overall consumer experience.

"We saw a 40% year-over-year increase, and New Mexico saw the biggest percentage increase during the open-enrollment period among all of the state-based marketplaces," he explained

Part of the enrollment increase is due to what's called the "unwinding" - a federal directive that required all states to redetermine Medicaid eligibility following a three-year pause on checks during the COVID pandemic. He said by using expanded tools made available by the federal and state government, 8% of New Mexico's population is now uninsured - down from 23% in 2010.

Following approval by lawmakers in the 2024 legislative session, the New Mexico governor signed seven health care-related bills into law - one of which requires annual reporting of prescription drug pricing. Baililo said the Affordable Care Act built the foundation that has allowed the state to pursue additional affordability initiatives.

"I'm really glad to see that there's so much interest in the next step of health reform, really leaning into these out-of-pocket cost issues and making it easier for people to afford to stay covered and see their doctors," he continued.

Two years ago, the state also passed a one-of-a-kind law that did away with behavioral health co-pays for people in certain insurance plans.

New York's medical aid-in-dying bill is gaining further support. The Medical Society of the State of New York is supporting the bill. New York's bill allows terminally ill people with only six months to live to use this option, with safeguards requiring two physicians' approval.

The bill's Assembly sponsor Amy Paulin, D-Westchester, said despite the growing support, other hurdles lie ahead.

"Now we have what I believe, if it came to the floor, a majority. There's still a hesitation on the part of leadership. You know, we need members to assure leadership that they no longer have reservations," she said.

Other newly resolved concerns center on making sure insurance companies and doctors who don't support this aren't held liable. She's optimistic the bill will pass after nine years in the Legislature. New York would be the 11th state along with Washington, D.C. to have medical aid in dying legislation.

Corinne Carey, senior New York campaign director with Compassion and Choices finds the pandemic drew a vivid picture of a person's end-of-life experience. There were images of people dying on ventilators, apart from loved ones, and unable to communicate. She said people began thinking about a "good death."

"And, what is a good death is being surrounded by loved ones, having some measure of control, experiencing the touch of your loved ones, and being the one in the driver's seat," she explained.

Now people have different options for end-of-life care, each of which presents various challenges. Polls show medical aid in dying has garnered considerable support since being introduced in 2015. A 2022 Compassion and Choices poll finds 57% of nurses support medical aid in dying professionally, although fewer support it personally.