SALEM, Ore.– La Autoridad de Salud de Oregon (Oregon Health Authority) afirma que a las áreas de emergencias está llegando menos gente por condiciones crónicas de salud, y se está invirtiendo más en cuidados preventivos entre los 1 millón 100 mil miembros del Plan de Salud de Oregon (Oregon Health Plan). Su avance de 2014 fue publicado esta semana.

La agencia registra diferentes condiciones médicas y reporta que los ingresos a las salas de emergencias bajaron 22 por ciento desde 2011. El objetivo ha sido que la gente aproveche las Organizaciones Coordinadas de Cuidados, conocidas como CCOs por sus siglas en inglés, para atenderse de sus problemas antes de que terminen en la sala de emergencia de un hospital.

El reporte estatal muestra que los costos de atención primaria aumentaron en 2014 – pero Erin Fair Taylor, directora de Asociación y Desarrollo (Partnership and Development) en la Organización de Cuidados Coordinados (Coordinated Care Organization – CCO, por sus siglas en inglés) de CareOregon, lo atribuye a que el sistema funciona y está siendo usado por más gente.

“Preferimos que nuestro dinero vaya ahí –afirmó– porque a largo plazo se traducirá en ahorros, ya que no estamos gastando en ingresos a emergencias ni en estadía de pacientes.”

El Reporte de la Transformación del Sistema de Salud (Health System Transformation Report) muestra casi un 30% menos en admisiones a hospitales por complicaciones relacionadas con diabetes, tomando como base las cifras de 2011, y 60% menos por asma y Enfermedad Pulmonar Obstructiva Crónica (“EPOC” en español, “C-O-P-D” en inglés). Otro dato es que más personas se han inscrito en las CCOs y más han iniciado tratamientos por alcohol y drogas.

Taylor señala que las CCOs de Oregon estuvieron listas en cuanto la Iniciativa de Cuidado Asequible (Affordable Care Act) se volvió ley – ingresando al sistema gente recientemente elegible para la cobertura de salud. Tan solo durante el año pasado, más de 434 mil personas fueron incorporadas al Plan de Salud de Oregon (OHP). Taylor expresa que el progreso reflejado en el reporte de 2014 es de lo más impresionante.

“Eso realmente habla de los Oregonianos trabajando juntos: hasta cuando es de veras difícil, incluso cuando hay tantas presiones externas, podemos seguir encontrando cómo desempeñarnos a un nivel de veras alto. Debemos estar muy orgullosos de esto -comentó.”

Agrega que los dólares de los pagadores de impuestos estatales y federales fondean el Oregon Health Plan, que es el Sistema Médico de Oregon, por lo que los CCOs son responsables de administrar su operación lo más eficientemente posible.

Vea el reporte (en inglés), en: www.oregon.gov/oha/metrics.


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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.


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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.