DENVER -- Además de carecer de pruebas la ropa protectora adecuada para los trabajadores de la salud, los centros de salud de Colorado autorizados a nivel federal enfrentan enormes retos financieros al ajustar sus prácticas con motivo de la dispersión del coronavirus.

Los centros comunitarios de salud de Colorado hicieron una remodelación completa de sus esquemas de prestación de servicios en respuesta a la crisis del COVID-19, y están listos para recibir un enorme golpe en su capacidad de continuar brindando cuidados, si el Congreso no aprueba un fondeo crítico.

Polly Anderson, vice presidenta de estrategia y financiamiento en la Red Comunitaria de Salud de Colorado (Colorado Community Health Network), dice que además los centros no tienen suficiente vestimenta de protección para el personal, ni suficientes equipos de pruebas.

"Los centros de salud necesitan fondos de inmediato para seguir operativos y seguir sirviendo en la primera fila en esta crisis de salud pública. También necesitamos que el Congreso actúe y vuelva a autorizar los fondos federales para estos programas y no estar en aprietos cada mes, cuando más nos necesitan."

Los recursos federales para el bache provisional de fondos de los centros, aprobados en diciembre, expiran el 22 de mayo, y Anderson dice que muchos miembros del personal podrán enfrentar licencias sin más apoyo. A los Centros se les reembolsará por los servicios de "telehealth" (tele-salud) a través de proveedores autorizados por Medicaid para facturar, luego de que el Gobernador Jared Polis declarara un alivio temporal.

Pero Anderson señala que la medida sólo cubrirá parcialmente los costos totales de los centros.

Anderson dice que el Congreso también debería permitir reembolsos por cuidados "telesalud" a pacientes en serio peligro de complicaciones por el COVID-19. Además de animar a los clientes a seguir las recomendaciones CDC para reducir la velocidad de la curva de infecciones, los centros ya separan las visitas de pacientes saludables, de las de pacientes con síntomas.

"Los centros de salud están aquí para ti. Llama antes de venir, para que puedan seguir en pantalla sus procedimientos localizados y asegurarse de no exponer a la gente al contacto innecesario con otros individuos."

Anderson dice que los centros de salud que atienden a los coloradeños sin importar su capacidad de pago seguirán haciendo todo lo que puedan con un equipo de trabajo que está orientado a su misión, dedicado a sus pacientes y sus comunidades, mientras tratan de encontrar cómo mantener sus propias familias sanas y salvas.

Access to reduced-price medication is a necessity for many rural Missourians with low income.

Rep. Cindy O'Laughlin, R-Shelbina, the Senate Floor Leader, said Big Pharma is trying to confuse legislators with unrelated hot-button topics such as abortion access and illegal immigration in a last-ditch effort to stop the state from joining a program to force drugmakers to sell medicines at a discount.

"Appealing to nuclear topics, which really do not apply in this situation, is a disingenuous way to try to defeat a bill that is actually good for Missouri," O'Laughlin asserted.

O'Laughlin pointed out the program is transparent, and uses the tax money saved to help low-income families deal with chronic conditions such as diabetes.

The drugmakers object to the government forcing them to give significant discounts, arguing hospitals' and for-profit pharmacies' bottom lines, particularly those owned by pharmacy benefits managers, are being exploited. Nationally, 46% of contract pharmacy agreements involve pharmacies linked to the three largest benefits managers.

Rep. Tara Peters, R-Rolla, introduced the 340B contract pharmacy access billand said the lobbying is absurd.

"Federally, 340B program does not allow for abortion drugs," Peters stressed. "Why would any legislation that we're trying to pass in the state allow for that? I mean, the thought of that even being in existence is absolutely ludicrous."

The Missouri Senate passed the bill 27-3 on Monday and it now goes to the House.


get more stories like this via email

Alabama is running out of time to tackle Medicaid expansion this legislative session.

More than 230 people gathered earlier this month with the group Alabama Arise, urging state lawmakers to prioritize the issue. Their message: Access to health care isn't just a matter of policy, it can be a matter of life and death.

Debbie Smith, Cover Alabama campaign director for Alabama Arise, said as the session winds down, the group will continue to echo the call for increased access to health coverage. She thinks it would not only save lives but revitalize communities across the state.

"Over 80% of our rural hospitals are operating in the red," Smith pointed out. "Not a great stat. About 19 rural hospitals are at immediate risk of closure, and those are the lifeblood of those communities. They're on life support."

Smith emphasized hospitals at financial risk also put their workforce at risk. Those who are against Medicaid expansion believe it is ultimately unaffordable for the state. However, Smith argued it could save the state nearly $400 million over the next six years. According to the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama, those savings would be enough to cover the cost.

The council's study also showed Medicaid expansion would generate nearly $2 billion of economic growth. Beyond economic benefits, Smith pointed to the stark disparities in maternal and infant mortality rates in Alabama.

She stressed Medicaid expansion would do more than provide health care coverage during pregnancy or postpartum, it is about ensuring comprehensive coverage.

"We've been lucky enough to expand Medicaid coverage up to 12 months postpartum but we still need to figure out how to cover people before they even get pregnant," Smith asserted. "It's really important for people to have health coverage so they can address any kind of issues they might have, like if they have diabetes or high blood pressure that might affect their pregnancy in the future."

With limited time left in the legislative session, she noted one option could be Gov. Kay Ivey's executive authority to enact Medicaid expansion. Smith added using the power could be the simplest path forward, backed by the promise of additional funding from the American Rescue Plan.

A Connecticut bill would expand the state's paid sick leave law.

The initial 2011 law requires 40 hours of paid sick leave for workers at employers with 50 businesses or more. The new bill covers all workers regardless of their employer's size.

Janée Woods Weber, executive director of the nonprofit She Leads Justice, said the legislation can benefit workers without access to paid sick leave.

"These are people for whom taking a few hours off when their child has a cold or perhaps they need to take themselves to a doctor's appointment are the kinds of challenges that many of us don't worry about, those of us who do have access to paid sick days," Woods Weber explained.

Small businesses were concerned about how the change could affect them. To address worries, the bill has a three-year implementation cycle giving them time to adapt. It also creates a task force studying the feasibility of providing tax credits to businesses with the smallest workforces. The bill passed the House and awaits a vote in the Senate.

An estimated 11% of workers are eligible for paid sick leave under the current criteria. Though expanding the law has taken over a decade, Woods Weber argued it has always been necessary.

"Nobody should be forced to make what is often times a very difficult and sometimes impossible choice between their livelihood," Woods Weber emphasized. "Getting a paycheck and getting to take paid time off to take care of themselves or a loved one if they get sick."

She added once the bill is passed, the state can build on it by allowing people to earn additional time off, at least up to 40 hours. It stems from the pandemic, when people had to isolate for up to five days if they contracted COVID-19, which could burn through their allotted sick time.


get more stories like this via email