Colorado Bill Aims At Free Contraceptive Care For Immigrants

AP: Colorado Bill Would Give Free Contraceptives To Immigrants
A Colorado bill would provide free contraceptives and reproductive care to people living in the U.S. illegally. The legislation, heard by the House Health and Insurance committee Wednesday, aims to create a reproductive health care program within the state health department to provide contraceptives, management of birth control products or devices and counseling to people who do not qualify for Medicaid because of their citizenship or immigration status. Democratic Rep. Yadira Caraveo, one of the bill’s sponsors, cited medical studies that show access to contraception leads to declines in maternal and infant mortality and higher graduation rates among young women. (Nieberg, 5/27)

AP: Maine Not Planning On A State Vaccine Passport System
Maine officials are not planning to develop a statewide vaccine passport system for COVID-19 shot recipients. Maine Department of Health and Human Services Commissioner Jeanne Lambrew said such a system would be a challenge because of questions such as how it would work across state lines and how the state would protect residents’ privacy. She said Wednesday the state isn’t looking to create one. The state supports private businesses that want to request coronavirus vaccine verification, Lambrew said. She said businesses should make sure any verification systems they use are in line with state laws. (5/27)

KPBS: Millions In COVID-19 Relief Proposed For San Diego First Responders, Military Families
The federal government has allocated over $300 million in COVID-19 relief funds to San Diego County through the American Rescue Plan. San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond wants to allocate $40 million of those funds to a grant program for first responders and military families. He announced the plan at a Tuesday morning news conference.Desmond’s proposal would provide up to $6,000 or three months of back rent or back mortgage payments to first responder and military households. (Mae, 5/25)

Health News Florida: Pasco, Citrus Facing Increased Risk Of Mosquitoes Carrying Eastern Equine Encephalitis 
Pasco and Citrus county officials are urging residents to protect themselves against mosquitoes. Sentinel chickens in both counties have tested positive in recent weeks for Eastern Equine Encephalitis, a rare but deadly mosquito-borne illness. Only a very small portion of people bit by a mosquito carrying the virus develop the disease. But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates about a third of those die and many survivors suffer brain damage. (Colombini, 5/26)

North Carolina Health News: Ban On Visiting Nursing Homes Gone, Obstacles Remain
Lingering confusion, personal anger and legal questions still surround the subject of COVID-era visits by relatives and caregivers to North Carolina’s long-term care homes. And much remains to be resolved — likely with pending legislation — following the havoc and heartbreak that COVID-19 brought to an ill-prepared system, said N.C. speakers brought together by NC AARP for an update. Rebecca Chaplin, associate state director of AARP’s Mountain Region, called the issue “a hot topic with lots of confusion.” (Goldsmith, 5/27)

KHN: Confronting Our ‘Frailties’: California’s Assembly Leader Reflects On A Year Of Covid
When his 20-month-old daughter developed a rash earlier this month, Anthony Rendon did what many other parents do when their child is sick: The speaker of the California Assembly took Vienna to her pediatrician — but he did so via video from the comfort and safety of his home. Many Californians have relied on telehealth to connect with their health care providers during the covid-19 pandemic, but the option isn’t available to everyone. That imbalance is just one of the “frailties” in America’s health system that Rendon says lawmakers must address. (Young, 5/27)