What We're Reading: Idaho, Utah Crimp Medicaid Expansion; Election Effects on Birth Control; Calif. Targets Worker Shortage

Utah, Idaho Republican Legislatures Seeking to Curb Voter-Backed Medicaid Expansions

Voters in the red states of Utah and Idaho voted to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act last fall, but The New York Times reported that Republican legislatures in both those states are seeking ways to roll back those expansions. Idaho is considering adding work requirements, and Utah wants federal approval of a waiver that it would get extra federal money without a full expansion.

Long-Acting Reversible Contraception Surged After Election of President Trump

Women sought out long-acting reversible contraception after the election of President Donald Trump, a JAMA study reported. The Hill reported that there was a 21.6% increase in the insertion rates of long-acting reversible contraception, like intrauterine devices and implants, in the 30 days after Trump was elected.

California Report Recommends $3 Billion in Spending to Address Worker Shortage, Training Issues

A California coalition of health, labor, and education leaders cited a dearth of healthcare workers in recommending a workforce investment plan calling for spending up to $3 billion over 10 years to address the shortfall. California Healthline reported that several possible funding sources were mentioned. The California Future Health Workforce Commission proposes creating more primary care and psychiatric residency slots, increasing the use of nurse practitioners, boosting scholarships for low-income students who agree to work in underserved areas, and expanding the supply and training of home care workers.