Five on Friday: ACA Premiums, Silicosis, Extreme Heat Deaths in Puerto Rico, and Refugee Health

It’s Friday! Remember when mid-August was still summer vacation? Many MCNers’ kiddos are already back at school. Whether you’re reading poolside or scrambling to buy the list of school supplies and a new backpack, we’ve got you covered on the migrant health front. Here are four pieces of news you may have missed, plus one Weekly Win.

Marysel shared an article (in Spanish, from Metro Puerto Rico) with startling and troubling data on the impact of extreme heat. Studies estimate that deaths in Puerto Rico increased between 23 and 47% during high-heat days.

Link: Extreme Heat Already Causing Excess Deaths in Puerto Rico | Metro Puerto Rico

Claire forwarded The Conversation’s article detailing the results of a survey of refugees, that found that language barriers and bureaucratic challenges are among the reasons refugees struggle to get health care.

Link: For Refugees to the US, Discrimination Can Make Health Care Harder to Get

Hold on to your hats: A 15% median increase in health insurance premiums is likely coming to the ACA in 2027. KFF notes that would be the second consecutive year of double-digit premium increases. This year’s premium increase median was 20%.

Link: ACA Marketplace Insurers Are Proposing a Median Premium Increase of About 15% in 2027

A new report shared by Becky, which was covered by many media sites including CIDRAP, found about 600 cases of silicosis including 31 fatalities and 65 lung transplants. The study comes on the heels of MCN’s article on Silicosis where we note this is largely a Latino immigrant worker concern. We provide numerous resources for clinicians serving immigrant workers.

Link: Public Health Alerts: Silicosis among workers fabricating engineered stone (‘quartz’) countertops in California, 2019-2026

Weekly Win: Feeling down about vaccination policy updates, falling vaccination rates and vaccine misinformation in your community? MCN’s new vaccination t-shirts help spark conversation while supporting MCN programs! We have two vaccine-related items, “Radically Vaccinated” and “Más vacunas. Menos drama.” and they are available as an organic cotton t-shirt, a sweatshirt, or a tote bag.

Link: Migrant Clinicians Network Merch Store