On Thursday, the Biden-Harris Administration released Equity Action Plans from more than 90 federal agencies, including all Cabinet-level agencies, that identify more than 300 concrete strategies and commitments to address systemic barriers in policies and programs that disproportionately impact underserved communities. The equity plans are pursuant to Executive Order 13985 issued by President Joseph R….
Read More »This week, the Biden-Harris Administration announced a series of new actions to protect consumers and lessen the burden of medical debt on American families. According to the Administration, one-in-three adults in the U.S. have medical debt with implications on financial, physical, and mental health. As part of the Administration’s efforts to strengthen access to affordable,…
Read More »The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through its Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), this week announced the availability of $226.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to launch the Community Health Worker Training Program. The new program aims to increase the number of community health workers who play a…
Read More »The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) this week, in observance of Black Maternal Health Week, announced a series of actions aimed at reducing maternal morbidity and mortality in the U.S. CMS released additional details about its proposed “Birthing-Friendly” hospital designation intended to drive improvements in maternal health outcomes. According to CMS, the…
Read More »On Monday, the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued its FY 2023 Skilled Nursing Facilities Prospective Payment System (SNF PPS) proposed rule seeking public feedback on how staffing in nursing homes and health equity improvements could lead to better health outcomes. According to CMS, the proposed rule builds upon the Biden-Harris Administration’s…
Read More »The California Department of Public Health Healthy Aging Initiative has announced it will host a virtual convening on Thursday, June 24, 2022. The event will feature presentations and a keynote address by Dr. Reginald Tucker-Seely and Shonta Chambers focused on aging and health equity, measurement, and defining success. The meeting will bring together state and…
Read More »The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Center for Health Policy Research (CHPR) recently published a policy paper entitled, “Opening Doors for All: Improving Health in Housing and Homelessness.” The policy paper follows a 2021 virtual event convened by UCLA CHPR focused on the intersection of health and homelessness, emphasizing lessons learned to inform California…
Read More »CHEAC celebrated the 2022 National Public Health Week (NPHW) each day this week, highlighting the critical role of governmental public health agencies in promoting and protecting the health of all residents. This week’s themes focused on specific public health topics and included: Monday: Racism: A Public Health Crisis Tuesday: Public Health Workforce: Essential to our…
Read More »Upon adjournment of Senate and Assembly Floor Sessions yesterday, California lawmakers began their 10-day Spring Recess. Legislators are set to return to Sacramento on Monday, April 18. When lawmakers return to Sacramento, they face an April 29 deadline to hear and advance bills with a fiscal impact from policy committees to fiscal committees in their…
Read More »This week, the Senate Rules Committee held a hearing to review the appointment of three nominees from Governor Newsom: California Health and Human Services Agency (CalHHS) Undersecretary Marko Mijic, CalHHS Deputy Secretary for Program and Fiscal Affairs Brendan McCarthy, and Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) Director Michelle Baass. Members of the committee questioned all…
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