On Thursday, Johnson & Johnson’s pharmaceutical division Janssen Biotech, Inc. requested from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) an emergency use authorization (EUA) for its single-dose COVID-19 vaccine. According to Johnson & Johnson, the COVID-19 vaccine has a 72 percent efficacy rate in the U.S., but only a 57 percent efficacy rate in South…
Read More »This week, the White House announced the purchase of 8.5 million rapid at-home COVID-19 tests that can be taken without a prescription. Recall, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an EUA to Ellume in December 2020 for its at-home rapid COVID-19 test. The Biden-Harris Administration this week indicated it reached a $231.8 million…
Read More »This week, the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) released instructions for counties interested in changing Medi-Cal Managed Care (MCMC) models. In 2021, DHCS will begin a statewide procurement process for commercial MCMC plans. Multiple counties have expressed interest in transitioning to a MCMC model that includes a local plan. If a county transitions…
Read More »The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) released its telehealth policy recommendations consisting of broad-based telehealth policy changes that would remain permanent fixtures following the eventual termination of the COVID-19 public health emergency. At a high-level, DHCS is seeking to modify or expand the use of synchronous telehealth, asynchronous telehealth, telephonic/audio-only, other virtual communication,…
Read More »The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) recently issued its bimonthly update of important events and actions at DHCS. In its February 2021 update, DHCS provides various information and updates related to California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM), the COVID-19 public health emergency, and multiple programs, including the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) screenings program,…
Read More »The Prevention Institute will be hosting a peer learning forum on trauma-informed approaches during catastrophic events, including the COVID-19 pandemic. The learning forum will be held on February 17 from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm and will feature representatives from local governments, academia, and community-based organizations. The objectives of the webinar include: Describe key features…
Read More »Throughout this week, numerous CHEAC Members met virtually with Senators, Assembly Members, and staff to highlight the role and value of local health departments in California. As part of the 2021 State Legislative Member Education Event, CHEAC had 26 members representing 17 local health departments, including a balance of large, medium, and small jurisdictions, conduct…
Read More »Early this week, Governor Gavin Newsom, Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins, and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon announced an agreement to extend the eviction moratorium in the California through June 30, 2021. The state’s eviction moratorium, initially imposed amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, was set to expire on January 31, 2021. Both the Senate and…
Read More »On Thursday, the California Assembly Select Committee on Latina Inequities convened an informational hearing entitled, “Unseen Latinas: Economic and Health Impacts on Latinas During the COVID-19 Pandemic.” Thursday’s hearing was the select committee’s inaugural hearing and featured two panels of expert witnesses to discuss the economic and health implications of the ongoing COVID-19 public health…
Read More »Of particular note this week, Assembly Member Shirley Weber was confirmed to be California’s Secretary of State by the Senate on a 29-0 vote and the Assembly on a 70-0 vote. Recall, Governor Newsom nominated Weber for the position after appointing Alex Padilla to the U.S. Senate, filling the vacancy created by the election of…
Read More »