BARHII, Public Health Alliance Issue Brief, Schedule Webinar on Equity and Emergency Operations

COVID-19, Reports, Webinars | July 31, 2020

BARHII, Public Health Alliance Issue Brief, Schedule Webinar on Equity and Emergency Operations

The Bay Area Reducing Health Inequities Initiative (BARHII) and the Public Health Alliance of Southern California this week released the brief “Embedding Equity into Emergency Operations: Strategies for Local Health Departments During COVID-19 and Beyond.” The brief outlines case studies, resources, and priority recommendations for counties and cities to explicitly and intentionally embed equity staff…

Read More »
Legislative Updates | July 24, 2020

Legislature Returns from Summer Recess Next Week

Both houses of California’s Legislature are slated to return next week to dispense with second house policy committee meetings, appropriations committee meetings, and floor sessions, in a five-week condensed schedule. According to reports, there are over 700 legislative proposals for both houses to consider during this period. Senate Committees are anticipated to also include meetings…

Read More »
Announcements, COVID-19 | July 24, 2020

State Orders Stockpiling of Masks, Extends BYD Contract

On Wednesday, Governor Gavin Newsom announced a series of actions related to personal protective equipment (PPE) to further strengthen the state’s response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Governor Newsom has directed the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the Office of Emergency Services (OES) to increase the state’s strategic stockpile to 100 million N-95…

Read More »
Announcements, Medi-Cal Waiver | July 24, 2020

DHCS Releases Formal Medi-Cal 2020 12-Month Extension Request

On Wednesday, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) released its proposed Medi-Cal 2020 12-month extension request. Recall, California’s Section 1115(a) Medicaid waiver, entitled Medi-Cal 2020, was approved by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on December 30, 2015 and is effective through December 31, 2020. DHCS intended to launch California Advancing…

Read More »
COVID-19, Federal | July 24, 2020

CDC Issues New K-12 School COVID-19 Guidance

Late this week, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued guidance for K-12 school administrators who are preparing for students, teachers, and staff to return to school for in-person instruction this fall. The guidance, which includes various tools and resources, details mitigation strategies (e.g., social distancing, face coverings, cohorting), communication and messaging…

Read More »
COVID-19, Federal | July 24, 2020

CMS Announces New COVID-19 Resources for Nursing Facilities

The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) this week announced a series of initiatives intended to protect nursing home residents throughout the country from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. These actions include: $5 Billion in Additional Funding – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will dedicate $5 billion of the Provider…

Read More »
COVID-19, Federal, Reports | July 24, 2020

CBPP Releases Report on Hardship, Joblessness, and Health Impacts of COVID-19

The Center for Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) this week released a report detailing hardship facing millions of Americans amid the COVID-19 pandemic and the need for key additional relief measures in forthcoming Congressional legislation. The report highlights emerging data showing a large and growing number of households are struggling to afford food and are…

Read More »
Legislative Updates | July 17, 2020

Legislative Session Schedule Still Uncertain

As we reported to you last week, the Legislature, scheduled to return this week, extended their recess until July 27 after two Assembly Members and several legislative staffers contracted COVID-19. At this time, the plan remains for members and limited staff to return on Monday, July 27; however, the calendar for legislative hearings still remains…

Read More »