February 10, 2017 Edition
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors appointed Barbie Robinson as the Sonoma County Director of Health Services. Ms. Robinson joined Sonoma County in February 2016 and has been serving as Interim Director since September 2016. Prior to that role, she served the county as Assistant Health Director. Ms. Robinson brings over 21 years of experience as a health administrator, which includes her experience at the federal level as the Associate Regional Administrator with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Please join us in congratulating Ms. Robinson on her appointment.
Today, the Bureau of Medical Cannabis Regulation (BMCR) announced they are now accepting applications for the Cannabis Advisory Committee to advise the bureau on matters relating to both medical and adult recreational use of cannabis. This statewide committee will provide feedback to BMCR, the Department of Food & Agriculture, and the Department of Public Health on the development of regulations for both programs. Applications can be found on the BMCR website, and they are looking for public health expertise representatives to serve on the Committee.
CHEAC joined over 350 organizations, both state and national, in a joint letter to President Trump on vaccine safety. The letter highlighted vaccines as safest and most cost-effective way of preventing disease, disability and death. The letter further dismisses the notion that vaccines are unsafe and provided a list of studies that demonstrate the safety of vaccines. A full copy of the letter can be found here.
Additionally, the Washington Post reported on the letter. The article can be found here.
Early this morning, the Senate voted to approve, along party lines 52-47, the confirmation of Georgia Congressman Tom Price as Secretary of Health and Human Services. Price will be expected to implement the repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), once fleshed out by Congress and the Administration. However, in the meantime, the President’s Executive Order on the grants Secretary Price the authority to waive, defer, grant exemptions from or delay the implementation of any provisions of the ACA.
Recall, last year Price introduced his replacement plan for the ACA, Empowering Patients, of which a few key elements are noted below:
- Repeals the Medicaid expansion and offers no replacement;
- It allows increased insurance premiums for patients do not maintain continuous coverage;
- Eliminates the ten essential health benefits; and
- Would provide tax credits based on age.
Yesterday, a panel of three judges from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals denied the Trump Administration’s request to overturn US District Court Judge Robart’s ruling that placed a nationwide temporary restraining order on the Administration’s Executive Order imposing a travel ban on travelers coming from seven countries in the Middle East and Africa. California, along with several other states, filed briefs challenging the constitutionality of the ban. Trump ‘s response via twitter included “See you in court…”, suggesting the Administration may appeal to the US Supreme Court. If the court decides to not review the 9th Circuit ruling, the temporary halt on the travel ban would remain in place while Judge Robart continues to study the constitutionality of the order.
This week, NACCHO released their 2016 National Profile of Local Health Departments study exploring local health department funding, workforce, programs and partnerships. The main report can be viewed here. A summary of findings can be viewed in the 2016 Profile Highlights Report.
Plumas County received the California State Association of Counties’ top Challenge Award honor in 2016, the California County’s Innovation Award, for their 20,000 Lives initiative, which sought to improve the quality of life by bringing the entire community together for change. CSAC produced a brief video highlighting initiative, which can be viewed here.
Registration for the 2017 Let’s Get Healthy Innovation Conference is now open. The conference will take place on February 27, 2017 from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm at the Sacramento Convention Center and will focus on innovations happening in communities across the state.
To register, please visit the link here.
There is only one week remaining until registration for the LGA MAA/TCM Conference closes. The conference will take place on April 18-20, 2017, in Santa Rosa. The Conference includes workshops focused on the various aspects of the Medi-Cal Administrative Activities and Targeted Case Management programs, including claiming plans, new opportunities and present challenges. Conference details and registration can be found here.
The American Public Health Association, the Prevention Institute, the Public Health Institute and the Trust for America’s Health are co-sponsoring a webinar on Tuesday, February 28, from 11:30 am until 1:00 pm entitled Leadership Approaches to Defending and Advancing Prevention and Public Health. Their panel of experts will highlight policy priorities for advancing prevention and wellness with the Trump Administration and Congress.