February 2017
National Clinical Care Commission Act (H.R. 309) Passes House
On January 10th, the House passed the National Clinical Care Commission Act, which now awaits hearings in the Senate. H.R. 309 would amend the Public Health Service Act to establish a National Clinical Care Commission within the Department of Health and Human Services. This commission would act to create more effective care coordination for Americans with diabetes and related complex autoimmune and complex metabolic diseases.
The committee would be composed of the heads of various health agencies, including the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Veterans Affairs, and the Indian Health Service as well as experts in the fields of endocrinology and primary care and patient advocates. This bill, if passed, could bring care coordination to the forefront of healthcare and stand to improve public health.
On January 10th, the House passed the National Clinical Care Commission Act, which now awaits hearings in the Senate. H.R. 309 would amend the Public Health Service Act to establish a National Clinical Care Commission within the Department of Health and Human Services. This commission would act to create more effective care coordination for Americans with diabetes and related complex autoimmune and complex metabolic diseases.
The committee would be composed of the heads of various health agencies, including the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Veterans Affairs, and the Indian Health Service as well as experts in the fields of endocrinology and primary care and patient advocates. This bill, if passed, could bring care coordination to the forefront of healthcare and stand to improve public health.
November 2016
Pennsylvania Legislature Passes Legislation to Combat Opioid Addiction
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf has signed into law a set of new legislation designed to help combat the current opioid addiction epidemic.
The new laws will limit the amount of opioids both emergency room physicians and pediatricians can prescribe to no more than a weeks supply (with limited exceptions), and require healthcare providers to refer to a state opioid database before writing prescriptions. Additionally, they are also require medical education to include “safe opioid prescribing” curricula and emphasize the use of other treatments in pain management. They also call for the establishment of safe drug take back programs throughout the state.
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf has signed into law a set of new legislation designed to help combat the current opioid addiction epidemic.
The new laws will limit the amount of opioids both emergency room physicians and pediatricians can prescribe to no more than a weeks supply (with limited exceptions), and require healthcare providers to refer to a state opioid database before writing prescriptions. Additionally, they are also require medical education to include “safe opioid prescribing” curricula and emphasize the use of other treatments in pain management. They also call for the establishment of safe drug take back programs throughout the state.
October 2016
School District of Philadelphia to Expand Water Testing Measures
In light of the fears and recent report issued regarding childhood lead exposure, the School District of Philadelphia announced that it will be expanding it’s water testing to include all schools within the district.
In addition to testing every school’s water supply, the school district has also begun to release reports that detail which schools contained contaminated drinking fountains which have all been shut down and are in the process of being replaced. The reports can be found on the School District of Philadelphia’s website.
In light of the fears and recent report issued regarding childhood lead exposure, the School District of Philadelphia announced that it will be expanding it’s water testing to include all schools within the district.
In addition to testing every school’s water supply, the school district has also begun to release reports that detail which schools contained contaminated drinking fountains which have all been shut down and are in the process of being replaced. The reports can be found on the School District of Philadelphia’s website.
May 2016
240 United States Health Centers to Receive $290 million from Health and Human Services
On May 4th, 2016, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Sylvia Burwell awarded $290 million from the Affordable Care Act’s Community Health Center (CHC) Fund to 240 health centers. The health centers are located throughout 45 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia, and are expected to use the money provided for new construction, renovations, or expansions of centers already in place.
By supporting and facilitating construction and renovation efforts, HHS believes that these health centers will be in a position to provide expanded services and improved care to their patients.
On May 4th, 2016, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Sylvia Burwell awarded $290 million from the Affordable Care Act’s Community Health Center (CHC) Fund to 240 health centers. The health centers are located throughout 45 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia, and are expected to use the money provided for new construction, renovations, or expansions of centers already in place.
By supporting and facilitating construction and renovation efforts, HHS believes that these health centers will be in a position to provide expanded services and improved care to their patients.
April 2016
Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016 (CARA) Passes in the Senate
The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016 (CARA), a bill that aims to fortify the public health response to prescription and opioid abuse, passed the Senate this March. The bill aims to establish a new $5 million grant program to fortify both past and current Drug Free Community Grantees with the goal of minimizing prescription drug abuse. CARA will launch a number of new prevention programs and increase support for pre-existing programs while also supporting treatment plans for incarcerated individuals who suffer from addiction. In addition to these prevention and treatment programs, CARA will strengthen existing prescription drug monitoring programs and expand the availability of life-saving Naloxone to first responders.
The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016 (CARA), a bill that aims to fortify the public health response to prescription and opioid abuse, passed the Senate this March. The bill aims to establish a new $5 million grant program to fortify both past and current Drug Free Community Grantees with the goal of minimizing prescription drug abuse. CARA will launch a number of new prevention programs and increase support for pre-existing programs while also supporting treatment plans for incarcerated individuals who suffer from addiction. In addition to these prevention and treatment programs, CARA will strengthen existing prescription drug monitoring programs and expand the availability of life-saving Naloxone to first responders.
February 2016
Child nicotine poisoning prevention signed into law
On Jan. 28, President Barack Obama signed the Child Nicotine Poisoning Prevention Act of 2015 into law. The law requires the use of child-resistant packaging for liquid nicotine containers used for e-cigarettes and other vaping devices.
According to the American Association of Poison Control Centers, e-cigarette devices and liquid nicotine exposures reported to poison centers jumped from 271 cases in 2011 to 3,067 cases in 2015. Liquid nicotine products are often sold in containers without any child-proofing and come in bright colors and candy flavors. This makes them attractive to children, which could lead to accidental exposure and ingestion. Liquid nicotine can be absorbed quickly through the skin as well as ingested, and even very small doses can be lethal to small children.
On Jan. 28, President Barack Obama signed the Child Nicotine Poisoning Prevention Act of 2015 into law. The law requires the use of child-resistant packaging for liquid nicotine containers used for e-cigarettes and other vaping devices.
According to the American Association of Poison Control Centers, e-cigarette devices and liquid nicotine exposures reported to poison centers jumped from 271 cases in 2011 to 3,067 cases in 2015. Liquid nicotine products are often sold in containers without any child-proofing and come in bright colors and candy flavors. This makes them attractive to children, which could lead to accidental exposure and ingestion. Liquid nicotine can be absorbed quickly through the skin as well as ingested, and even very small doses can be lethal to small children.
December 2015
The Minority Diabetes Initiative Act
(H.R. 4209) will amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize grants to physicians and community-based organizations for a variety of diabetes-related health services including public education on diabetes prevention and control, and routine health care for diabetic patients, eye care, foot care and treatment for kidney disease and other complications of diabetes.
Diabetes can lead to serious complications including high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney disease, nerve damage, lower-limb amputations, or even death. Diabetes is the 7th leading cause of death in the U.S. and disproportionately affects racial and economically disadvantaged minority groups in America. African-Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, Pacific Islanders and Asians have a 50-100% higher prevalence of diabetes, as well as a higher rate of complications or death from diabetes than White Americans. By improving funding for minority health initiatives, diseases such as diabetes which disproportionately affect minorities could steadily decrease in prevalence.
Introduced: 12/10/15
(H.R. 4209) will amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize grants to physicians and community-based organizations for a variety of diabetes-related health services including public education on diabetes prevention and control, and routine health care for diabetic patients, eye care, foot care and treatment for kidney disease and other complications of diabetes.
Diabetes can lead to serious complications including high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney disease, nerve damage, lower-limb amputations, or even death. Diabetes is the 7th leading cause of death in the U.S. and disproportionately affects racial and economically disadvantaged minority groups in America. African-Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, Pacific Islanders and Asians have a 50-100% higher prevalence of diabetes, as well as a higher rate of complications or death from diabetes than White Americans. By improving funding for minority health initiatives, diseases such as diabetes which disproportionately affect minorities could steadily decrease in prevalence.
Introduced: 12/10/15
November 2015
The Reducing Gun Violence in Our Neighborhoods Act (H.R. 3830) aims to reduce gun violence, increase mental health counseling, and enhance tracking of lost and stolen firearms. The bill proposes a $100 tax on the sale of any firearm and mandates the Treasury of the US to create a 'Gun Violence Reduction and Mental Health Counseling Trust Fund' for community mental health services and crime control services.The bill also calls for a national standard for passive identification capability meaning that every firearm would be equipped with a form of technology that enables it to be identified by a mobile or fixed reading device. Failure to report the loss or theft of a firearm would result in a $10,000 fine per unreported firearm.
Another bill introduced to congress (H.R. 3411) aims at enforcing criminal background checks for every firearm sale. The bill also requires that any individual prohibited from purchasing a firearm is listed in the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, including individuals who have been “adjudicated as a mental defective.”
The two bills are a step towards limiting the prevalence of guns in hopes that this will reduce gun violence in communities overall. The requirement of mental health counseling and denying the sale of firearms to individuals who have a history of struggling with mental health illnesses will increase the importance and credibility of proper mental health.
Introduced: 7/29/15 (H.R. 3411) & 10/26/15 (H.R. 3830)
Act now and tell Congress to pass this bill!
Another bill introduced to congress (H.R. 3411) aims at enforcing criminal background checks for every firearm sale. The bill also requires that any individual prohibited from purchasing a firearm is listed in the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, including individuals who have been “adjudicated as a mental defective.”
The two bills are a step towards limiting the prevalence of guns in hopes that this will reduce gun violence in communities overall. The requirement of mental health counseling and denying the sale of firearms to individuals who have a history of struggling with mental health illnesses will increase the importance and credibility of proper mental health.
Introduced: 7/29/15 (H.R. 3411) & 10/26/15 (H.R. 3830)
Act now and tell Congress to pass this bill!
The Community-Based Gang Intervention Act responds to the growing burden of gang violence by providing grant monies and outlining parameters for effective community-based interventions.
The United States has only 5 percent of the world’s population, but 25 percent of the world’s prisoners.With increased prison costs, vital social programs and services such as education, job creation, housing, and healthcare are being cut or eliminated to maintain the prison industry.
The most recent data reveals that in 1998, states spent nearly $4,200,000,000 on “juvenile justice” related programs. Of those expenditures only 8.4 percent went towards delinquency prevention. This bill supports developing a comprehensive violence reduction strategy, acknowledging and addressing larger, entrenched social conditions and issues such as poverty, homelessness, inadequate educational systems, and limited economic opportunities that give rise to gangs and gang violence.
This act offers holistic and comprehensive support for the variety of community-based gang intervention activities that focus on and engage active and former gang members, their close associates, and gang members in and returning from confinement. This act provides definitions of terms and services related to community-based gang intervention to ensure that funding for such intervention is utilized in a cost-effective manner and that community-based agencies are held accountable for providing holistic, integrated intervention services.
Introduced: 10/15/15
The United States has only 5 percent of the world’s population, but 25 percent of the world’s prisoners.With increased prison costs, vital social programs and services such as education, job creation, housing, and healthcare are being cut or eliminated to maintain the prison industry.
The most recent data reveals that in 1998, states spent nearly $4,200,000,000 on “juvenile justice” related programs. Of those expenditures only 8.4 percent went towards delinquency prevention. This bill supports developing a comprehensive violence reduction strategy, acknowledging and addressing larger, entrenched social conditions and issues such as poverty, homelessness, inadequate educational systems, and limited economic opportunities that give rise to gangs and gang violence.
This act offers holistic and comprehensive support for the variety of community-based gang intervention activities that focus on and engage active and former gang members, their close associates, and gang members in and returning from confinement. This act provides definitions of terms and services related to community-based gang intervention to ensure that funding for such intervention is utilized in a cost-effective manner and that community-based agencies are held accountable for providing holistic, integrated intervention services.
Introduced: 10/15/15
The Protecting our Infants Act of 2015 requires the federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to report on prenatal opioid abuse (abuse of opioid drugs during pregnancy) and neonatal abstinence syndrome (the symptoms of withdrawal in a newborn).
The report must include:
The Department of Health and Human Services must review its activities related to prenatal opioid use and neonatal abstinence syndrome and develop a strategy to address gaps in research and programs.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must provide technical assistance to states to improve neonatal abstinence syndrome surveillance and make surveillance data publicly available.
Introduced: 3/15/15 Passed by Senate: 10/22/15
The report must include:
- assessment of existing research on neonatal abstinence syndrome
- evaluation of the causes and barriers to treatment of opioid use disorders among women of reproductive age
- evaluation of treatment for pregnant women with opioid use disorders and infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome
- recommendations on preventing, identifying, and treating opioid dependency in women and neonatal abstinence syndrome
The Department of Health and Human Services must review its activities related to prenatal opioid use and neonatal abstinence syndrome and develop a strategy to address gaps in research and programs.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must provide technical assistance to states to improve neonatal abstinence syndrome surveillance and make surveillance data publicly available.
Introduced: 3/15/15 Passed by Senate: 10/22/15