Richard Hamburg's Daily Health Reform Blog

March 19th Wellness and Prevention Health Reform Digest

admin — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 23:18:48 +0000

Richard Hamburg
Deputy Director
Trust for America’s Health

LATEST NEWS

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Wellness and Prevention
Health Reform Digest

Today’s News (3/19/12)

Thanks, there are now well over 100 national leaders signed onto the Prevention Fund letter to President Obama and Congress. Here’s one more chance to sign on (there are a number of organizations which signed onto an earlier letter on the same subject that we have not yet heard from) – http://healthyamericans.org/health-issues/opportunities-and-deadlines/sign-on-documents/sign-on-letter-to-president-obama-about-pphf-deadline-march-16th. And here’s the list of signatory organizations thus far. http://healthyamericans.org/assets/files/Signatories%20for%20PPHF%20Letter%20to%20President-3-19-12.pdf. The actual letter will have names and electronic signatures attached.

The deadline for a letter seeking support for funding at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH) — http://healthyamericans.org/assets/files/NCEH%20Sign-On%20Letter.pdf — has been extended to Thursday, March 22nd. To sign on, please contact Jack Rayburn at jrayburn@tfah.org.

Healthy Schools Campaign and Trust for America’s Health invite you to support a vision for an education system that promotes health and wellness for all students, Health in Mind: Improving Education Through Wellness. This initiative aims to create a better future for our children and nation by improving health in schools, ensuring children are healthy and ready to learn. While educators know that healthy students are better prepared to learn and succeed in school, current health and education policy miss several simple, vital opportunities to boost academic success through health promotion and school wellness. As part of this effort, the groups will present a report including a vision for healthy students and healthy schools to Secretary of Education Arne Duncan at an event on May 9, 2012 at the National Press Club. We invite your organization sign on to our vision for healthy students and healthy schools. — http://www.healthyschoolscampaign.org/getinvolved/action/healthinmind/vision.php.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has issued a call for proposals for Healthy Eating Research, a program that “supports research on environmental and policy strategies with strong potential to promote healthy eating among children to prevent childhood obesity, especially among lower-income and racial and ethnic populations at highest risk for obesity.” Approximately $1.9 million will be awarded for two award types. For More details and how to apply.

Today, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit upheld an earlier ruling upholding the law prohibiting tobacco companies from making statements implying a tobacco product is safer. The ruling also affirmed the constitutionality of the graphic warning label provision of the law. For a copy of the ruling – http://www.ca6.uscourts.gov/opinions.pdf/12a0076p-06.pdf. Said HHS Secretary Sebelius, “We are encouraged by the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling on the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. Public health initiatives, such as cigarette health warnings, are effective tools in protecting young people from this deadly addiction.”

The two year anniversary of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is this Friday, March 23rd. In addition to the variety of educational brochures on the ACA that we linked to last week – http://www.healthcare.gov/news/brochures/, there are now also state-by-state summaries of the benefits under the Act – http://www.healthcare.gov/law/resources/index.html, and even a Powerpoint — http://www.hhs.gov/intergovernmental/acaresources/. And tomorrow (Tuesday) the White House Office of Public Engagement is hosting a 3:00 p.m. (EDT) conference call with Secretary Sebelius to discuss the two year anniversary. To RSVP and to receive call-in information, click on http://www.whitehouse.gov/webform/affordable-care-act-anniversary-call.

On Friday, the Department of Health and Human Services released an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Preventive Services Policy. For a link to the HHS news release and the notice — http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2012pres/03/20120316g.html. For a preliminary link to the Federal Register notice — https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/03/21/2012-06689/certain-preventive-services-under-affordable-care-act. The docket will be open for comment for 90 days.

Opportunities/Deadlines

{the Opportunities/Deadlines categories are live links which you can click on for further information}

Sign On Documents and Opportunities for Input

The National WIC Association is seeking signatures on a letter to urging a rejection of cuts in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) (deadline, Mar. 23rd)
The American Public Health Association (APHA) is seeking applicants for its 2013 APHA Public Health Fellowship in Government (deadline, April 9th)
A coalition of social scientists is seeking sign-ons to a letter to Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis opposing the department’s virtual elimination of funding for the National Longitudinal Surveys of Youth (no deadline)
National Wildlife Foundation seeks signatures on a letter opposing elimination of federal funding for the EPA’s Office of Environmental Education (no current deadline)
Nemours seeks signatures on a letter in support of the Healthy Kids from Day One Act (no current deadline)

Regulatory Comments

A proposed rule has been posted for Stage 2 Meaningful Use of Electronic Health Records (deadline May 7th)

Funding Opportunities

The Department of Housing and Urban Development has announced the availability of $110 million in grants under the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative to transform public and assisted housing and to revitalize communities. (deadline, April 10th)
The Public Health Foundation has announced its I’m Your Community Guide Contest (deadline, April 30th)
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Roadmaps to Health Community Grants program is now available. (deadline, May 2nd)

Upcoming Events

{new listings in red}

2012 County Health Rankings
Sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute
Tuesday, March 20th, 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. (EDT) – webinar
For more information: http://www.countyhealthrankings.org/
To register: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/719764632?utm_source=Webinars+Reminder+3%2F5%2F12&utm_campaign=March+Webinars+Reminder&utm_medium=email

The Economics of the Obesity Epidemic
Sponsored by the Campaign to End Obesity
Wednesday, March 21st, 2:00 p.m.
1301 Longworth House Office Building
To RSVP: Chris Fox at chris@obesitycampaign.org

Health Equity and the Affordable Care Act
Sponsored by the Health Equity and Accountability Act Community Working Group
Friday, March 23rd, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. (EDT) – webinar
To register: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/720203314

2012 National Association for Health and Fitness Forum
March 25th – 27th, Paris Las Vegas Hotel
Las Vegas, NV
To register: http://www.physicalfitness.org/register.php?eventid=Mw

Local Strategies to Address Point-of-Sale Tobacco Sales and Marketing
Sponsored by the National Association of County & City Health Officials
Tuesday, March 27th, 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. – webinar
To register: https://cc.readytalk.com/cc/s/showReg?udc=oapihvttxwcx

Who’s Leading the Leading Health Indicators? – Maternal, Infant, and Child Health {new}
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Thursday, March 29th, Noon (EDT) – webinar
Register Now

Five Years After the Release of Institute of Medicine’s Tobacco Report: Is the Blueprint for the Nation on Track to End the Tobacco Epidemic?
Sponsored by Legacy
Thursday, March 29th, 12:30 – 2:30 p.m.
1724 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
To register:
http://contacts.americanlegacy.org/reaction/RSGenPage.asp?RSID=XH7JL1ekWIL6CAvmC7Liv1VT4BFH2XtprrUJ8yPeQ6RTkYHR2Z-BDD58GpRTJKJo
And via webinar – www.legacyforhealth.org/WarnerSeries

2012 National Association for Health and Fitness Forum -
Telling the Public Health Story – How to Affect Policy, Engage Elected Officials, and Inspire Citizens {new}
Sponsored by the National Association of Local Boards of Health
Monday, March 29th, 4:00 p.m. EDT – webinar
For details: http://www.nalboh.org/Ned_E_Baker_Lecture.htm

Prevention and Public Health Fund Monthly Strategy Meeting
Sponsored by Trust for America’s Health
Friday, March 30th, 10:00 – 11:30 p.m.
Offices of National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors
444 North Capitol Street, NW (Hall of States)
To RSVP: Harmeet Singh at hsingh@tfah.org

Tuberculosis – Why This Ancient Disease Remains a Global Health Threat
{U.S. Congress World TB Day Congressional Briefing}
Co-sponsored by the American Thoracic Society, Treatment Action Group and partners
Friday, March 30th, Noon – 1:30 p.m.
B-340 Rayburn House Office Building
Please RSVP to chughes@thoracic.org

National Health Impact Assessment Meeting
April 3rd – 4th
Renaissance Washington, DC Downtown Hotel
Call for abstracts: http://www.cvent.com/events/inaugural-national-health-impact-assessment-meeting/custom-18-0636364fcc2b4736b8426eeb85c9da4a.aspx
To Register: http://www.cvent.com/d/2cq8vk

2012 National Health Promotion Summit
Sponsored by the HHS Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion and the
Association For Prevention Teaching and Research
April 10th – 11th, Omni Shoreham Hotel, Washington, DC
For more information: www.aptrweb.org/teachingprevention

Teaching Prevention 2012
Sponsored by the Association For Prevention Teaching and Research
Getting it Together: Prevention in Health Professions Education
April 11th – 12th, Madison Hotel, Washington, DC
For more information: www.aptrweb.org/2012summit

SOPHE 2012 Midyear Scientific Conference – Tuning Up Health Promotion: New Lyrics Across the Lifespan
Sponsored by the Society for Public Health Education
April 11th – 15th
Sheraton Music City Hotel – Nashville, Tennessee
Registration is now open: http://www.sophe.org/2012midyear.cfm

22nd Annual Art & Science of Health Promotion
Sponsored by the American Journal of Health Promotion
April 11th-15th, San Diego, CA
To register: www.HealthPromotionConference.org
For more information: conference2012@healthpromotionconference.org

Society of Behavioral Medicine 33rd Annual Meeting and Scientific Sessions -
Engaging New Partners and Perspectives
April 11th- 14th, Hilton New Orleans Riverside, New Orleans, LA
For more information: http://www.sbm.org/meetings/2012

Promising Practices to Eliminate Tobacco-Related Disparities: The Power of Communities
Sponsored by the Break Free Alliance
April 17th-18th – New Orleans, LA
To Register: http://healthedcouncil.org/promisingpractices_registration.html

Designing and Living in Healthy Cities and Communities {new}
The 2012 California Healthy Cities and Communities Annual Conference
Thursday, April 19th – Los Angeles
For additional information, including registration: http://www.civicpartnerships.org/

SYNChronicity – Connecting To Change To Advance Community Health
HealthHIV’s Annual National Meeting
April 20th – 21st, Sheraton Crystal City Hotel, Arlington, VA
To learn more: www.healthhiv.org/SYNC2012 and to register https://www.mmimeetings.com/Sites/HealthHIV/

Sugary Drinks Summit
Sponsored by the Center for Science in the Public Interest
June 7th-8th, Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.
To register: http://www.fewersugarydrinks.com/elements/pdf/summit_registration.pdf

Save the Date – Series of Viral Hepatitis Summits
May 10th – Ohio Viral Hepatitis Summit, Quest Conference Center, Columbus, OH
September 20th – Kansas Viral Hepatitis Summit, Kansas City Airport Marriott
October 11th – Wisconsin Viral Hepatitis Summit, Sheraton Milwaukee Brookfield Hotel
For more information: Please call (800) 891-0707 or email tkt@hepatitisfoundation.org

The New Public Health – Rewiring for the Future
Midyear meeting of the American Public Health Association
June 26th – 28th, Charlotte, NC
For more information: http://www.apha.org/Midyear

20th Annual NALBOH Conference – Celebrating Achievements, Shaping the Future
August 8th – 10th
Hyatt Regency Downtown – Atlanta, Georgia
For complete conference information visit www.nalboh.org

A Winning Hand for Smokefree Casinos
Ancillary meeting at the National Conference on Tobacco or Health
Sponsored by Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation
Monday, August 13th, 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
For more information: char.day@no-smoke.org

National Conference on Tobacco or Health
August 15th – 17th, Kansas City, MO
To register: http://www.tobaccocontrolconference.org/

2012 Public Health Law Conference – Practical Approaches to Critical Challenges
Sponsored by the American Society of Law, Medicine and Ethics and the Network for Public Health Law
October 10th – 12th, Atlanta, GA
For more information: http://www.networkforphl.org/network_resources/public_health_law_conference_2012/

Trust for America’s Health · 1730 M Street, NW · Suite 900 · Washington, DC 20036 · healthyamericans.org

September 12th Wellness and Prevention Health Reform Digest

admin — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 00:10:26 +0000

Richard Hamburg
Deputy Director
Trust for America’s Health

ACTION ALERT

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Wellness and Prevention
Health Reform Digest

Today’s News (9/12/11)

The Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) is launching National Public Health Department Accreditation at an event this Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. at the National Press. For more details – http://dl.dropbox.com/u/12758866/PHAB%20Launch%20Event%20Announcement%20for%20Web.pdf

The NewPublicHealth.org website is highlighting an excerpt from the new report from TFAH and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Remembering 9/11 and Anthrax: Public Health’s Vital Role in National Defense. Authored by Jack Herrmann of the National Association of County and City Health Officials, No News Wasn’t Good News is highlighted on the site at http://blog.rwjf.org/publichealth/.

The National Association for Sport and Physical Education letter to the House Education and the Workforce Committee supporting the benefits of health and physical education to student success is still accepting sign-ons. — http://healthyamericans.org/assets/files/PE_HE_Core%20Subjects%20in%20ESEA%20sign%20on%20letter.pdf. If interested, please contact Megan Wolfe at MWolfe@AAHPERD.org by Friday, September 16th.

The National Wildlife Foundation is circulating a letter opposing proposed elimination of federal funding for the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Environmental Education. For further information and to access a sign-on form – http://online.nwf.org/site/PageNavigator/Education_EPAEnviroEd_SignOn.html

The National Association of State Alcohol/Drug Abuse Directors (NASADAD) and Alcohol Drug Abuse Prevention, Treatment and Enforcement (ADAPTE International) are leading an effort to save EUDL (Enforcing Underage Drinking Laws) funding. “EUDL provides funds in order to ensure that our nation’s youth are protected from the dangers of alcohol abuse and binge drinking. It is funded through a block grant system, providing $20.8 million to the states in FY 2011, a decrease of 17 percent from FY 2010. If you are interested in signing onto a letter in support (attached PDF), please contact Matthew Scalf at MScalf@nasadad.org.

On Friday, the Department of Health and Human Services announced the “availability of approximately $700 million to help build, expand and improve community health centers across the U.S. to provide needed care to low-income Americans. The funds, authorized by the Affordable Care Act, will support renovation and construction projects, boosting centers’ ability to care for additional patients and creating jobs in those communities.” For more details – http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2011pres/09/20110909a.html.

The American Public Health Association has released a new publication, Lessons from a Virus: Public Health Laboratories Respond to H1N1. The book “highlights the stories of the individual heroes in the 2009 pandemic response — including laboratorians, school nurses, scientists, virologists, and many more — as they raced to prevent the spread of the novel influenza virus with historic speed.” For a link to the news release — http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Real-Life-Contagion-Stories-New-APHL-Book-Reveals-Heroism-H1N1-Pandemic-Response-1558844.htm or directly to the report — http://www.aphl.org/AboutAPHL/publications/Documents/COM_2011Sept_FluStories_Digital.pdf

The 4th annual National Falls Prevention Awareness day is Friday, September 23rd, and will “promote and increase public awareness about how to prevent and reduce falls among older adults — http://www.healthyagingprograms.org/content.asp?sectionid=149. In addition, a Congressional briefing is scheduled for September 21st (details in Upcoming Events). And finally, a revised State Coalitions no Fall Prevention: A Compendium of Initiatives, is now available, “offering a snapshot of each member state’s fall prevention activities.” http://www.healthyagingprograms.com/content.asp?sectionid=69&ElementID=746.

More new event listings below.

EUDL Sign on Letter Final

Opportunities/Deadlines

{the Opportunities/Deadlines categories are live links which you can click on for further information}

Sign On Documents and Opportunities for Input

The Coalition of National Health Education Organizations (CNHEO) is collecting stories on the impact of proposed budget cuts on public health programs (deadline September 19th)
CSPI is seeking sign-ons to its Life’s Sweeter Challenge (no current deadline)

Regulatory Comments

Proposed HHS rule for the Establishment of Exchanges and Qualified Health Plans (deadline September 28th)

Funding Opportunities

None current.

Upcoming Events

National Public Health Department Accreditation {new}
Sponsored by the Public Health Accreditation Board
Wednesday, September 14th, 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
National Press Club – 529 14th Street, NW – 13th floor
To register: Please contact Travis Parker Lee at tlee@phaboard.org

IOM Surveillance Report 101
Sponsored by the National Forum for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention
Wednesday, September 14th, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. (EDT) – webinar
To register: https://danyainternational.webex.com/mw0306ld/mywebex/default.do?nomenu=true&siteurl=danyainternational&service=6&rnd=0.9743304837047453&main_url=https%3A%2F%2Fdanyainternational.webex.com%2Fec0605ld%2Feventcenter%2Fevent%2FeventAction.do%3FtheAction%3Ddetail%26confViewID%3D270034088%26siteurl%3Ddanyainternational%26%26%26

Can Human Genes Be Patented?
Sponsored by Duke University Institute for Genome Sciences and Policy
Thursday, September 15th, 9:00 – 10:30 a.m.
Reserve Officers Association
To register: http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=drajzjdab&oeidk=a07e4oyyitaf524df0c
For more information: maddo@burnesscommunications.com

11th Annual Blaze Sports Intl. Conference on Paralympic Sport and Physical Activity
Sponsored by BlazeSports America
September 15th – 18th
Decatur Hotel and Conference Center and Agnes Scott College, Decatur, GA
https://blazesports.wufoo.com/forms/registration-form/

Prevention and Public Health Fund Strategy Meeting
Friday, September 16th, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
American Public Health Association – 800 I Street, NW
To RSVP: jbritz@tfah.org

The 2011 Health Equity Summit, The Affordable Care Act and Beyond: Achieving Health Equity
Saturday, September 17, 2011 from 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
Oakland Asian Cultural Center (389 9th Street #290, Oakland, CA 94607).
To register: healthequitysummit2011.eventbrite.com

Joint Use Agreements: CPPW Regional Policy Roundtable
Sponsored by National Recreation and Park Association
September 20th, 8:30a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
The St. Anthony Riverwalk-Wyndham Hotel – 300 East Travis Street, San Antonio, TX 78205
For more information: http://www.nrpa.org/joint-use-agreements-regional-policy-roundtable/

2011 Viral Hepatitis Summit Series
Sponsored by Hepatitis Foundation International
Omaha, September 20th
For more information, call 1-800-891-0707 or visit www.HepatitisFoundation.org

2011 National Walking Survey and Impacts to Health Policies
Sponsored by America Walks, the American Public Health Association and Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals
Tuesday, September 20th, 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. (EDT) – webinar
To register: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/397794538 (registration limited to first 1,000)

Briefing on Falls Prevention {new}
Wednesday, September 21st, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
G11 Dirksen Senate Office Building

Creating Pedestrian-Friendly Streets: A Short Walk Through Legal and Practical Issues {new}
Sponsored by Public Health Law and Policy
Thursday, September 22nd, 10:00 – 11:15 a.m. – webinar
To register: https://cc.readytalk.com/cc/schedule/display.do?udc=luf0joslq0km

National Food Policy Conference
October 3rd and 4th
Capital Hilton, Washington, DC
Sponsored by Consumer Federation of America
To register: https://www.signup4.net/public/ap.aspx?EID=NATI379E&OID=130

85th Annual American School Health Conference – Limitless Possibilities
October 12th – 15th
Galt House – Louisville, Kentucky
To register: http://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?EventID=972973

Everyone Matters: the Next 10 Years in LGBT Health Advocacy {new}
October 17-19, 2011
National Coalition for LGBT Health – Beacon Hotel, Washington, DC
To register: www.lgbthealth.net

Inspiring Hope – Cultural Ecology of Health and Change
Sponsored by Access to Wholistic and Productive Living Institute, Inc., Maryland Center at Bowie University, Prince George’s County Health Action Forum
Thursday, October 20th, 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
To register: Bettye Muwwakkil at bettygoodnews@gmail.com

Food Day
Sponsored by Center for Science in the Public Interest
Monday, October 24th
To help organize events in your community, click on the following: http://www.foodday.org/participate/.

SOPHE 62nd Annual Meeting – Leveraging the Power of Health Education: Changing Systems
October 27-29, 2011
Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel – Arlington, VA
http://precis2.preciscentral.com/Link.aspx?ID=38809A11AAABADAA

American Public Health Association 139th Annual Meeting and Exposition
Healthy Communities Promote Healthy Minds & Bodies
October 29th – November 2nd
Washington Convention Center
To register visit: http://www.apha.org/meetings/registration/

Sleep Apnea $ Multi-Modal Transportation
Sponsored by the American Sleep Apnea Association
November 8th – 9th
Sheraton Baltimore City Center
To register and for more information: www.samtc2011.org

Building a Healthier Future Summit
Sponsored by The Partnership for a Healthier America and Let’s Move initiative
November 29th – 30th
Omni Shoreham Hotel
To register: www.ahealthieramerica.org/summit

9th Annual Promotoras and Community Health Workers Conference
Sponsored by Visión y Compromiso
December 2nd – 3rd
Los Angeles Airport Marriott
To more information, and to register: isalia.zumaya.vision@gmail.com (http://www.visionycompromiso.org/)

Promising Practices to Eliminate Tobacco-Related Disparities: The Power of Communities
Sponsored by the Break Free Alliance
April 17-18, 2012 – New Orleans, LA
To Register: http://healthedcouncil.org/promisingpractices_registration.html

Trust for America’s Health · 1730 M Street, NW · Suite 900 · Washington, DC 20036 · healthyamericans.org

September 6th Wellness and Prevention Health Reform Digest

admin — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 21:39:44 +0000

Richard Hamburg
Deputy Director
Trust for America’s Health

ACTION ALERT

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Wellness and Prevention
Health Reform Digest

Today’s News (9/6/11)

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has announced the availability of over $50 million for suicide prevention programs through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Of that amount, $1.44 million was awarded to four grantees (a total of $5.76 million) from the Prevention and Public Health Fund. http://www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/advisories/1108313247.aspx

Politico reports that the deficit reduction “supercommittee” is hard at work to find an additional $1.2 trillion in savings. It reports that, “It is clear that at least a portion of those cuts will come from the federal government’s health care side of the ledger, meaning Medicare and Medicaid. Indeed, certain components of those programs are ripe for savings.” In the article, included on a top ten list of items under discussion is “repeal {of} some of the prevention funds.” This provides a nice segue to our next Prevention and Public Health Fund Strategy meeting, which has been scheduled for Friday, September 16th, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. at the American Public Health Association, 800 I Street, NW. Lots to talk about. If you plan on attending, please RSVP to Jackie Britz at jbritz@tfah.org.

The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) has released its 2010 National Profile of Local Health Departments (Profile) report. The study provides a comprehensive picture of local health departments (LHD) in the United States. “Topics covered include LHD finances, workforce, services and activities, emergency preparedness, and other local public health infrastructure and practice topics.” For more information – www.naccho.org/2010profile.

Here’s a copy of the final sign-on letter from the Coalition on Health Funding and Committee for Education Funding urging appropriators to provide a 302(b) allocation for Labor/HHS and Education programs that protects them against further cuts. Well over 500 organizations signed on, “urging recognition of health, education, job training, children’s and social services programs as critical national priorities.” http://healthyamericans.org/assets/files/CHF CEF Approps FY2012.pdf.

Last week, President Obama announced that his Administration would further delay the release of a long-overdue Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). For a copy of the President’s statement – http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/09/02/statement-president-ozone-national-ambient-air-quality-standards. In a statement from Trust for America’s Health, Dr. Jeff Levi stated, “Today’s decision to halt work on a revised standard is completely at odds with the statement EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson made last year when she announced that EPA would reconsider the standard – ‘Using the best science to strengthen these standards is a long overdue action that will help millions of Americans breathe easier and live healthier… Every day we continue to delay this standard is another day we put Americans’ health and lives at risk.”

The appropriations process lives, for now! The House Labor, HHS, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee markup for FY 2012 is on for this Friday, September 9th at 9:30 a.m. in 2358B Rayburn House Office Building.

The National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors’ (NASADAD) Research and Program Applications Department has released a report “summarizing the responses from 48 States and two territories regarding State substance abuse agency (SSA) involvement with Driving Under the Influence (DUI)/Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) offenders.” The report, developed with support from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), is available at http://nasadad.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/FINAL-DUI-Report-9-1-2011.pdf.

Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Congressional briefing, highlighting their recent report, F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America is this Thursday, September 8th, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m., B339 Rayburn House Office Building. If you are interested in attending, please RSVP Jackie Britz at jbritz@tfah.org.

Opportunities/Deadlines

{the Opportunities/Deadlines categories are live links which you can click on for further information}

Sign On Documents and Opportunities for Input

The Coalition of National Health Education Organizations (CNHEO) is collecting stories on the impact of proposed budget cuts on public health programs (deadline September 19th)
Campaign for Public Health Foundation is collecting nominations for its second annual Unsung Heroes of Public Health Awards (deadline September 12th)
CommonHealth ACTION’s 2011 Aging in America Survey (deadline September 9th)
CSPI sign-on letter on the interim final rule on school food service revenue for paid meals and competitive foods (deadline September 8th)

Regulatory Comments

Proposed HHS rule for the Establishment of Exchanges and Qualified Health Plans (deadline September 28th)

Funding Opportunities

None current.

Upcoming Events

Place Matters National Conference
Sponsored by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies
Wednesday, September 7th, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (reception 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.)
Washington Court Hotel
To register: http://www.commonhealthaction.org/pmnc2011/register_intro.asp

F as in Fat 2011 – How Obesity Threatens America’s Future
Sponsored by Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Thursday, September 8th, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
B339 Rayburn House Office Building
To register: Please contact Jackie Britz at jbritz@tfah.org

IOM Surveillance Report 101 {new}
Sponsored by the National Forum for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention
Webinar
Wednesday, September 14th, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. (EDT)
To register: https://danyainternational.webex.com/mw0306ld/mywebex/default.do?nomenu=true&siteurl=danyainternational&service=6&rnd=0.9743304837047453&main_url=https%3A%2F%2Fdanyainternational.webex.com%2Fec0605ld%2Feventcenter%2Fevent%2FeventAction.do%3FtheAction%3Ddetail%26confViewID%3D270034088%26siteurl%3Ddanyainternational%26%26%26

2011 Viral Hepatitis Summit Series
Sponsored by Hepatitis Foundation International
Omaha, September 20th
For more information, call 1-800-891-0707 or visit www.HepatitisFoundation.org

Food Day
Sponsored by Center for Science in the Public Interest
Monday, October 24th
To help organize events in your community, click on the following: http://www.foodday.org/participate/.

Building a Healthier Future Summit {new}
Sponsored by The Partnership for a Healthier America and Let’s Move initiative
November 29-30, 2011
Omni Shoreham Hotel
To register: www.ahealthieramerica.org/summit

9th Annual Promotoras and Community Health Workers Conference {new}
Sponsored by Visión y Compromiso
December 2nd and 3rd, 2011
Los Angeles Airport Marriott
To more information, and to register: isalia.zumaya.vision@gmail.com (www.visionycompromiso.org)

Trust for America’s Health · 1730 M Street, NW · Suite 900 · Washington, DC 20036 · healthyamericans.org

September 2nd Wellness and Prevention Health Reform Digest

admin — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 14:03:22 +0000

Richard Hamburg
Deputy Director
Trust for America’s Health

ACTION ALERT

————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Wellness and Prevention
Health Reform Digest

Today’s News (9/2/11)

Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has released Remembering 9/11 and Anthrax: Public Health’s Vital Role in National Defense, a report featuring more than 30 firsthand accounts of public health professionals who were directly involved in the response to the September 11, 2001 and anthrax tragedies. “The stories reflect how these events marked the first time that public health came to be considered central to emergency response and national security on a wide-scale basis – and how these officials were working without adequate resources or training to respond to these types of attacks. A summary of how public health preparedness has evolved in the past 10 years is also included in the report.” For a copy of the report and supporting information: http://healthyamericans.org/health-issues/anthrax-report

A final reminder that the deadline for the Coalition for Health Funding and Committee for Education Funding 302(b) allocation sign-on letter urging protection for Labor/HHS and Education programs from further cuts is close of business today. Over 375 organizations have already signed on, and if you’re interested in doing so, please contact Broderick Johnson (bjohnson@rabengroup.com), September 2nd. Coalition for Health Funding and the Committee for Education Funding Sign On Letter

Here’s another Prevention and Public Health Fund grant announcement. HHS has awarded $40 million for public health infrastructure and workforce. According to HHS, “This is the second year of CDC’s 5-year program known as the National Public Health Improvement Initiative (NPHII) Strengthening Public Health Infrastructure for Improved Health Outcomes grant program. Over 100 people have already been hired through the NPHII and an additional 116 positions are expected to be filled through today’s awards.” Another reminder that investing in public health is investing in the nation’s workforce and economy. http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2011pres/08/20110831a.html.

Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Congressional briefing, highlighting their recent report, F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America is fast approaching. The event is scheduled for Thursday, September 8th, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m., B339 Rayburn House Office Building. If you are interested in attending, please RSVP Jackie Britz at jbritz@tfah.org.

President Obama has issued a proclamation declaring September as National Preparedness Month – http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/08/31/presidential-proclamation-national-preparedness-month. Building upon a health in all policies theme, the President states that, “Preparedness is a shared responsibility, and my Administration is dedicated to implementing a “whole community” approach to disaster response. This requires collaboration at all levels of government, and with America’s private and nonprofit sectors.” The Federal Emergency Management Agency also has a dedicated website to the National Preparedness Month Coalition and its resources – http://community.fema.gov/connect.ti/READYNPM.

Keeping with the health in all policies theme, U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan announced the award of $122 million “to redevelop distressed housing and bring comprehensive neighborhood revitalization to blighted areas. Chicago, Boston, New Orleans, San Francisco and Seattle will receive the first-ever Implementation Grants awarded under HUD’s Choice Neighborhoods Initiative, a new strategy and tools to support local leaders in transforming high-poverty, distressed neighborhoods into neighborhoods with healthy, affordable housing, safe streets, and access to quality educational opportunities. “ – http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/public_indian_housing/programs/ph/cn.

The Coalition of National Health Education Organizations (CNHEO) is collecting stories from public health programs around the nation on the impact of proposed budget cuts. Please use the following Survey Monkey to provide information by September 19th, and urge other public health colleagues to do so. http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/advocacy_summit_funding_rollback_healthedpartic.

The Prevention Fund support list is now at 676 organizations – http://healthyamericans.org/health-issues/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Groups-Supporting-Prevention-Fund-State-by-State-List.pdf

Have a great Labor Day weekend!

Opportunities/Deadlines

{the Opportunities/Deadlines categories are live links which you can click on for further information}

Sign On Documents and Opportunities for Input

Campaign for Public Health Foundation is collecting nominations for its second annual Unsung Heroes of Public Health Awards (deadline September 12th)
CommonHealth ACTION’s 2011 Aging in America Survey (deadline September 9th)
CSPI sign-on letter on the interim final rule on school food service revenue for paid meals and competitive foods (deadline September 8th)

Regulatory Comments

Proposed HHS rule for the Establishment of Exchanges and Qualified Health Plans (deadline September 28th)

Funding Opportunities

None current.

Upcoming Events

F as in Fat 2011 – How Obesity Threatens America’s Future
Sponsored by Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Thursday, September 8th, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
(location just announced – B339 Rayburn House Office Building)
To register: Please contact Jackie Britz at jbritz@tfah.org

2011 Viral Hepatitis Summit Series
Sponsored by Hepatitis Foundation International
Omaha, September 20th
For more information, call 1-800-891-0707 or visit www.HepatitisFoundation.org

85th Annual American School Health Conference – Limitless Possibilities
October 12th – 15th
Galt House – Louisville, Kentucky
To register: http://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?EventID=972973

Food Day
Sponsored by Center for Science in the Public Interest
Monday, October 24th
To help organize events in your community, click on the following: http://www.foodday.org/participate/.

Building a Healthier Future Summit {new}
Sponsored by The Partnership for a Healthier America and Let’s Move initiative
November 29th – 30th
Omni Shoreham Hotel
To register: www.ahealthieramerica.org/summit

Trust for America’s Health · 1730 M Street, NW · Suite 900 · Washington, DC 20036 · healthyamericans.org

August 12th Wellness and Prevention Health Reform Digest

admin — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 19:48:56 +0000

Richard Hamburg
Deputy Director
Trust for America’s Health

ACTION ALERT

————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Wellness and Prevention
Health Reform Digest

Today’s News (8/12/11)

Today, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded $185 million to 13 states and D.C. to help them build Affordable Insurance Exchanges, and together with the Department of the Treasury published proposed rules to “provide a simple, streamlined, and affordable path for consumers to use the Exchanges to purchase private health insurance.” HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius also sent a letter to governors regarding their options for setting up exchanges. Here’s a copy of the HHS news release, http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2011pres/08/20110812a.html, and a link to more detailed information, http://www.healthcare.gov/news/factsheets/exchanges08122011a.html. The proposed regulations complement those previously released in July, and comments are due in 75 days from date of posting — http://www.ofr.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2011-20776_PI.pdf.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Community Preventive Services Task Force has found that “holding alcohol retailers liable for injuries or damage done by their intoxicated customers can reduce motor vehicle deaths, homicides, injuries, and other alcohol-related problems.” For more details: http://www.thecommunityguide.org/news/2011/Effective-Strategy-to-Reduce-Alcohol-Related-Harms.html. Also another reminder to visit Have you Heard? Facts from the Field (spelled right this time!) which “shares the concerns and challenges of public health departments, but also their accomplishments, successful practices, and innovative programs.” http://www.cdc.gov/ostlts/haveyouheard/index.html?source=govdelivery.

In case you missed Representative Rosa DeLauro’s (D-CA) piece in Politico earlier this week, The Value of Discretionary Spending, it’s worth reading — http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0811/60920.html. In it, Rep. DeLauro points out that that discretionary funding includes “programs fundamental to protection of life and health — like courts and law enforcement, disaster assistance, food safety and medical care for veterans. It covers support for scientific and medical research, assistance to elementary and secondary education and financial aid for college students… And it includes programs that assist people in need, like meals on wheels and other services for seniors; community health centers, and the supplemental food program for pregnant women, infants and children.”

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) has appointed Representatives James Clyburn (D-SC), Xavier Becerra (D-CA) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) to fill out the remaining three slots on the 12 member debt ceiling panel.

Trust for America’s Health continues to chair a Working Group on Pandemic Preparedness. The group is an ad hoc coalition of organizations representing public health, industry, healthcare, and national security that have an interest in pandemic influenza and preparedness. While not a formal membership organization, it is intended as a resource for subscribers to stay informed of pandemic issues, share intelligence, and, where applicable and with sufficient interest, produce advocacy documents for policies or appropriations. This is largely a ‘virtual’ coalition, so if you or any colleagues are interested in receiving information on these issues, please contact Dara Lieberman at dlieberman@tfah.org.

CommonHealth ACTION has recently launched its 2011 Aging in America survey, “to assess how prepared people in the United States are to age. Intended for adults over the age of 18, the survey will collect data on concerns people have about aging, who will provide for their needs in their later years, and the role they anticipate technology will play in their lives as they age.” The online survey is available through September 9th. To respond to the survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/areyoureadytoage2011.

The Digest will be on extended hiatus until Monday, August 29th. Don’t let anything too exciting happen while I’m gone. Have a great weekend!

Opportunities/Deadlines

{the Opportunities/Deadlines categories are live links which you can click on for further information}

Sign On Documents and Opportunities for Input

Safe States Alliance letter in support of the Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant (deadline August 26th)
Campaign for Public Health Foundation is collecting nominations for its second annual Unsung Heroes of Public Health Awards (deadline extended to September 12th)

Regulatory Comments

Proposed HHS rule for the Establishment of Exchanges and Qualified Health Plans (deadline September 28th)

Funding Opportunities

None current.

Upcoming Events

Healthy People 2020: Healthcare Associated Infections
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Tuesday, August 16th, Noon (EDT) – webinar
Register to Attend (https://hhs-faca.webex.com/hhs-faca/onstage/g.php?d=992220720&t=a)

Briefing on Communicating with Youth (tobacco)
Sponsored by Legacy
Tuesday, August 16th, 3:00 p.m.
2168 Rayburn House Office Building (Gold Room)
Please RSVP to Anna Kopperud at akopperud@legacyforhealth.org by August 11th

Addressing Tobacco use in Correctional Facilities
Sponsored by the Break Free Alliance
Tuesday, August 16th, and Tuesday, August 30th – summer webinar series
To register: http://vmx.highroadsolution.com/se/users/meetingprofile.aspx?account.id=hec

Liver Health – Firing Up Prevention
Sponsored by Hepatitis Foundation International
Thursday, August 18th, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. (EDT) – webinar
To register: https://cc.readytalk.com/cc/schedule/display.do?udc=8n42yh2v4x08

Martin Luther King, Jr. Health Equity Summit
August 22nd – 23rd
The Willard Intercontinental Hotel
1401 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington
To register: http://www.iammm.org/MLKsummit2011_00.html

9th Annual Striking Out Tobacco in Arkansas Conference
Sponsored by the Coalition for a Tobacco Free Arkansas
Thursday, August 25th, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Little Rock, Arkansas
To register (by August 22nd): www.arfreshair.com

F as in Fat 2011 – How Obesity Threatens America’s Future {new}
Sponsored by Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Thursday, September 8th, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Location TBD
To register: Please contact Jackie Britz at jbritz@tfah.org

Place Matters National Conference {new}
Sponsored by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies
Wednesday, September 7th, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (reception 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.)
Washington Court Hotel
To register: http://www.commonhealthaction.org/pmnc2011/register_intro.asp

11th Annual Blaze Sports Intl. Conference on Paralympic Sport and Physical Activity {new}
Sponsored by BlazeSports America
September 15th – 18th
Decatur Hotel and Conference Center and Agnes Scott College, Decatur, GA
https://blazesports.wufoo.com/forms/registration-form/

2011 Viral Hepatitis Summit Series
Sponsored by Hepatitis Foundation International
Omaha, September 20th
For more information, call 1-800-891-0707 or visit www.HepatitisFoundation.org

Food Day
Sponsored by Center for Science in the Public Interest
Monday, October 24th
To help organize events in your community, click on the following: http://www.foodday.org/participate/.

Trust for America’s Health · 1730 M Street, NW · Suite 900 · Washington, DC 20036 · healthyamericans.org

August 10th Wellness and Prevention Health Reform Digest

admin — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 16:34:03 +0000

Richard Hamburg
Deputy Director
Trust for America’s Health

ACTION ALERT

————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Wellness and Prevention
Health Reform Digest

Today’s News (8/10/11)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced the launch of a new communication tool, Have you Heart? Facts from the Field. “This weekly feature shares information from the frontlines of public health back to CDC and the field. {It} not only shares the concerns and challenges of public health departments, but also their accomplishments, successful practices, and innovative programs.” http://www.cdc.gov/ostlts/haveyouheard/index.html?source=govdelivery. A second tool is also available, called Did You Know? — http://www.cdc.gov/ostlts/didyouknow/index.html.

We continue to gather success stories from multiple sources from the CDC’s Communities Putting Prevention to Work Program. Here’s an updated version separated by state – http://healthyamericans.org/health-issues/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/CPPW-Success-Stories-8-8.pdf.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has released a final rule on influenza vaccinations for healthcare personnel. See pages 591-98 in the following link: http://www.ofr.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2011-19719_PI.pdf. On a related note, Partnership for Prevention has released a new report, Give Productivity a Shot in the Arm: How Influenza Immunization Can Enhance Your Bottom Line, “highlights how worksite vaccination programs can improve employee health, increase productivity, and boost national vaccination rates.” http://www.prevent.org/flu/.

House and Senate leadership have begun to announce their appointments to the debt ceiling “super committee.” Thus far, the panel will include Rep. Dave Camp (R-MI), Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI), Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX), Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Senator John Kerry (D-MA), Senator Max Baucus (D-MT), Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ), Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA) and Senator Rob Portman (R-OH). Still waiting for the appointment of three Democratic members from the House.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced the awarding of $28.8 million in grants to 67 new community health centers serving an additional 286,000 patients. Attached is a news release from the National Association of Community Health Centers http://www.nachc.com/pressrelease-detail.cfm?PressReleaseID=703&MultimediaID=, and a release from HHS. http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2011pres/08/20110809a.html.

Opportunities/Deadlines

{the Opportunities/Deadlines categories are live links which you can click on for further information}

Sign On Documents and Opportunities for Input

Safe States Alliance letter in support of the Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant (deadline August 26th)
Campaign for Public Health Foundation is collecting nominations for its second annual Unsung Heroes of Public Health Awards (deadline extended to September 12th)

Regulatory Comments

Proposed HHS rule for the Establishment of Exchanges and Qualified Health Plans (deadline September 28th)

Funding Opportunities

None current.

Upcoming Events

Liver Health – Firing Up Prevention {new}
Sponsored by Hepatitis Foundation International
Thursday, August 18th, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. (EDT) – webinar
To register: https://cc.readytalk.com/cc/schedule/display.do?udc=8n42yh2v4x08

Joint Use Agreements: CPPW Regional Policy Roundtable {new}
Sponsored by National Recreation and Park Association
September 20th, 8:30a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
The St. Anthony Riverwalk-Wyndham Hotel – 300 East Travis Street, San Antonio, TX 78205
For more information: http://www.nrpa.org/joint-use-agreements-regional-policy-roundtable/

2011 Viral Hepatitis Summit Series
Sponsored by Hepatitis Foundation International
Omaha, September 20th
For more information, call 1-800-891-0707 or visit www.HepatitisFoundation.org

Food Day
Sponsored by Center for Science in the Public Interest
Monday, October 24th
To help organize events in your community, click on the following: http://www.foodday.org/participate/.

Trust for America’s Health · 1730 M Street, NW · Suite 900 · Washington, DC 20036 · healthyamericans.org

August 5th Wellness and Prevention Health Reform Digest

admin — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 20:18:49 +0000

Richard Hamburg
Deputy Director
Trust for America’s Health

ACTION ALERT

————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Wellness and Prevention
Health Reform Digest

Today’s News (8/5/11)

Under the category of “live to fight another day, but it ain’t over ‘til it’s over,” if you haven’t had a chance to read it, you may want to check out the Politico article, Deal Could Endanger Health Care Law, regarding possible sequestration under phase two of the debt ceiling package – http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0811/60634.html?cid=xrs_rss-nd. Also, the Center for Budget Priorities has compiled a useful analysis, How the Potential Across-The-Board Cuts in the Debt Limit Deal Would Occur – http://www.cbpp.org/files/8-4-11bud.pdf. Read them both, and then gear up for more action this fall.

In case you missed the recent Dialogue4Health webinar, Protecting Prevention in the Affordable Care Act: Sharing the Evidence, Putting Leadership and Resources into Action, the audio recording of the event is available, as well as the Powerpoint presentations – http://www.dialogue4health.org/hcr/7_27_11.html.

Save-the-Date: Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation will host a Congressional briefing on September 8th at 10:00 a.m. to discuss their F as in Fat – How Obesity Threatens America’s Future report. Speakers will highlight the findings of this year’s report, which focuses on trends in obesity rates over the past several decades, and current activities and opportunities aimed at addressing the obesity epidemic. Logistical information to follow at a later date.

The REACH Challenge is “inviting good ideas for new applications that can generate results for patients, caregivers, and/or clinicians by providing them with access to evidence-based and relevant information to support more meaningful engagement and real-time decisions. You don’t have to be a programmer or a scientist—the partners at Health 2.0 are organizing Challenge teams to help develop each idea into a solid submission.” http://www.academyhealth.org/Training/Training.cfm?ItemNumber=7098

A number of new events are listed below. Have a great weekend!

Opportunities/Deadlines

{the Opportunities/Deadlines categories are live links which you can click on for further information}

Sign On Documents and Opportunities for Input

Safe States Alliance letter in support of the Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant (deadline August 26th)
Campaign for Public Health Foundation is collecting nominations for its second annual Unsung Heroes of Public Health Awards (deadline extended to September 12th)

Regulatory Comments

Proposed HHS rule for the Establishment of Exchanges and Qualified Health Plans (deadline September 28th)

Funding Opportunities

Department of Health and Human Services funds are available for its Healthy People 2020 Community Innovations Project. (deadline today)
Availability of CDC funds for comprehensive workplace health promotion programs (deadline August 8th)

Upcoming Events

Healthy People 2020: Healthcare Associated Infections {new}
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Tuesday, August 16th, Noon (EDT) – webinar
Register to Attend

Briefing on Communicating with Youth (tobacco) {new}
Sponsored by Legacy
Tuesday, August 16th, 3:00 p.m.
2168 Rayburn House Office Building (Gold Room)
Please RSVP to Anna Kopperud at akopperud@legacyforhealth.org by August 11th

9th Annual Striking Out Tobacco in Arkansas Conference {new}
Sponsored by the Coalition for a Tobacco Free Arkansas
Thursday, August 25th, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Little Rock, Arkansas
To register (by August 22nd): www.arfreshair.com

2011 Viral Hepatitis Summit Series
Sponsored by Hepatitis Foundation International
Omaha, September 20th
For more information, call 1-800-891-0707 or visit www.HepatitisFoundation.org

Food Day
Sponsored by Center for Science in the Public Interest
Monday, October 24th
To help organize events in your community, click on the following: http://www.foodday.org/participate/.

Trust for America’s Health · 1730 M Street, NW · Suite 900 · Washington, DC 20036 · healthyamericans.org
To unsubscribe, please contact info@tfah.org

August 3rd Wellness and Prevention Health Reform Digest

admin — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 21:33:36 +0000

Richard Hamburg
Deputy Director
Trust for America’s Health

ACTION ALERT

————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Wellness and Prevention
Health Reform Digest

Today’s News (8/3/11)

There’s a lot of analysis already in the public domain on the impact of the budget deal. For an independent assessment, here’s the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) analysis: http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/123xx/doc12357/BudgetControlActAug1.pdf. Also, in case you hadn’t seen it yet, a debt ceiling flow chart is circulating that was produced by the Senate GOP – http://healthyamericans.org/assets/files/Debt%20Ceiling%20Agreement%20Flow%20Chart.pdf. The current thinking is that the non-security discretionary caps would result in smaller cuts than anticipated for FY 2012, with allocations far closer to FY 2011 levels than to the previous House-approved budget levels. However, still not clear what a Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (Labor/HHS) appropriations product will look like.

We have another great addition to the case for support on the return on investment of community-based prevention. The Value of Primordial and Primary Prevention for Cardiovascular Disease appears in the current edition of the American Heart Association’s peer-reviewed journal, Circulation. http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Advocate/PolicyResources/The-Value-of-Prevention_UCM_429533_Article.jsp. “Policy change makes the greatest impact when it optimizes the environments where people live, learn, work and play — workplaces, schools, homes, and communities, making healthier behaviors and healthier choices the norm by default or by design, putting individual behavior in the context of multiple-level influences.” The policy statement cites a number of examples of the financial return on investment of prevention

Here’s the final letter sent today to President Obama, asking for expeditious release of revised National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone air pollution — http://healthyamericans.org/assets/files/Final%20Ozone%20Letter%20to%20President.pdf.

The deadline for the CDC National Public Health Tracking Program and Environmental Health Lab biomonitoring letter is close of business, tomorrow (Thursday) — http://healthyamericans.org/assets/files/Health%20Tracking%20and%20Biomonitoring%20Letter.pdf. If your organization is interested in signing on please contact Jack Rayburn (jrayburn@tfah.org).

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has published a new report examining data from their national survey of Maternity Practices in Infant Nutrition and Care (mPINC). http://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/Breastfeeding/index.html. According to the CDC, in Hospital Support for Breastfeeding – Preventing Obesity Begins in Hospitals, “ Childhood obesity is an epidemic. In the US, 1 preschooler in 5 is at least overweight, and half of these are obese. Breastfeeding helps protect against childhood obesity. A baby’s risk of becoming an overweight child goes down with each month of breastfeeding.”

There’s a new guide available from the CDC, Under Pressure: Sodium Reduction in the School Environment. “It has been developed and offers practical strategies for those working to improve the school food environment through sodium reduction. This Guide is the first in a series of venue-based guides offering strategies for sodium reduction in various settings and is an outcome of CDC’s 2010 Public Health Law Summit on Sodium Reduction — http://www.cdc.gov/salt/publications.htm.

The Coalition for Health Funding (CHF) will hold its annual Public Health 101 Congressional Briefing, Public Health: Restoring Order after the Cameras Leave, on Monday, September 12th. CHF is seeking briefing sponsors to cover costs associated with the event. Individuals and organizations that are not members may sponsor the briefing for $500. Sponsors will be listed on marketing materials distributed to all Congressional offices, event signage and programs, and will also be permitted to provide materials for the registration table, space permitting. Please contact the Coalition’s Executive Director, Emily Holubowich at eholubowich@dc-crd.com by close of business, Friday, September 2nd, if you are interested in sponsorship.

Opportunities/Deadlines

{the Opportunities/Deadlines categories are live links which you can click on for further information}

Sign On Documents and Opportunities for Input

TFAH and the Breast Cancer Fund letter in support of National Public Health Tracking Program and Environmental Health Lab biomonitoring activities (deadline August 4th)
Safe States Alliance letter in support of the Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant (deadline August 26th)
Campaign for Public Health Foundation is collecting nominations for its second annual Unsung Heroes of Public Health Awards (deadline extended to September 12th)

Regulatory Comments

Proposed HHS rule for the Establishment of Exchanges and Qualified Health Plans (deadline September 28th)

Funding Opportunities

Department of Health and Human Services funds are available for its Healthy People 2020 Community Innovations Project. (deadline August 5th)
Availability of CDC funds for comprehensive workplace health promotion programs (deadline August 8th)

Upcoming Events

2011 Viral Hepatitis Summit Series
Sponsored by Hepatitis Foundation International
Omaha, September 20th
For more information, call 1-800-891-0707 or visit www.HepatitisFoundation.org

Food Day
Sponsored by Center for Science in the Public Interest
Monday, October 24th
To help organize events in your community, click on the following: http://www.foodday.org/participate/.

Trust for America’s Health · 1730 M Street, NW · Suite 900 · Washington, DC 20036 · healthyamericans.org

August 1st Wellness and Prevention Health Reform Digest

admin — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 21:02:31 +0000

Richard Hamburg
Deputy Director
Trust for America’s Health

ACTION ALERT

————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Wellness and Prevention
Health Reform Digest

Today’s News (8/1/11)

A budget deal is in place, with House and Senate votes expected later today and/or tomorrow morning. Here’s a fact sheet, http://healthyamericans.org/assets/files/Budget%20Deal%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf, plus a section by section analysis from the House Rules Committee – http://rules.house.gov/Media/file/PDF_112_1/legislativetext/731%20CBAsbs%20v2.pdf. Still waiting to see what the direct impact will be on public health programs, but the non-security spending cap should result in Labor/HHS FY 2012 cuts somewhere between final FY 2011 CR levels and those previously proposed under the House-approved FY 2012 budget, so stay tuned. Also, to the best of our knowledge, it does not appear that the Prevention Fund was directly addressed in any way under this proposed agreement.

As expected, the Department of Health and Human Services has released guidelines that will provide a series of preventive health services to women at no cost for new health plans beginning August 1, 2012. “Developed by the independent Institute of Medicine, the new guidelines require new health insurance plans to cover women’s preventive services such as well-woman visits, breastfeeding support, domestic violence screening, and contraception without charging a co-payment, co-insurance or a deductible.” Here’s the HHS news release, http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2011pres/08/20110801b.html, and a full description of the guidelines from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), http://www.hrsa.gov/womensguidelines/.

This week’s Fund recruitment winner is the American Academy of Pediatrics, with 11 state chapters, thus far, adding their support!

The deadline for signing onto the letter to President Obama urging prompt release of new National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone air pollution is now tomorrow (Tuesday) at Noon (EDT). The letter, with the current list of signatories, is attached: http://healthyamericans.org/assets/files/National%20Ambient%20Air%20Quality%20Standards%20for%20Ozone%20Letter.pdf. To sign on, please contact Josephine Ceselski at jceselski@lungusa.org.

The deadline for the CDC National Public Health Tracking Program and Environmental Health Lab biomonitoring letter is also fast approaching — http://healthyamericans.org/assets/files/Health%20Tracking%20and%20Biomonitoring%20Letter.pdf. If your organization is interested in signing on please contact Jack Rayburn (jrayburn@tfah.org) no later than COB on Thursday, August 4th.

Opportunities/Deadlines

{the Opportunities/Deadlines categories are live links which you can click on for further information}

Sign On Documents and Opportunities for Input

American Lung Association letter on National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone pollution (deadline August 2nd, 11:00 a.m. EDT)
TFAH and the Breast Cancer Fund letter in support of National Public Health Tracking Program and Environmental Health Lab biomonitoring activities (deadline August 4th)
Safe States Alliance letter in support of the Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant (deadline August 26th)
Campaign for Public Health Foundation is collecting nominations for its second annual Unsung Heroes of Public Health Awards (deadline extended to September 12th)

Regulatory Comments

Draft standards for collecting and reporting data on race, ethnicity, sex, primary language and disability status has been announced by the Department of Health and Human Services. (deadline August 1st)
Proposed HHS rule for the Establishment of Exchanges and Qualified Health Plans (deadline September 28th)

Funding Opportunities

Notices of Intent to award Affordable Care Act (ACA) funding award grants under the National Environmental Public Health Tracking Program (deadline August 1st)
Department of Health and Human Services funds are available for its Healthy People 2020 Community Innovations Project. (deadline August 5th)
Availability of CDC funds for comprehensive workplace health promotion programs (deadline August 8th)

Upcoming Events

Park and Open Space Accessibility Roundtable
Tuesday, August 2nd, 9am-4:30pm
Hyatt Regency Atlanta
265 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta, Georgia, USA 30303
To Register: http://ipv.nrpa.org/PUBLIC/Core/Events/eventdetails.aspx?iKey=CPPW_AUGGA

Overview of the Federal Community Revitalization Policy Agenda: Sustainable Communities, Promise Neighborhoods, Choice Neighborhoods, the Healthy Food Financing Initiative and the Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative
Sponsored by Policylink
Tuesday August 2nd, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. EDT (11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (PDT) – webinar
To Register: https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?llr=nnki9fcab&oeidk=a07e4bld7197a455d75

ESEA Reauthorization: Where Do We Go From Here?
Sponsored by the Society for Public Health Education
Wednesday, August 3rd, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. (EDT) – webinar
To register: https://sophe.webex.com/sophe/onstage/g.php?t=a&d=966484070

Martin Luther King, Jr. Health Equity Summit {new}
August 22nd – 23rd
The Willard Intercontinental Hotel
1401 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington
To register: http://www.iammm.org/MLKsummit2011_00.html

The 2011 Health Equity Summit, The Affordable Care Act and Beyond: Achieving Health Equity {new}
Saturday, September 17, 2011 from 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
Oakland Asian Cultural Center (389 9th Street #290, Oakland, CA 94607).
To register: healthequitysummit2011.eventbrite.com

2011 Viral Hepatitis Summit Series
Sponsored by Hepatitis Foundation International
Omaha, September 20th
For more information, call 1-800-891-0707 or visit www.HepatitisFoundation.org

Food Day
Sponsored by Center for Science in the Public Interest
Monday, October 24th
To help organize events in your community, click on the following: http://www.foodday.org/participate/

Trust for America’s Health · 1730 M Street, NW · Suite 900 · Washington, DC 20036 · healthyamericans.org

July 29th Wellness and Prevention Health Reform Digest

admin — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 19:55:29 +0000

Richard Hamburg
Deputy Director
Trust for America’s Health

ACTION ALERT

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Wellness and Prevention
Health Reform Digest

Today’s News (7/29/11)

CommonHealth ACTION (CHA) has launched its 2011 national online survey to assess how prepared people in the United States are to age. “Intended for adults over the age of 18, the survey will collect data on concerns people have about aging, who will provide for their needs in their later years, and the role they anticipate technology will play in their lives as they age.” The online survey is available through September 9, 2011 both, in English and Spanish. Results are expected to be released during Older Americans Month (May 2012). The comprehensive report detailing the results from the 2010 survey as well as CHA’s recommendations for national action on aging preparedness is available here.

The deadline for signing onto a letter to President Obama urging prompt release of new National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone air pollution is close of business, Monday, August 1st. http://healthyamericans.org/assets/files/National%20Ambient%20Air%20Quality%20Standards%20for%20Ozone%20Letter.pdf. To sign on, please contact Josephine Ceselski at jceselski@lungusa.org.

Yesterday marked the first World Hepatitis Day, officially designated by the World Health Organization in coordinated partnership with the World Hepatitis Alliance. President Obama issued the following proclamation declaring July 28, 2011 as World Hepatitis Day, “a day for individuals and organizations across the country to raise awareness about viral hepatitis and the ways to prevent it, as well as to dispel stigmas about the disease.”
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/07/27/presidential-proclamation-world-hepatitis-day.

The House Energy and Commerce Committee reported out the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Reauthorization Act of 2011. According to TFAH executive director Jeff Levi, “This legislation is an opportunity to build more prepared and resilient communities, and will enhance surge capacity and improve the ability of health facilities to quickly expand beyond normal services during a major emergency.” The reauthorization does, however, freeze authorizations at current funding levels. For a link to a news release from the Committee: http://energycommerce.house.gov/News/PRArticle.aspx?NewsID=8841

The Institute for the Advancement of Multicultural & Minority Medicine (IAMMM) will hold an inaugural two-day conference (August 22nd and 23rd), the Martin Luther King, Jr. Health Equity Summit, “to discuss enhancing health status and achieving health equity at the lowest cost.” The conference will begin a week-long series of events leading up to the unveiling of the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Monument on the Mall on August 28. To register: http://www.iammm.org/MLKsummit2011_00.html.

The 2011 Health Equity Summit, The Affordable Care Act and Beyond: Achieving Health Equity, will be held on Saturday, September 17, 2011 from 8:30 am – 4:30 pm at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center (389 9th Street #290, Oakland, CA 94607). The Summit “will bring together members of the Congressional Tri-Caucus with 300 federal and state policymakers, community members, policy experts, and researchers to examine the root causes of and solutions to health disparities.” To register: healthequitysummit2011.eventbrite.com

Have a great weekend, keep cool.

Opportunities/Deadlines

{the Opportunities/Deadlines categories are live links which you can click on for further information}

Sign On Documents and Opportunities for Input

Campaign for Public Health Foundation is collecting nominations for its second annual Unsung Heroes of Public Health Awards (deadline July 31st)
American Lung Association letter on National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone pollution (deadline August 1st)
TFAH and the Breast Cancer Fund letter in support of National Public Health Tracking Program and Environmental Health Lab biomonitoring activities (deadline August 4th)
Safe States Alliance letter in support of the Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant (deadline August 26th)

Regulatory Comments

Draft standards for collecting and reporting data on race, ethnicity, sex, primary language and disability status has been announced by the Department of Health and Human Services. (deadline August 1st)
Proposed HHS rule for the Establishment of Exchanges and Qualified Health Plans (deadline September 28th)

Funding Opportunities

Notices of Intent to award Affordable Care Act (ACA) funding award grants under the National Environmental Public Health Tracking Program (deadline August 1st)
Department of Health and Human Services funds are available for its Healthy People 2020 Community Innovations Project. (deadline August 5th)
Availability of CDC funds for comprehensive workplace health promotion programs (deadline August 8th)

Upcoming Events

2011 Viral Hepatitis Summit Series
Sponsored by Hepatitis Foundation International
Omaha, September 20th
For more information, call 1-800-891-0707 or visit www.HepatitisFoundation.org

Food Day
Sponsored by Center for Science in the Public Interest
Monday, October 24th
To help organize events in your community, click on the following: http://www.foodday.org/participate/.

Trust for America’s Health · 1730 M Street, NW · Suite 900 · Washington, DC 20036 · healthyamericans.org