438: CDC Data Initiative, Hill PH Hearings

ROBERT JOHNSON:  00:05

This is Public Health Review Morning Edition for Friday, June 9, 2023. I'm Robert Johnson. Now today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.

HEATHER STROSNIDER  00:17

This is the first office at CDC solely dedicated to leading, coordinating, and executing a comprehensive public health data strategy.

ROBERT JOHNSON:  00:24

The CDC's Dr. Heather Strosnider outlines the goals of a new initiative to modernize data across the federal and state public health landscape.

HEATHER STROSNIDER  00:34

First, strengthen the core of public health data, and we're really focusing on case and lab. Second, accelerate access to analytic and automated solutions to support public health investigations into advanced health equity. Third, visualize and share insights to inform public health action, and fourth, advance more open and interoperable public health data.

ROBERT JOHNSON:  00:55

The Data Modernization Initiative or DMI is a multi-year, multi-billion dollar effort.

HEATHER STROSNIDER  01:01

So, public health regularly modernizes and improves their data and IT systems to support public health. However, we all have faced upstream barriers related to policy, data quality, data access, and technology talent acquisition that really stifles our efforts and our progress. DMI is bringing the resources and the urgency to tackle those upstream challenges together.

ROBERT JOHNSON:  01:23

You can read about the initiative on the CDC webpage. There's a link in the show notes.  

ASTHO has more planned for those who attended TechXpo in Chicago or online last month. A bonus event scheduled on June 15 will include discussion about data, infrastructure and the future of public health technology. Learn about this exciting day of online 'Tech Talk' using the link in the show.

The public health workforce was the focus of a congressional briefing this week on Capitol Hill. ASTHO's Jeffrey Ekoma is here with another 'View from Washington, D.C.' report. Jeffrey Ikoma, it's always good to have you here on the newscast with another 'View from Washington, D.C.' report. ASTHO had a member on the Hill this week. Who was that and why were they up there?

JEFFREY EKOMA:  02:17

Yes. Earlier this week, Paula Nickelsen, who is the Director of Missouri's Department of Health and Senior Services, served as a panelist at a congressional briefing hosted by the Coalition for Health Funding, and the CDC Foundation that was focused on the public health workforce. The entire briefing featured a presentation from a CDC EIS officer who walked everyone through a real-life example of her work that she's currently engaged in.

There was also a panel on the workforce that Director Nickelsen participated in, and there was an interactive disease detective exercise conducted by the CDC Museum. Now, Director Nickelsen talked about the current state of the public health workforce in Missouri, and also the importance of sustainable and flexible funding for public health departments across the country. Highlights from other panelists included the need for better data, and the importance of current public health workforce programs at the CDC, such as the EIS program and the Public Health Associates Program.

ROBERT JOHNSON:  03:15

ASTHO also sent a letter to the Hill this week. What was that about?

JEFFREY EKOMA:  03:22

With much appreciation to our health security team, we submitted a letter to representatives Dan Crenshaw, and Scott Peters, who recently released a discussion draft entitled, 'The Biosecurity Infrastructure for Operational Early Warning Act,' which includes a proposal to remove operational responsibility for all disease detection programs from the CDC to ASPR. Now, in the letter, we express concern about the proposed language that would transfer operational roles and programs from the CDC to ASPR, and discuss the importance of supporting CDC in preparation for future public health emergencies.

ROBERT JOHNSON:  03:57

It's June, a lot of people have summer vacation on their mind but not ASTHO Government Affairs. You are back in the soup next week. What's going on on the Hill next week?

JEFFREY EKOMA:  04:06

Absolutely. PAHPA is on our mind. One thing we'll be monitoring next week is a hearing before the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Health that will discuss solutions for preparedness and response to public health security threats and hazards. Now, this would be the second PAHPA-related hearing in the house. So we're looking forward to monitoring that hearing next week and getting back to you with some updates on things that our members should be looking out for.

ROBERT JOHNSON:  04:30

We'll look forward to that. Jeffrey Acoma, always great to have you here on the newscast. I hope you have a great weekend.

JEFFREY EKOMA:  04:37

You too. Talk soon.

ROBERT JOHNSON:  04:39

That'll do it for today's newscast. We're back Monday morning with more ASTHO news and information. I'm Robert Johnson. You're listening to Public Health Review Morning Edition. Have a great weekend.