Sign Up for Public Health Weekly Newsletter
Dr. Kaitlan Baston, ASTHO Member and acting commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Health, discusses a new law in New Jersey that decriminalizes many harm reduction supplies; Andra Samoa, a Department of Health consultant and liaison, wants...
Dr. Kaitlan Baston, ASTHO Member and acting commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Health, discusses a new law in New Jersey that decriminalizes many harm reduction supplies; Andra Samoa, a Department of Health consultant and liaison, wants Congress to know that it’s hard to make improvements in an isolated island environment; Mike Fraser, ASTHO CEO, tells us what he told a recruiter who called him about the ASTHO job more than seven years ago; and ASTHO leaders have issued a statement about the alarming number of measles cases now being reported across the country.
ASTHO Public Health Review Podcast
ROBERT JOHNSON:
This is the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition for Thursday, February 29, 2024. I'm Robert Johnson. Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.
KAITLAN BASTON:
One of the reasons that harm reduction strategies are so important is that they really decrease the barriers to these tangible, proven tools that keep people alive and keep them safe and healthy.
JOHNSON:
A new law in New Jersey decriminalizes many harm reduction supplies as the state does more to address the ongoing overdose crisis. This is acting State Health Commissioner and ASTHO member, Dr. Kaitlan Baston.
BASTON:
So, what this allows us to do is expand testing strips for all kinds of substances, a wide array of harm reduction supplies, basically the tangible tools that people can use to decrease infections, decrease illness that come from substance use, and most importantly, decrease death rates.
JOHNSON:
Baston says the state has a three-pronged approach to harm reduction. It includes mobile health care, and community-based services, and more centers in locations around New Jersey.
BASTON:
So, by having places where people know they can walk in, be treated with dignity, be welcomed in any way that they show up, and be given tools that will help them stay alive and healthy. This is the basis for how we are going to start to turn the tide of what we've seen with substance use.
JOHNSON:
Baston calls it a No Wrong Door approach.
BASTON:
Wherever people are getting health care services, they deserve this to be part of their routine health care.
JOHNSON:
Read more about New Jersey's work using the link in the show notes.
Critical messages being delivered on Capitol Hill this week by ASTHO members who've traveled here from the island areas. Andra Samoa is a consultant representing American Samoa.
ANDRA SAMOA:
Medicaid cap and our eligibility is very different from the United States and the 50 states. We have a presumptive eligibility versus individualized eligibility and our Medicaid FMAP, the Federal Medical Assistant Program, is definitely different, percentage wise.
JOHNSON:
Andra Samoa also wants Congress to know that it's hard to make improvements in an isolated island environment.
SAMOA:
We do not have the high standard of professional subject matter experts in clinical as well as various other professionals we lack the training. And because we are so far, located seven hours difference in time zone.
JOHNSON:
ASTHO has a news release about its discussions with Congress. You can find it clicking the link in the show notes.
Also today, ASTHO CEO Mike Fraser leaves the organization this week. He's going to a similar position with the College of American Pathologists. In his last ASTHO podcast interview, he tells us what he told the recruiter who called him about the ASTHO job more than seven years ago.
MICHAEL FRASER:
Then I said, "No, they're gonna hire a health officer. I'm not I'm gonna waste my time." It's you know, it's a risk. And she said, "No, no, no, they really they don't want a physician necessarily. They don't want a health officer necessarily." So, I put my name in the hat.
JOHNSON:
Hear more of the conversation with Mike Fraser in a new episode of the Public Health Review podcast. It's available now everywhere you stream audio.
Finally this morning, ASTHO leaders have issued a statement about the alarming number of measles cases now being reported across the country. It reminds parents and caregivers about the risk to children and the importance of vaccination. You can read it by using the link in the show notes.
Before we go, a reminder also to follow this newscast on your podcast player and connect with ASTHO on social media. We're on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.
That'll do it for today. We are back tomorrow morning with more ASTHO news and information. I'm Robert Johnson. You're listening to the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition. Happy Leap Day.
