689: Territorial Medicaid Funding, Closing PH Knowledge Gaps

ROBERT JOHNSON:   

This is the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition for Thursday, June 20, 2024. I'm Robert Johnson. Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. 

JOSEPH KANTER:   

We think we have a window to enact meaningful change at the congressional level now, and would like to take advantage of that window.  

JOHNSON:   

ASTHO CEO, Dr. Joseph Kanter, on a letter to Congress asking lawmakers to lift the Medicaid funding cap on all US territories and approve a permanent 83% federal contribution to Medicaid costs in Puerto Rico.  

KANTER:   

They've had structural challenges with the way their Medicaid programs are structured and funded, that really limit the ability to provide adequate health care to the citizens living there. And we think it's time for Congress to address this so that folks living in the US territories can enjoy the same health care services that folks living in mainland US enjoy. 

JOHNSON:   

Kanter says there is urgency to the request. The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands is set to reach its funding cap next month.  

KANTER:   

Once this funding cap is reached, the Commonwealth will most likely have to cut health care services including cuts to hospitals and clinics. And there are real families at the back end of that, that will see their healthcare drastically interrupted. 

JOHNSON:   

The National Association of Medicaid directors joined ASTHO on the letter to the Hill. We hear from Executive Director Kate McEvoy tomorrow. In the meantime, you can read the letter and ASTHO's news release using the link in the show notes.  

Gaps in public health knowledge can keep important information from reaching those who need it most. Gordon Thane is CEO of Public Health Insight. 

GORDON THANE:   

We're really talking about accelerating that process through which data can go into practice and practice back to knowledge and vice versa. 

JOHNSON:   

Thane says it's not enough to only publish research.  

THANE:   

Yes, you've done your part in sharing the knowledge that you've generated through your research. But communication really never ends. And it's a very active process that can take the information from those who generated that knowledge into the hands of all of those people that could use the knowledge 

JOHNSON:   

Some are taking note, Thane says more and more research projects include money to pay for what he calls knowledge translation. 

THANE:   

Researchers are now increasingly starting to think more about beyond publishing, how they go about sharing their knowledge and findings with other researchers, the practice community and the general public as well. 

JOHNSON:   

Thane is host of the Public Health Insight podcast. He recently interviewed ASTHO Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Marcus Plescia. You can listen to the conversation by clicking the link in the show notes.  

Also today, communication is the topic of an ASTHO webinar happening Monday, June 24. Learn how to address the rise in syphilis cases through state communication campaigns. Save a seat using the link in the show notes. 

Another meeting this one on Tuesday, June 25. Will examine performance management systems and how they can help improve decision making. Get more information from the link in the show notes.  

Finally, this morning, Michigan is working to address health disparities. You can read about the state's approach in a new ASTHO blog article, Dr. James Bell III, is chief of staff at the Michigan Health Department and a graduate of ASTHO's Diverse Executives Leading in Public Health program. His article is available now. There's a 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 are on LinkedIn, Facebook, and X.  

That'll do it for today. We're 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. Have a great day.