690: Medicaid Letter Supports Territories, FDA Food Code Resources

ROBERT JOHNSON:   

This is the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition for Friday, June 21, 2024. I'm Robert Johnson. Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. 

KATE MCEVOY:   

We really feel like there is tremendous potential for improving capacity and sustainability of health services for Medicaid-eligible people who are US citizens and nationals and live in the territories.  

JOHNSON:   

Kate McEvoy is executive director of the National Association of Medicaid directors. She and ASTHO CEO, Dr. Joseph Kanter, have sent a letter to Congress. They want lawmakers to lift the Medicaid funding cap on all US territories and approve a permanent 83% federal contribution to Medicaid costs in Puerto Rico. 

MCEVOY: 

The overall goal is permanent fiscal stability and Medicaid operations for the territories, as opposed to the more sort of episodic actions that Congress has taken. 

JOHNSON:   

McEvoy says it's time to make things right in the territories. 

MCEVOY: 

It's important to all of us that the needs of the territories get much more exposure and priority and that people understand the seriousness of the constraints under which they've been operating literally for years. 

JOHNSON:   

You can read the letter and ask those news release using the link in the show notes. Also on Capitol Hill, lawmakers continue to look for ways to improve access to telehealth. ASTHO writes about proposed legislation and the benefits of telehealth in rural areas in a new blog article. There's a link in the show notes. 

ASTHO wants to help agencies thinking about adoption of the FDA Food Code. Heather Tomlinson says a technical package and a toolkit can make the process easier. 

HEATHER TOMLINSON:  

And it includes a variety of different resources and tools that health agencies can leverage as they're going through the process. And ultimately, that just saves time and money. You can leverage those existing resources instead of having to recreate the wheel. 

JOHNSON:   

Tomlinson says ASTHO also provides peer support.  

TOMLINSON:   

The first says we have a robust network of peer groups for information and resource sharing. So that can be through state health official calls. We also have an environmental health directors group that connects peers across the country. And lastly, a Food Safety Advisory Group, which dives deep into all things food safety. 

JOHNSON:   

Look for links to the technical package and the toolkit in the show notes. In Minnesota leaders have a new assessment to help them update Health Improvement Plans. Maria Sarabia is an assistant commissioner at the State Department of Health. 

MARIA SARABIA:   

It's a tale of two truths here in Minnesota. In some regards, we're performing really well in our health and well being across our state and in other areas there's need for much improvement.  

JOHNSON:   

Sarabia says the assessment highlights the need for more data. 

SARABIA:   

Data disaggregated by race and ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, and disability status is important. We need more of that. 

JOHNSON:   

Review Minnesota's health assessment using the link in the show notes. 

Finally, this morning, chocolate bars, cones, and gummies marketed under the brand name Diamond Shrooms could cause severe acute illness in those who eat them. The CDC has issued a health advisory about the products that contain a blend of mushroom. You can read the advisory by clicking 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 are on LinkedIn, Facebook, and X.  

That'll do it for today. We're back Monday 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 weekend.