695: LGBTQ+ Inclusivity, Appropriation Season in Full Swing

SUMMER JOHNSON: 

This is the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition for Friday, June 28, 2024. I'm Summer Johnson. Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.

JORGE PETIT: 

So, the more we can break down those barriers, and train providers to be able to, you know, engage folks more appropriately, we do see better engagement and care and better outcomes, which is really critical for this population.

JOHNSON: 

Dr. Jorge Petit, founder and CEO of Quality Healthcare Solutions, advocates for LBGTQ+ healthcare inclusivity in a new Forbes article.

PETIT: 

But to do this type of work, it really requires structural and cultural shifts. And I think part of what you need to do in those instances is be visible, really be committed to visibility. I think leaders should publicly commit to LGBTQ+ inclusivity, which could include participating and supporting events, back and company wide initiatives, explicitly, including LGBTQ support within organizational values.

JOHNSON: 

In addition to inclusive policy changes. Petit says cultural competency training focused on LGBTQ+ issues can be helpful.

PETIT: 

By doing training and promoting education around you know, these issues, you do reduce bias and stereotypes. I think education helps dismantle some of these preconceived notions and a lot of the unconscious bias.

JOHNSON: 

He tells Public Health Review Morning Edition, the only way to make a difference in healthcare for this community is to make sure the work happens beyond Pride Month.

PETIT: 

This is not just a one off, once a month, like you know, Black History Month, we're only going to focus on racial, or you know, Pride Month, we're only going to focus on LGBT. So, this has got to be sort of an ongoing, systematic approach to how we're thinking about, you know, engaging the LGBT community around their healthcare needs.

JOHNSON: 

You can read Dr. Petits full article in Forbes by clicking the link in the show notes.

Appropriation season is well underway and asked us Jeffrey Ekoma joins Robert Johnson to get us up to speed in this week's View from Washington D.C. report.

ROBERT JOHNSON: 

Jeffrey Ekoma it's always good to see you. We haven't had you on the show in a while.

JEFFREY EKOMA: 

It's a pleasure to be back as always.

JOHNSON: 

When you're here, that means we're usually talking about Congress and what's happening on Capitol Hill. There was some activity this week. It was in the Labor, Health, and Human Services and Education Appropriations subcommittee. Can you tell us what they were doing?

EKOMA: 

Yeah, absolutely. The house LHHS subcommittee marked up their FY25 appropriation bill, which provides funding for many public health agencies, such as CDC, HERSA, SAMSA, Asper, and NIH to name a few. While the details of the bill have not been fully released, the bill does provide a snapshot of the committee's proposed funding levels. For example, the bill proposal eliminating funding for many programs like firearm injury and mortality prevention, research, suicide prevention, tobacco prevention and control, the climate and health program, and a couple of others that are really concerning to us. However, CDC has public health infrastructure and capacity program received a $10 million increase. In addition to increases for SAMSA and Asper. It's important to note that these levels are subject to change and truly represent the priority to the majority in the House. While we expect the Senate to begin its work on appropriation bill in the coming weeks. We also hope to share updates on their work afterward.

JOHNSON: 

I heard you say subject to change. And that seems like a key phrase in this conversation. Do you believe these funding levels will survive the process?

EKOMA: 

No, you know, we've done a lot of precedent here. Many of the proposed cuts that I mentioned were included in a house's FY24 LHHS appropriation bill. But they weren't included in the final bill that passed earlier this calendar year. There's undoubtedly a lot of work to do here to ensure that Congress really understands the impact of the programs that I mentioned. And we really look forward to continue those conversations with them in the coming weeks and months.

JOHNSON: 

Is there anything else happening on the Hill right now besides the budget that ASTHO members ought to know about?

EKOMA: 

Yeah, our team is engaged in many, many, many activities, whether it be watching hearings, meeting with congressional staff on a host of issues, responding to requests for information requests that are coming down, or even really collaborating with other public health organization, stakeholders, and our affiliated organizations on a couple of topics to mention one being appropriations, like I mentioned, we're also spending a lot of our time really better understanding drug shortages and its impact on public health and state in terms of public health agencies. pandemic preparedness continues to be a really hot bun topic for us. Avian Influenza and HVAI search on Medicaid and supporting a lot of the work that's happening on territories. And last but not least, Firearm Violence and Injury, including the recent advisory from a Surgeon General, declaring it as a public health crisis.

JOHNSON: 

As always a lot of great detail and we appreciate you coming on the show today.

EKOMA: 

It's always great to be here and can't wait for my next invite.

JOHNSON: 

Have a great weekend.

EKOMA: 

You too.

JOHNSON: 

ASTHO has more information on its legislative priorities in the show notes.

Also today ASTHO continues its effort to ensure maternal mortality is a top of mine public health priority. O'Keyla Cooper has more.

O'KEYLA COOPER: 

A new blog article discusses how ASTHO partners with Healthy People 2030 to improve health outcomes for state and territorial health agencies. It emphasizes ASTHO's dedication to health equity, literacy, and social determinants of health and highlights efforts to reduce maternal mortality. The article also invites health agencies to engage with these initiatives and explore the 23 leading health indicators to address specific community needs. Read the full article via the link in the show notes.

JOHNSON: 

ASTHO's created a program for up and coming and established healthcare leaders. The building capacity to advance health program has unique opportunities to learn about health equity approaches, share strategic planning methods, and make new connections with others looking to address health equity applications are due by July 12. Find more information by using the link in the show notes.

Finally today, tune in next week for highlights from the best of the Public Health Review Morning Edition. We'll revisit some of our most popular show topics according to you, including healthy-aging, website accessibility, and overdose data. That's right here on this feed all next week.

That will do it for today. We're back on Monday morning with more ASTHO news and information. I'm Summer Johnson, you're listening to the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition. Have a great day.