801: Take Control of Your Birth Control Program, Lame Duck Priorities

JANSON SILVERS: 

This is the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition for Monday, December 2, 2024. I'm Janson Silvers. Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.

NATASHA BAGDASARIAN: 

We want to make sure that folks have the best resources and best information possible so that they can make these health decisions.

SILVERS: 

Michigan's Department of Health and Human Services has launched the Take Control of Your Birth Control program. Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive for the State of Michigan, and an ASTHO member, says they're getting resources and information into communities.

BAGDASARIAN: 

We're working with domestic violence shelters, with homeless shelters, with WIC clinics, and we're putting these resources in all of these types of organizations, in as many places around the state as we can, so that folks who may not again normally have a lot of contact with the healthcare system.

SILVERS: 

Bagdasarian says the program is working already.

BAGDASARIAN: 

We currently have these supplies in about 308 sites in all parts of our state. And I think what was particularly helpful for us is, number one, we-- we assembled a coalition of the willing. We didn't try to force anyone to participate.

SILVERS: 

Although the program doesn't have strict reporting requirements, Bagdasarian says just getting the word out is a victory.

BAGDASARIAN: 

A win for us is also raising awareness and just raising some conversations and dialogue about family planning and reproductive health and the fact that this is an integral part of healthcare. This is public health, and we need to start treating it as such.

SILVERS: 

More information on Michigan's Take Control of Your Birth Control program is online. We have a link in the show notes.

Even though Congress is in a lame duck period, there are still many priorities that ASTHO is tracking before we move to the 119th Congress in January. ASTHO's Catherine Jones has a blog article all about those priorities.

CATHERINE JONES: 

I've outlined must-do items, and then nice-to-have items, and then likely-deferred- to-the-119th-Congress items, and this is all legislation and funding that is essential to keeping the government open, and includes public health and healthcare legislation on the docket.

SILVERS: 

Specifically, Jones says there are a few things that Congress is focused on before the transition.

JONES: 

So, there are three main areas that need attention before the current Congress ends. And these are disaster relief government funding and the nutrition programs in the Farm Bill.

SILVERS: 

ASTHO has also zeroed-in on two main items that are important to public health,

JONES: 

The reauthorization of the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act, which is essential for strengthening preparedness and public health emergencies. And we're also focused on the SUPPORT Act, which includes provisions for expanding access to treatment, improving recovery services, and funding programs aimed at reducing opioid misuse and overdose.

SILVERS: 

Jone's full article is on ASTHO's website. We have a link to it in the show notes.

Also, a new ASTHO report details how health agency staff can collaborate across sectors to address climate risks. Earlier this year, a listening session on the topic was held, and this report takes you through key themes and approaches to address climate risks. Learn more by clicking the link in the show notes.

Finally, if you want all the latest public health news in your inbox each and every week, sign up for ASTHO's Public Health Weekly newsletter, that way you'll never miss a show or an email. Use the link in the show notes to sign up today.

That'll do it for today. We're back tomorrow morning with more ASTHO news and information. I'm Janson Silvers. You're listening to the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition. Have a great day.