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Dr. Laura Herrera Scott, secretary of health for the Maryland Department of Health and an ASTHO Member, tells us how Maryland was the first state to sign on to the AHEAD Model released by CMS; Jessica Byrski, senior policy analyst for the National...
Dr. Laura Herrera Scott, secretary of health for the Maryland Department of Health and an ASTHO Member, tells us how Maryland was the first state to sign on to the AHEAD Model released by CMS; Jessica Byrski, senior policy analyst for the National Emergency Management Association, previews a webinar focused on North Carolina’s Hurricane Helene response; and the California Air Resources Board and the California Department of Public Health have developed resources to safeguard communities during smoke events.
Maryland Web Page: AHEAD Model
AirNow Web Page: Wildfire Smoke – A Guide for Public Health Officials
Wildfire Smoke – Considerations for California’s Public Health Officials
SUMMER JOHNSON:
This is the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition for Thursday, January 16, 2025. I'm Summer Johnson. Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.
LAURA HERRERA SCOTT:
What it does is basically allow us to increase access to care by creating access points in rural Maryland with the participation of Medicaid.
JOHNSON:
Maryland recently became the first state to sign on to the AHEAD Model released by CMS. AHEAD stands for States Advancing All-Payer Health Equity Approaches and Development. Dr. Laura Herrera Scott is an ASTHO member and the secretary of health for the Maryland Department of Health. She says it will help a lot of people.
HERRERA SCOTT:
We have Medicare primary care programs participating in AHEAD, but now we have Medicaid participation, and it also expands and aligns our all-payer primary care model that we have in place. So, this enables to really create new access points in the state. It also allows us to integrate and strengthen our behavioral health access and strengthen our behavioral health Continuum of Care.
JOHNSON:
Scott says her team was very conscious to listen to and incorporate feedback they heard from stakeholders.
HERRERA SCOTT:
What we heard repeatedly is you can't make healthcare any more complex than it is so as we roll this out, to make sure that we not only think about the provider, but most importantly, the patient and the patient's journey in all of this.
JOHNSON:
All the new access points will help make sure all Marylanders are taken care of.
HERRERA SCOTT:
Now, with the inclusion of Medicaid, and then setting all-payer targets for investments in primary care that we can really improve access and promote equity and really strengthen our primary care system across the state of Maryland.
JOHNSON:
A full release on Maryland's AHEAD Model is online now. You can use the link in the show notes to read it today.
The National Emergency Management Association, or NEMA, recently celebrated its 50th anniversary. NEMA's Jessica Byrski tells us what the organization is all about.
JESSICA BYRSKI:
Our primary focus is improving the nation's ability to prepare for, manage, and recover from disasters and threats to national security.
JOHNSON:
NEMA is hosting a webinar today, January 16, at 2 p.m. ET that will focus on lessons learned from North Carolina's response to Hurricane Helene.
BYRSKI:
Their discussion will delve into the development of their partnership and how it significantly enhances their messaging efforts by highlighting the importance of building trust and fostering collaboration among partners to ensure clear and effective communication in disaster response.
JOHNSON:
Byrski hopes webinar attendees walk away with a sense of reassurance and know they're not alone in their communication programs during a crisis.
BYRSKI:
I know while each of us operate within our own areas of expertise during a response, I think the support of partners truly fortifies the efforts of keeping our communities informed to make the best decisions for themselves.
JOHNSON:
You can sign up for today's webinar by clicking the link in the show notes.
Also, as fires unfortunately continue out west, there's a resource that may be helpful for public health professionals. O'Keyla Cooper has more.
O'KEYLA COOPER:
Learn how to prepare for and respond to wildfire smoke with a guide originally developed by the California Air Resources Board and the California Department of Public Health. This guide is tailored for local public health officials to safeguard communities during smoke events and communicate effectively about health risks. You can download the resource by clicking the link in the show notes.
JOHNSON:
Finally, today, California has even more resources on wildfire smoke, which contain considerations for public health leaders. That link is also in the show notes.
That'll do it for today. We're back tomorrow 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.
