Erin Laird, ASTHO director of emerging infections, explains how states are taking action against sepsis; Jeffrey Ekoma, ASTHO senior director for government affairs, tells us how the recently signed continuing resolution affects funding for public...
Erin Laird, ASTHO director of emerging infections, explains how states are taking action against sepsis; Jeffrey Ekoma, ASTHO senior director for government affairs, tells us how the recently signed continuing resolution affects funding for public health; an ASTHO tool can help upgrade your structured planning; and Alaska is celebrating 100 years of public health.
ASTHO Blog Article: State Health Policies Reduce Sepsis Cases
ASTHO Web Page: Foundational Planning Readiness Organizational Self-Assessment
Alaska Department of Health Web Page
Alaska Department of Health Video: 100 Years of Public Health
Alaska State Archives Web Page: Serum Run of 1925
JANSON SILVERS:
This is the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition for Friday, March 21, 2025. I'm Janson Silvers. Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.
ERIN LAIRD:
In recent years, multiple states have introduced bills related to sepsis. Many of these policies focus on promoting early recognition for sepsis.
SILVERS:
ASTHO's Erin Laird recently penned a Health Policy Update on sepsis. Laird says many states are taking action.
LAIRD:
In 2023, Rhode Island amended its existing laws on licensing of health care facilities to require protocols again, for early recognition and treatment of patients with sepsis. And Utah enacted a law allowing inspectors to request a copy of a hospital's sepsis protocols as a component of their inspections. This continued then in 2024, Kentucky and Maryland followed suit, enacting bills focused again on early identification and treatment of sepsis.
SILVERS:
A few actions have also been taken at the federal level.
LAIRD:
In the 2023 Omnibus Spending Bill, Congress directed the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, or AHRQ, to do some research to better understand the illnesses, hospital readmissions, and deaths related to sepsis.
SILVERS:
Learn more about all the updates related to sepsis by reading Laird's Health Policy Update the link is in the show notes.
In recent days, a Continuing Resolution has been signed to continue funding the federal government. ASTHO's Jeffrey Ekoma explains what that means for public health in this week's View from Washington, D.C. report.
It's Friday morning, so we have Jeffrey Ekoma here joining us. Thanks always for taking the time. How are you this morning?
JEFFREY EKOMA:
I'm doing well. Good morning.
SILVERS:
Good morning to you as well. I know that there were a lot of things happening on Capitol Hill last week. I was wondering if you could share what your team is tracking and things that should be on the radar for our listeners.
EKOMA:
Yes, funding for the rest of the current fiscal year, which ends on September 30, was wrapped up last week. The President signed a Continuing Resolution into law that not only funds the federal government through the end of the fiscal year, but also continues HHS requirement to transfer prevention and public health funding to activities funded in Fiscal Year 2024 and Fiscal Year 2025. It also extends funding for several programs like the Sexual Risk Avoidance Education Program, Special Diabetes Program, and community health centers through the end of the fiscal year. It also extends authorization for programs such as BARDA, the National Disaster Medical System, and FEMC through the rest of the fiscal year. And it also includes unique language requiring the Office of Management and Budget to submit monthly reports to House and Senate Appropriations Committee on all obligations that are incurred in Fiscal Year 2025. We're also tracking developments related to the administration withdrawing the nomination of Dr. Dave Weldon to serve as the next CDC director, and hope to share any updates soon.
SILVERS:
Now, I know you mentioned the Continuing Resolution being passed through September, and that wraps up spending for Fiscal Year 2025, but we're always working ahead here. So, when will things kick off for Fiscal Year 2026?
EKOMA:
Yes, that process has already begun. We're waiting the arrival of the President's Fiscal Year 2026 budget. And as a reminder, the President's budget, once it arrives, Congress has the ability to accept, modify, or reject that budget proposal. We've been hearing that that budget will be coming out the next couple of weeks. So, we're really looking forward to not only receiving it, but also analyzing it. We're also in the process of submitting ASTHO's FY26 appropriation request forms to different members on Capitol Hill. We also intend to meet with House and Senate Labor HHS Appropriation Subcommittee staff in the coming weeks as well. And we're also in the process too, of developing our Governmental Public Health Appropriation book, which not only includes our fiscal year appropriation request, but also requests of many of ASTHO's affiliates. So, there's lots of work going on, and we're really excited to sort of now get into FY26: 'Appropriation Request-A-Palooza,' that's probably best way to put it.
SILVERS:
And you and the team have been very busy, I know, obviously this week, dealing with the CR, last week, the leadership forum on Capitol Hill. So, what other items and activities are really top of mind for your team this week and moving forward?
EKOMA:
Yeah, we're still tracking a lot related to executive orders and guidance documents coming out of the White House and the administration. There's still lots of work happening around reconciliation in both the House and the Senate. We're closely monitoring the potential impact of discussions within reconciliation on health and public health, specifically around any cuts to programs as part of the required cost savings need. To pay for an increase in spending as outlined and reconciliation instructions. We're also continuing to collect stories and impact statements from members on the things that they're seeing in their jurisdictions, whether it be specific to programs or challenges that they have a notice of award notification they're receiving, or just general guidance they're getting from the agency. So, we're still collecting that. We're continuing to have conversations with colleagues and friends on the hill and the administration so that the work doesn't stop, but we're really excited to continue to share that information with many different partners across the field.
SILVERS:
Jeffrey, we always appreciate your team's work, and appreciate you joining us for these Friday morning conversations, keeping us abreast of everything happening. Have a great day.
EKOMA:
Thank you so much, and look forward to talking soon.
SILVERS:
Also this morning, an ASTHO tool can help upgrade your structured planning. O'Keyla Cooper explains.
O'KEYLA COOPER:
Structured planning helps public health agencies assess their needs, optimize resources and strengthen decision-making. ASTHO's Self-Assessment Tool supports organizations in preparing for effective planning and strategy development. Download the full resource by clicking the link in the show notes.
SILVERS:
Finally, this morning, Alaska is celebrating 100 years of public health. It has been a century since the 1925 Serum Run to Nome, and Alaska has been improving public health ever since. Learn more about the 100 years of public health in Alaska and the Serum Run of 1925 by clicking the links in the show notes.
That'll do it for today. We're back on Monday 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.
