Health Policy Update Episodes

In recognition of National Community Health Workers Week, ASTHO’s Ashley Cram dives into how states are supporting this essential field through training, supervision, career pathways, and sustainable funding.

Kim Martin, director of Immunization at ASTHO, shares about a recent Health Policy Update discussing how states are building vaccine trust.

ASTHO's Beth Giambrone discusses a recent ASTHO Health Policy Update that discusses how states are approaching vector-borne disease policy. Then, ASTHO"s Orobosa Idehen shares about a new Medicaid Oversight Governance Map.

ASTHO’s Andy Baker-White, senior director for state health policy, discusses his recent Health Policy Update that focuses on the role of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force in shaping preventive care recommendations and insurance coverage.

On today's episode, ASTHO's Joseph Kanter and Andy Baker-White highlight takeaways from the Executive Leadership Forum and the legislative actions advancing public health in island jurisdictions.

On today's episode, ASTHO’s Andy Baker-White explains why Immunization Information Systems are essential to modern public health, and what lawmakers and the public should understand as policy debates continue.

On today's episode, ASTHO's Maggie Nilz explains how cyber disruptions are reshaping the foundation of public health systems. She shares how digital infrastructure makes core health functions more vulnerable and what jurisdictions can do to meet these challenges.

Suicide remains one of the most urgent and complex public health challenges in the United States, with more than 49,000 lives lost in 2023 alone. In this episode, ASTHO’s director of state health policy, JoAnne Deehr, breaks down how states are responding with more targeted, data-driven strategies.

Today, two conversations highlight how policy shapes public health, both in communities and on Capitol Hill. First, Beth Giambrone, senior analyst for state health policy at ASTHO, explains how states are rethinking their approach to hypertension. From telehealth and remote blood pressure monitoring to expanded insurance coverage, policymakers are leveraging new technology to improve heart health across the lifespan. Later, Jeffrey Ekoma, ASTHO’s senior director of government affairs, shares wha...

On today's episode, ASTHO member Brannon Traxler shares the latest on South Carolina’s measles outbreak response. Then, ASTHO's Heather Tomlinson breaks down the growing presence of kratom in the U.S.

Lisa Bari, Vice President of Policy and Partnerships at Innovaccer, shares how public health departments can become better prepared to use AI by addressing their underlying data infrastructure; Angela Davis, Project Coordinator with the Montana Office of Rural Health and Area Health Education Center at Montana State University, explains how they developed a statewide AmeriCorps program grounded in health to address the population health needs of the highly rural state; a new ASTHO State Health P...

Amelia Poulin, assistant director of emerging infectious disease at ASTHO, discusses how she was recently recognized as an honoree of de Beaumont Foundation’s 40 under 40 in Public Health awards; Christina Severin, director of public health law at ASTHO, breaks down her recent Health Policy Update,...

Halina Palacios, chief operations officer for population health at the Commonwealth Health Care Corporation in the territory of the Northern Mariana Islands, discusses a recent population health summit specifically for Pacific public health teams; Carolyn Mullen, ASTHO’s senior vice president of government affairs and public relations, breaks down how the potential government shutdown could impact access to public health funds...

Shalini Nair, senior analyst for infectious disease at ASTHO, tells public health professionals everything they need to know about New World screwworm (NWS), and what to do if their state experiences a case; Maggie Nilz, senior analyst for preparedness at ASTHO, shares information from a new Health Policy Update on public health preparedness for extreme weather events...

Amy Ciarlo, senior analyst for chronic disease risk factors at ASTHO, describes ASTHO’s new Health Policy Update on recent legislation focused on limiting the risk of older adult falls; Rebecca Ruvane, senior program analyst at the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, discusses...

Maggie Nilz, senior analyst for preparedness at ASTHO, explains how states can help support public health preparedness workforce resilience and capacity; Carolyn Mullen, senior vice president of government affairs and public relations at ASTHO, shares what Congress has been busy with in this week’s View from Washington, D.C. report...

Dr. Allison Arwady, director at the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control at the CDC, details a recent webinar focused on mental health and overdose prevention; Beth Giambrone, ASTHO senior analyst for state health policy, explains..

Laura Harrington, professor in the department of entomology at Cornell University and director of the Northeast Regional Center for Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases, explains how public health can combat tick-borne diseases; Beth Giambrone, ASTHO senior analyst for state health policy, discusses public health legislation in states around the country...

Julia McIlroy, procurement content manager for the National Association of State Procurement Officials, discusses administrative preparedness for public health emergencies...

Rita Condon, program manager for obesity, nutrition, and physical activity with the New Mexico Department of Health, discusses the agency’s annual Childhood Obesity Update and the new initiatives in place to promote healthy eating; Andy Baker-White, senior director for state health policy...

Adrienne Ammerman, founder and CEO of Arclet, explains how her platform will help health communicators; Amelia Poulin, ASTHO assistant director of emerging infectious disease, breaks down a blog article on what states are doing to combat syphilis and...

Dr. Sameer Vohra, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health and an ASTHO Member, tells us how Illinois worked to successfully reduce opioid overdoses; and Beth Giambrone, ASTHO senior analyst of state health policy, recaps some of the...

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...

Dr. Spencer Fox, assistant professor at the University of Georgia, explains how a new course on mathematical models could help public health professionals; Dr. Lana McKinney, ASTHO senior policy analyst on the State Health Policy team, tells us how...