Health Policy News Archive

Please select the links below for complete Health Policy articles and updates from previous years. View Current Health Policy News

Public Health Alerts
Influenza Updates
Practice Advisories
National Updates
Georgia Division of Public Health

Public Health Alerts

08.21.08 CDC: Most U. S. measles cases reported since 1996; many unvaccinated because of philosophical beliefs

More measles cases have been reported in the United States since Jan. 1, 2008 than during the same period in any year since 1996, according to a report released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Between January 1 and July 31, 2008, 131 cases were reported to CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD). At least 15 patients, including four children younger than 15 months of age, were hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.

Of the 131 patients, 112 were unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination status. Among the 112 unvaccinated U.S. residents with measles, 16 were younger than 12 months of age and too young for vaccination, and one had presumed evidence of measles immunity because the person was born before 1957.

Of the 95 patients eligible for vaccination, 63 were unvaccinated because of their or their parents’ philosophical or religious beliefs.

Although immunization coverage rates for measles vaccine remain high, unvaccinated persons are at risk for measles, and sizeable measles outbreaks can occur in communities with a high number of unvaccinated persons.

View more information on the CDC's Web site

Influenza Updates

09.19.08 FDA and CDC provide details for 2008-09 flu season

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the influenza vaccines for the 2008-2009 flu season.

FDA says that the six vaccines/manufacturers include ...

CSL Limited/Afluria
GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals/Fluarix
ID Biomedical Corporation of Quebec/FluLaval
MedImmune Vaccines Inc./FluMist
Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics Limited/Fluvirin
Sanofi Pasteur Inc./Fluzone

The vaccines reflect the virus strains that will be the most likely cause of the flu in the United States, according to FDA. It says that the closer the match between the circulating strains and the strains in the vaccines, the better the protection.

Read full news article

02.21.08 National Influenza Vaccine Summit update

The FDA’s VRBPAC has recommended that the strains for the influenza vaccine for the 2008-2009 season follow those recommended by the WHO. This raises challenges for manufacturers who now have to start the production of a vaccine with three new strains. Some reassurance comes from the fact that two of the new strains, the B and H1N1 strains are in the current southern hemisphere vaccine and so some experience with those two strains exist. However, the new H3N2 strain will be a new entity.
Novartis has launched an online resource for ordering Fluvirin Influenza Virus Vaccine for the 2008-2009 influenza season.
The CDC has updated their Flu Season Q&A to reflect the protection that is still provided by the vaccine. Physicians should continue to offer vaccine and communicate to the public that despite the mismatch, Department of Defense data indicates that the vaccine’s H3N2 strain is 52 percent protective against the circulating H3N2 Brisbane strain and that the vaccine reduces the severity of disease.

Endorsement of any material present in the links below by either the CDC, the AMA, or MAG should not be inferred.

Recommended Influenza Virus Vaccine Composition
NCQA's Proposed Measures and MedImmune's Public Comments
Novartis Press Release
Read CDC's Updated Flu Season Q&A

01.24.08 GIVE - Get Influenza Vaccine Every Year

The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases is working to raise awareness about the issue of low healthcare worker (HCW) immunization rates against influenza, which can ultimately leave patients at risk.

MAG asks its Members to join health care workers across the nation in the NFID's "Get Influenza Vaccine every year" campaign, by making a personal commitment to better protect yourselves and your patients against influenza.

11.26.07 - 12.02.07 National Influenza Vaccination Week

The CDC has created podcasts, e-cards and other e-health activities to support this national effort to spread the word about getting annual flu shots. Click on the link below for their Web site.

Get Vaccinated! Don't Get Flu. Don't Spread Flu. Visit www.cdc.gov/flu

06.29.07 CDC Updates Influenza Immunization Recommendations

A newly-issued report updates the 2006 recommendations by CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) regarding the use of influenza vaccine and antiviral agents. Principal updates and changes for 2007 include:

Reemphasizing the importance of administering 2 doses of vaccine to all children aged 6 months to 8 years if they have not been vaccinated previously at any time, with single annual doses in subsequent years
Recommending that children aged 6 months to 8 years who received only 1 dose in their first year of vaccination receive 2 doses the following year, with single annual doses in subsequent years
Highlighting a previous recommendation that all persons, including school-aged children, who want to reduce the risk of becoming ill with influenza or of transmitting influenza to others should be vaccinated
Emphasizing that immunization providers should offer influenza vaccine and schedule immunization clinics throughout the influenza season
Recommending that health-care facilities consider the level of vaccination coverage among HCP to be one measure of a patient safety quality program and implement policies to encourage HCP vaccination (e.g., obtaining signed statements from HCP who decline influenza vaccination)
Using the 2007-2008 trivalent vaccine virus strains A/Solomon Islands/3/2006 (H1N1)-like (new for this season), A/Wisconsin/67/2005 (H3N2)-like, and B/Malaysia/2506/2004-like antigens.

01.27.07 Medical Association of Atlanta Pandemic Report

Dr. Michael P. Dailey's report on how best to deliver urgent care during pandemic flu conditions, as presented to the MAA.

View PDF

01.08.07 Issues of the Current Influenza Season

View American Medical News Article

01.02.07 Flu Vaccine Ordering Program

ASD Healthcare has launched CertiFluSM, a flu vaccine ordering program that ensures the quantity of vaccine ordered by the date needed. Features of CertiFlu include:

No deposits required
Orders may be placed online, by phone or by fax
100% of the order will arrive by the guarantee date
Online order tracking
All ASD Healthcare customers are eligible

Please contact ASD’s customer service flu team at 866.281.4FLU with your questions.

11.17.06 2006 National Influenza Vaccination Week

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that the 2006 National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW) will run from November 27 to December 3.

For more information about NIVW, visit www.cdc.gov/flu/nivw06.htm.

The CDC also has launched a Web site devoted to providing immunization stakeholders with information and resources to support fall/winter influenza vaccination: www.preventinfluenza.org.

Practice Advisories

04.25.08 HHS extends comment period for proposed rules

On February 29, HHS published a notice of proposed rulemaking, 'Designation of Medically Underserved Populations and Health Professional Shortage Areas' (73 FR 11232), to revise and consolidate the criteria and processes for designating medically underserved populations (MUPs) and health professional shortage areas (HPSAs). HHS provided a 60-day public comment period, with written comments to be received on or before April 29, 2008. HHS and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) have received requests for an extension of the comment period. In consideration of these requests, HHS is extending the comment period an additional 30 days, with a new closing date of May 29, 2008.

Click Here for More Information

04.14.08 Physicians' Foundation sending survey to every primary care doctor in America

What is the state of primary care practice in America today? Can primary care physicians continue to provide patient care in the face of rising costs, reimbursement cuts and pervasive government regulations? What do primary care doctors themselves have to say about the direction of medical practice in America?

The Physicians' Foundation for Health Systems Excellence (PFHSE), a not-for-profit group composed of medical societies and physician leaders, is seeking answers to these questions by undertaking one of most ambitious physician surveys ever attempted. Beginning in May 2008, PFHSE will send more than 300,000 surveys to primary care physicians and selected medical specialists throughout the country. The survey will be sent to virtually every active primary care physician nationwide, and to specialists in small, independent practices. MAG urges you to watch for this survey in your mailbox and please take the time to complete it!

Click Here for More Information

04.14.08 Alert issued for prevention of pediatric medication errors

The Joint Commission has issued an alert aimed to prevent pediatric medication errors.

Medication safety is a big problem for small children. Young patients are at greater risk for drug errors because most medications are formulated and packaged for adults and most health care settings are built around the needs of adults. A study in the April issue of Pediatrics says that medication mix-ups, accidental overdoses and bad drug reactions harm roughly one out of 15 hospitalized children.

Read Joint Commission's Alert

12.12.07 Tiered and narrow physician networks: How to challenge your profile or placement

MAG's offices of the General Counsel and Third Party Payer Advocacy have teamed up with the AMA to disseminate a flyer giving tips on ways to challenge and improve your profile or placement.

Download tiered network flyer

06.18.07 Reminder to medical practice staff regarding the ADA and hearing interpreters

MAG has received several inquiries regarding the compliance of the Americans with Disabilties Act and Hearing Interpreters. According to the AMA's Office of the General Counsel, the prohibition against discrimination on the basis of disability includes an obligation to make reasonable accommodations to meet the needs of patients with disabilites. This has been interpreted by some as creating a requirement that physicians provide and pay for the cost of hearing interpreters for their patients who are hearing disabled. While there will be instances where a physician must provide a hearing interpreter, there is no hard and fast requirement for the provision of such services.

03.14.07 2006 non-compliance data for hospitals

Data compiled and released by the Joint Commission.

04.02.06 MAG issues important practice advisory regarding utilization of in-office phlebotomists

It is a common business practice for physicians to allocate space in their offices to a phlebotomist who is employed by a clinical laboratory for the purpose of collecting and transmitting samples of bodily fluids, etc. for lab testing purposes. While having the services of a phlebotomist in the physician’s office is a cost effective way of securing lab samples, increasing the accessibility of medical testing and greatly increasing the chances that patients will comply with the physician’s order, there are some risks of which you should be aware.

Georgia Department of Human Resources, Division of Public Health

12.09.08 Georgia's ranking in public health emergency preparedness

ATLANTA - Georgia Public Health Preparedness efforts met eight of the 10 indicators in the sixth annual "Ready or Not? Protecting the Public’s Health from Disease, Disasters, and Bioterrorism" report released today by Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF).

"Public Health Preparedness is a major priority for the Georgia Division of Public Health and we are proud of the progress we have made. Preparedness is an ongoing process and a matter of constant vigilance that would not be possible without the partnerships we have established with other state and local agencies, organizations, the business community and the general public," said Sandra E. Ford, M.D., interim director of the Georgia Division of Public Health (GDPH).

All 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia were evaluated. Several of the indicators change annually to provide a snapshot in time that captures criteria for public health preparedness.

Last year, GDPH got 9 points out of 10. This year, GDPH got a score for the indicator missed in 2007 on the adequate distribution of antivirals from the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS).

GDPH has already started to work towards improving current challenges. Its lab capacity to deliver and receive lab specimens on a 24/7 basis and the ability to meet and exceed national average on identification of pathogens responsible for foodborne diseases.

GDPH is the lead agency entrusted by the people of the State of Georgia with the ultimate responsibility for the health of communities and the entire population. TFAH is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to saving lives by protecting the health of every community and working to make disease prevention a national priority. The RWJF focuses on the pressing health and health care issues facing our country. The RWJF works with a diverse group of organizations and individuals to identify solutions and achieve comprehensive, meaningful and timely change.

09.08.08 DCH has link to detailed-county level reports for the Georgia Health Disparities Report

Click here for report

12.10.07 2007 Women’s Health in Georgia Report Released

The Georgia Division of Public Health has released the 2007 Women’s Health in Georgia report. It presents an overview of the current status of women's health in Georgia with an emphasis on chronic conditions, risk factors, and preventive care.

Read the Full Report

National Updates

06.06.08 Go Local Web site links Georgia patients with information

Go Local is a federally-funded initiative to link users of MedlinePlus, the National Library of Medicine’s (NLM) premier consumer health information Web site, to health services and providers in their local community. The Go Local initiative enables a patient or consumer anywhere in Georgia to visit the MedlinePlus Web site for information on a health topic or condition (diabetes, for example) and then be able to link directly to a Georgia Health Go Local Web site to locate related services, health care providers or institutions, support groups, advocacy organizations, etc. in their own county or zip code.

The libraries of Georgia’s four medical schools (Emory University, Medical College of Georgia, Mercer University School of Medicine, and Morehouse School of Medicine), GALILEO, Georgia 2-1-1, Georgia academic librarians, Georgia Health Sciences Library Association, Georgia Public Health Association, Georgia Public Library Service, Georgia Rural Health Association, Georgia AHECs, and others, have helped implement the NLM "Go Local Project" in the state.

Georgia Health Go Local Web site

06.03.08 MAG Alert: New organization aims to ‘TAP-IN’ to physician volunteers for free clinics

As the number of uninsured in Georgia reaches 1.7 million residents and 46 million nationwide, the demand for free health clinic services that rely on health care professionals to donate their time rises. These clinics are in great need of primary care physicians, specialists, dentists, nurses, pharmacists, psychiatrists, and social workers.

According to the Georgia Free Clinic Network, 30,000 people were turned away due to insufficient capacity in 2007. That’s where a non-profit program called TAP-IN, funded by The American Health Initiative, aims to fill in the gap.

TAP-IN is reaching out to retired and semi-retired health professionals in Atlanta. The organization, which currently operates in the states of Virginia and North Carolina, chose Atlanta because of the well-established network of free clinics already in place and the concentration of retired health professionals in the greater metropolitan area.

Health professionals can register for the program through the Web site www.tap-in.org or by calling 877.605.3250.

Register for the Program

03.20.07 Improper disposal of unused medication sparks creation of new awareness program

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) have joined forces to help protect our nation’s fish and aquatic resources from improper disposal of medication. Officials from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) signed a formal agreement today outlining how they will work cooperatively to build consumer awareness of the hazards posed by the improper disposal of unused and expired medications into the nation’s waterways. As part of the effort – dubbed “SMARxT DISPOSAL” – the USFWS and the APhA will work to publicize the potential environmental and health impacts of unused medications when they are flushed into our nation’s sewer systems.

11.02.06 Update to HHS Limited English Proficiency Requirements

Department of Justice Final Guidance to Federal Financial Assistance Recipients Regarding Title VI Prohibition Against National Origin Discrimination Affecting Limited English Proficient Persons.

Key Issues

Departments

MAG Pulse