News & Insights

It has become increasingly important for public health to navigate the disruptiveness of a capricious political climate in our continued efforts to protect the health of communities across the country.  State-level advocacy is not just beneficial, it is essential to maintaining and advancing community health. The newly released 50 State Scans of Public Health Advocacy Capacity report provides valuable information for advocates, public health practitioners, policymakers, and funders to identify partners who can work together and leverage their collective resources to achieve large-scale positive—and equitable—health outcomes for communities.

Despite increasing acceptance of harm reduction as an important and necessary component of the country’s efforts to reduce the overwhelming number of opioid overdose deaths, harm reduction law and policy has seen both ups and downs in the past year. However, there is a movement to support people who use drugs, to improve the public’s health, to save lives, and to impart basic human dignity to all.   

Women are disproportionately affected by food insecurity, and these disparities are even more pronounced during pregnancy, with some studies estimating that one in five pregnant people face food insecurity. There is growing interest in positioning food insecurity as a health issue requiring a health care response. Federal and state programs that center "food as medicine" show promise in addressing the negative health outcomes that can result from food insecurity, improving both maternal and child health outcomes.

As we find ourselves in the wake of another election and having seen the outpouring of supportive messages from so many of our public health and community partners, we're reminded once again of the strength of our collective commitment to efforts that improve the well-being of individuals, families, and communities across the country. How we navigate the post-election landscape will have a lasting impact on democracy, the social determinants of health, and public health authority. 

Entities covered by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act are often targets of cybersecurity attacks. The Department of Health and Human Services  Office for Civil Rights reported that from 2019 to 2023, breach reports affecting over 500 individuals involving hacking have increased by 89 percent and those involving ransomware have increased 102 percent. In February 2024, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) released a comprehensive cybersecurity resource guide on implementing the Security Rule along with a list of cybersecurity resources for HIPAA-regulated entities.

Mental health in the workplace is a racial and gender justice issue across professions — and attorneys are no exception. Women attorneys and attorneys of color report higher rates of stress than their counterparts, and studies have shown higher rates of problematic (or hazardous) drinking among attorneys compared to other populations. Institutionalizing wellness in the workplace will require radical change, and will allow us to be better advocates for ourselves and others.

In many states, hemp products are on the market without the same public health protections that govern states' licensed cannabis markets. While the federal government ponders potential legislation and states continue to struggle in court, intoxicating hemp products continue to be sold with little oversight in many jurisdictions.

The "War on Drugs" led to many drug paraphernalia laws that are still in effect nearly fifty years later. By repealing drug paraphernalia laws, which criminalize people who use drugs and lead to increased health and racial disparities in incarceration, jurisdictions can focus on evidence-based, common-sense approaches that respect the dignity and autonomy of people who use drugs.

The Network for Public Health Law (Network) announced today it has filed an amicus brief in the Moyle v. United States case before the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. This case challenges whether Idaho can legally prevent pregnant individuals from accessing emergency medical care mandated under the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA). The Network joined the American Public Health Association, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the American Medical Women’s Association and over 100 public health and legal scholars in supporting the U.S. government as amici curiae in this important case.

There are opportunities for public health agencies to improve health outcomes and alleviate workforce burden through AI. However, public health agencies also need to be aware of the challenges and ethical complexities around AI, and thoughtfully evaluate its use and ensure appropriate protections are in place.

Public health law plays a critical role in protecting communities from the current and future health threats posed by climate change. Based on their work with communities and public health professionals, the Network’s Climate and Health team has identified 10 public health law strategies to equitably prepare communities for the health impacts of climate change.

The CDC’s new Data Modernization Implementation Center Program offers public health agencies funding and support to accelerate adoption of the latest health IT standards and expand participation in data exchange networks. The program emphasizes projects that take advantage of the Trusted Exchange Framework network (TEFCA) and that leverage improved data interoperability standards. Public health agencies now can submit proposed data modernization projects for potential program support. By reducing the burden of data exchange, the program aims to improve the timely detection of public health threats and to promote more inclusive data access for population health.