Repeal of Paraphernalia Laws: Minnesota Leads the Way

Law & Policy InsightsSubstance Use Prevention and Harm ReductionHarm Reduction Legal ProjectLegislation and Legal ChallengesHarm Reduction Legal Project Resources

December 13, 2023
by Corey Davis

State laws that make it illegal to distribute or use items such as sterile syringes and smoking equipment have resulted in near record levels of drug overdose, hepatitis C infections and injection-related endocarditis due to the sharing of injections and inhalation supplies. Many advocates and observers, including members of the Network’s Harm Reduction Legal Project, have long advocated for the complete repeal of these harmful laws. Minnesota recently became the first state to do so.

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Innovative Use of Federal Power to Protect Tenants from Eviction

Law & Policy InsightsHealthy and Affordable HousingMechanisms for Advancing Public HealthMechanisms for Advancing Health Equity

December 12, 2023
by Kathleen Hoke

With the recission of the federal declaration of public health emergency, tenants lost some protections from the CARES Act and related federal policies. Proposals in the Biden Administration’s Blueprint for a Renters Bill of Rights provides avenues to support tenants in housing and project based rental assistance and expands those protections as negotiated measures between Freddie Mac and the landlord community.

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Legal Challenges to Dried Blood Spot Use in Michigan Highlight the Role of Informed Consent in Valuable Public Health Activities

Law & Policy InsightsMaternal and Child HealthMechanisms for Advancing Public Health

November 30, 2023
by Emma Kaeser

In the U.S., every state health department operates a newborn screening (NBS) program. NBS programs result in the early diagnosis of serious conditions in over 13,000 babies annually, making it a powerful public health intervention. As NBS requires the collection of personal information, it raises important considerations regarding individual privacy, autonomy, and ethical uses of data.

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The National Climate Resilience Framework Provides a Roadmap for Needed Policies and Programs to Better Prepare Communities for Adverse Conditions

Law & Policy InsightsEnvironment, Climate and Health

November 30, 2023
by Betsy Lawton

Wetlands absorb and slow floodwaters, help alleviate drought conditions, absorb pollutants, and when left undisturbed, store more carbon than forests. Despite their amazing natural features that help counteract the impacts of climate change, many states currently do not protect wetlands beyond what the Clean Water Act requires, and recently, the U.S. Supreme Court eliminated protections for wetlands that have been in place for decades.

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Legal Action Needed to Protect Workers from Extreme Heat

Law & Policy InsightsEnvironment, Climate and HealthMechanisms for Advancing Health EquityInjury Prevention and Safety

November 16, 2023
by Jill Krueger

Occupational health is one important pathway for public health practitioners and cross-sector partners to address the adverse and inequitable human health impacts of extreme heat and climate change. Opportunities in the law and policy arena exist for those seeking to take action to protect workers from extreme heat.

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The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act Makes It Easier for Schools to Receive Payments for Critical Health Services for Children Enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP

Law & Policy InsightsHealth in SchoolSchool NursesSchool NursingMaternal and Child Health

November 16, 2023

School nurses can play a critical role in advancing child and adolescent health — including expanding access to care for many children. However, laws across the country do not yet recognize the importance of school nurses, and only one state requires a full-time registered nurse in every school.

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HHS’s Newly Updated Security Risk Assessment Tool Helps Entities Better Protect Electronic Health Information

Law & Policy InsightsHealth Information and Data SharingHealth Data Sharing and Privacy

November 2, 2023
by Emma Kaeser

In September, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights and Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology announced the release of an updated Security Risk Assessment Tool. The tool is designed to make it easier for entities and business associates covered under HIPAA to understand and remediate risks to electronic health information.

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Office for Civil Rights and Federal Trade Commission Renew Warnings of Online Tracking and Health Information

Law & Policy InsightsHealth Information and Data SharingHealth Data Sharing and Privacy

November 2, 2023
by Stephen Murphy

The OCR and FTC have issued renewed warnings regarding the dangers of online tracking technologies and the harm they can pose to the privacy of an individual’s health information. OCR and FTC warn that tracking technologies collect identifiable information, mostly unbeknownst to users, and can lead to violations of three federal laws by regulated entities.

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Fighting for the Public’s Health: Ideas for Action from an April 2023 National Convening to Strengthen Public Health Advocacy

Network News

October 13, 2023

This report captures proposed actions and highlights from rich discussions and ideas generated during and after a convening to inspire continued action and commitment from those who attended, while also inviting others inside and outside public health to improve, join, and amplify this work to strengthen advocacy for the public’s health.

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Reflections on how The Supreme Court Affirmative Action in College Admissions Opinion Denies the Reality of Racism in the U.S. and its Impact on People of Color

Law & Policy InsightsMechanisms for Advancing Public HealthMechanisms for Advancing Health Equity

October 4, 2023
by April Shaw

In Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard College (June 2022), the U.S. Supreme Court struck down race-conscious affirmative action programs at Harvard College and the University of North Carolina. What is striking about this case is not just its findings that these specific programs are unconstitutional, but the case goes even further to declare that race no longer matters, and that racism is dead. Racism is a public health crisis, and the Supreme Court has added to this crisis.

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National Voter Education Week: How States Can Improve Health by Increasing Voting Access

Law & Policy InsightsMechanisms for Advancing Public HealthMechanisms for Advancing Health Equity

October 4, 2023
by Dawn Hunter

Recent research has revealed a strong correlation between access to voting and public health outcomes: states that have more inclusive voting policies combined with higher levels of civic participation have citizens who have better health outcomes. Unfortunately, for many Americans it is not easy to vote, and there has been a wave of restrictive voting laws over the last several years.

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