News & Insights

Overdose Good Samaritan laws, which generally provide limited protections from arrest or prosecution for drug-related crimes, have been passed in most states. The limited protection these laws offer is often insufficient. A recently passed law in Maine that provides immunity from all but a small number of crimes, while not perfect, is a step towards improving the effectiveness of these laws.

Thanks to recent action by the Department of Agriculture, school lunches will become more nutritious. As the new federal standards roll out, states can support students’ health by increasing access to free school breakfast and lunch. Eight states have passed Health School Meals for All policies, providing comprehensive access to free breakfast and lunch to all students, regardless of income.

Title X is a federal grant program that funds family planning and reproductive health care services in the U.S. Two states with abortion bans recently loss Title X grant funding because of the grant's requirement that pregnant patients receive counseling options that include abortion. While the federal government had the right to terminate funding, clients (who are mostly young and have low incomes) lost access to important care as a result of their states' decision to ban abortion.

On March 18, 2024, the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a bulletin updating guidance on the use of online tracking technologies by HIPAA covered entities and their business associates. The bulletin, which updates OCR’s December 2022 guidance on the same topic, follows renewed warnings from OCR on the dangers of online tracking technologies and comes amidst increased attention to the privacy risks that these technologies pose

Network for Public Health Law Advisory Board Welcomes New Member Amy Kincaid The Network is proud to formally announce the appointment of…

The universal themes of Spring: renewal, unity, and transformation, resonate deeply with our Network mission. Law itself can be transformative—both positively and negatively— so we were committed to joining other health advocates in signing on to an amicus brief in an important upcoming court case with the potential to negatively impact access to emergency medical care, including during pregnancy.

Syringe services programs (SSPs) are crucial legal and health intervention and multiple studies have shown the best model for SSPs is needs-based syringe distribution, in which SSP participants are provided with the quantity of supplies they need to use safely. Yet, many states require participants to return a used needle for every new needle they are given, resulting in undue health risks and other harms.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about one in five private wells contain unhealthy levels of contaminants. Concerns over contaminated well water have only intensified given the impact on water quality from the increasing number of natural disasters due to climate change. The current state of private well water quality calls for law and policy interventions, particularly the implementation of laws governing water quality testing for private wells.

Motor vehicle crashes are preventable and yet remain the leading cause of death in the first four decades of Americans’ lives. The burden of traffic-related death and injury is worsening and is not borne equitably across all populations, with people of color experiencing significantly higher fatality rates. Research is needed to clearly determine the causal relationships between transportation laws, including policies steeped in systemic and structural racism, with transportation-related morbidity and mortality.

Network for Public Health Law Executive Director, Dr. Vineeta Gupta, explores the challenges and opportunities related to the new over-the-counter oral contraceptive Opill, including the potential for states to impose age-related restrictions on its purchase. Her perspective as a human rights lawyer and maternal health physician offers a comprehensive look at key areas to protect access to Opill.

As part of the Network’s leadership team, Dang will oversee the work of the Network project and regional teams in advancing law and policy solutions and providing direct legal technical assistance to those working to create healthier, more equitable communities. He will also work closely with external partners in public health, as well as community, philanthropic and advocacy organizations working to advance health in their communities.

Anti-LGBTQ legislation across the country is at an all-time high. These laws and the prejudice they reflect have negative impacts on the health and wellbeing of gender diverse people. Recently, plaintiffs have successfully challenged some anti-transgender laws under the Americans with Disabilities Act. A recent case serves as an example of this novel approach and its potential to have a wide-sweeping impact on rights for people who are transgender, people who are disabled, and those who share both identities.