| Network Report Thursday, January 26, 2023 |
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Systems change to address the myriad determinants of health requires a diverse set of collaborators and an understanding of how to use laws and policies as tools to effect change. The 2023 Public Health Law Conference will examine strategies and interventions to dismantle structural barriers to equitable health outcomes. Practitioners, attorneys, researchers, and advocates working in public health, health care and other sectors, as well as community-led organizations and coalitions, are encouraged to submit abstracts. The deadline for abstract submissions is February 6, 2023. View the call for abstracts.
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Maryland’s Approach to Enhancing Access to Abortion: Expanding Scope of Practice
Maryland’s Abortion Care Access Act is the first of its kind in the U.S. The new law expands the scope of practice for certain health care providers to allow them to provide abortion care, aims to increase provider diversity through training programs, and improves affordability and equity by requiring insurance coverage for abortion care. Experience and evaluation will help determine whether it is effective at improving safe, convenient, and equitable access to abortion care in Maryland. If so, it could serve as a model for other states looking to increase access, improve patient outcomes, and reduce health inequities.
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| Litigation as a Public Health Tool: A Modern-Day Public Health Story
Litigation by and against the government and by and against product manufacturers can impact public health as significantly as legislation and funding. A recent ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit agreed with environmentalists, farmworkers, and food safety advocates in their joint lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for failing to adequately consider whether glyphosate (a herbicide that kills grass and weeds) poses unreasonable risks to humans, endangered species, and the environment. Although the court did not issue an order prohibiting or limiting the use of glyphosate, the three-judge panel sent the issue back to the EPA for reconsideration.
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Confidentiality of Substance Use Patient Records: Key Provisions of The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Changes to The Part 2 Rule
Complying with the federally mandated privacy provisions for the use and disclosure of substance use disorder (SUD) records under 42 CFR Part 2, particularly when those records are also protected by HIPAA, is often time-consuming and burdensome for those subject to those federal laws. This fact sheet summarizes the key proposed provisions, identifies those which provide greater alignment with the HIPAA Rules, and calls out some areas on which HHS is specifically soliciting comments (due January 31, 2023). Of particular interest to the public health community, the fact sheet also presents the proposed changes to the data de-identification standard for disclosures of Part 2 data made to public health authorities.
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| Law and Policy Pathways to Increase Affordable Housing
About 36 percent of households in the U.S. rent their homes and nearly half spend more than 30 percent of their income on rent. This cost burden means many renters are unable to allocate resources for other important needs such as healthcare, education, and healthy food. Studies have shown that when families gain access to affordable housing, whether rented or owned, their health and quality of life improves. This resource outlines laws and policies, including investing in public housing, mortgage and homeownership assistance, and zoning law reforms that have shown a proven track record of success.
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| Act for Public Health: Assessing Legislation and Litigation Impacting Public Health AuthorityTODAY at 1 – 2:30 pm EST
As communities continue to grapple with infectious diseases, including COVID-19, more than half of U.S. states have passed legislation that will undermine public health now and in the future. Act for Public Health is a collaborative effort to protect the authority of public health agencies to protect their communities. Attend this webinar to learn about the work of Act for Public Health, including law and policy surveillance; tracking state legislation both limiting and strengthening public health authority and emergency response; and litigation challenging public health legal authority.
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| Fighting for Public Health: How Do We Strengthen Public Health Advocacy at Local, State, and National Levels? February 23, 2023 | 1:00 – 2:30 pm EST
Attend this webinar to obtain insights and the key take-aways from a feasibility study, commissioned by the Network, in which public health advocates and leaders from 45 organizations where asked how we can strengthen public health advocacy. Their responses provided a picture of the current state of affairs in public health and opportunities to strengthen the voice of public health in advocating for evidence-based, sound public health approaches and policies, and for the profession and practice of public health itself.
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CDC’s Public Health Law Fellowship
Applications are now open for the CDC Public Health Law Fellowship. This paid opportunity will provide fellows with on-the-job training to prepare them for careers in public health law and policy. Applicants should be current graduate or law students or recent graduates with a demonstrated interest in public health law. Applications are due January 23. Positions start in January, May/June, or August/September. Learn more and apply.
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Senior Program Coordinator
The Network’s National office is seeking a Senior Program Coordinator to support our National Director in key initiatives and administrative activities. This role requires excellent planning, problem-solving aptitude, time management, nuanced relationship navigation, attention to detail, and the ability to meet deadlines while juggling multiple requests. This is a hybrid position, based in the D.C. metro area. View the job description and apply.
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Public Health Law Clerk, Health Equity & Social Justice
The Network is seeking Public Health Law Clerks to work with its Health and Racial Equity program. Clerks will assist attorneys with providing legal technical assistance and developing tools and educational materials on public health law topics. The Network will provide a wide range of projects and opportunities that will build Law Clerks’ knowledge of public health law and foster connections in the field. Rising 2L and 3L students with a strong interest in public health law are encouraged to apply. The start date is flexible, but the preference is to have the Law Clerks start work in late May with an expected commitment of 8-10 weeks of full-time work. All work will be completed remotely. View the job description and apply.
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Public Health Law Clerk, Mid-States Office
The Network is seeking Public Health Law Clerks to work with its Mid-States Region Office. The Law Clerk will focus on legal issues regarding public health authority, social determinants of health, health equity, and collecting, sharing, and protecting data for public health purposes. The Network will provide a wide range of projects and opportunities that will build Law Clerks’ knowledge of public health law and foster connections in the field. Rising 2L and 3L students with a strong interest in public health law are encouraged to apply. The start date is flexible, but the preference is to have the Law Clerks start work in late May with an expected commitment of 8-10 weeks of full-time work. All work will be completed remotely. View the job description and apply.
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Thank you!
Your interest in the work of the Network is important. Together, we can advance law as a tool to improve public health. Please forward the Network Report and encourage others to join the Network! |
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The Network for Public Health Law provides information and technical assistance on issues related to public health. The legal information and assistance provided in this document does not constitute legal advice or legal representation. For legal advice, readers should consult a lawyer in their state. |
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