News & Insights

Preliminary data indicates that overdose mortality declined significantly in 2024, with one exception, elder Black men. One 2022 study found that deaths among Black men aged 19-30 years are expected to decline by 9 percent in 2025 relative to 2020, while deaths among Black men aged 31-47 years are expected to rise by 11 percent.

Homicide is a leading cause of maternal mortality, and most homicides are committed using firearms. Studies report that, “[w]omen in the US are more likely to be murdered during pregnancy or soon after childbirth than to die from the three leading obstetric causes of maternal mortality.” 

Like resolutions passed by state and local governments, anti-racism resolutions by state public health associations acknowledge structural racism and its impact on health. As independent non-profits, state public health associations serve as an organized and active voice for public health in their state.

On January 24, 2025 the Trump Administration formally announced withdrawal of two proposed FDA rules expected to take affect in the Spring of 2024 that were aimed at reducing tobacco-related health disparities. As the largest corporate donor to a pro-Trump super PAC during the election cycle, many question the influence of the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company in this decision. 

Donna E. Levin Appointed as Chair of the Network for Public Health Law’s Advisory Board  The Network for Public Health Law (Network) announces the appointment…

The Network’s Privacy Officer Peer Group convenes privacy officers from public health agencies to provide peer support and share resources. Each year, the Network hosts quarterly Peer Group Learning Sessions on topics relevant to the work of privacy officers in public health. The four sessions held in 2024 addressed a range of issues relevant to privacy officers and provided opportunities for group discussion.

The privacy of sensitive reproductive health data remains precarious despite the HIPAA Final Rule to Support Reproductive Health Care Privacy, which went into effect in June 2024. Much remains to be seen in the coming months as lawsuits proceed and federal policies shift with a change in administration. For now, the Final Rule provides important, albeit limited, protections to uphold privacy, improve access to appropriate care, and counteract punitive surveillance that undermines health.

With mounting threats to indoor air quality, many public health practitioners and community leaders are looking for practical and legal strategies to improve indoor ventilation and filtration. In addition to the Model Clean Indoor Air Act, one practical strategy to make a quick and cost-effective improvement in indoor air quality – modifying box fans by adding air filters overcomes the barrier to access posed by the high cost of HEPA filters and commercial air purifiers.

The Network is excited to formally announce the promotion of Stephen Murphy, J.D., to the position of Director, Mid-States Region. Previously, Stephen held the roles of Interim Director and Deputy Director. Under his continued leadership, the Mid-States Region team will broaden the Network’s portfolio of work in public health data access, privacy, and sharing. This expansion includes providing legal support to the federal government’s data modernization initiative in collaboration with the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB); and offering legal technical assistance to the CDC’s Core Data Use Agreement Initiative to enhance national data exchange. Under Stephen’s leadership, the Mid-States Region will also bolster the Network’s efforts in promoting legal and policy solutions that advance health and health equity through direct legal technical assistance and capacity-building support to health agencies.

Warm wishes for the New Year, a time of new beginnings when our thoughts turn to how our collective efforts to advance health in communities across the country can be turned into reality. This year is likely to present challenges, especially considering the new presidential administration, but we have been here before. Just as we have done in the past when the political climate intensified around governmental authority, in particular public health authority, we are ready to act as a guide, partner, and resource to assistance in advancing the public’s health and health equity, despite barriers to this work.

There is clear evidence of racism’s broad impact on health. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “A growing body of research from leading organizations demonstrates that racism itself—above and beyond other social determinants of health—negatively impacts health outcomes.” Yet, at the same time that jurisdictions across the nation have taken steps to progress health equity and recognize that racism is a public health crisis, there has also been an alarming trend of states actively restricting education on these crucial topics.

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.