News & Insights

Some of the public health law and policy stories that made headlines in May include new legislation in Delaware addressing opioid addiction and overdose; states’ efforts to change laws that prohibit the use of sunscreen in schools; active transportation as a tool for increasing physical activity among children; regulation of donated breastmilk; the gap in maternal care in the U.S.; and the impact of federal and state preemption on local paid sick leave laws.

The inability to afford diapers for babies and toddlers is a significant source of stress for low-income families. As discussed in a previous Network blog post, gaps in federal safety net programs currently prevent them from addressing this challenge. However, innovative strategies to address diaper need are emerging.

The recently released Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics supplemental issue features articles authored by presenters at the Public Health Law Conference in Washington D.C. Corey Davis, deputy director at the Network for Public Health Law – Southeastern Region Office, co-authored the article, “Action, Not Rhetoric, Needed to Reverse the Opioid Overdose Epidemic.” In the following Q&A, Corey discusses his article and how it addresses a critical public health issue.

The recently released Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics supplemental issue features articles authored by presenters at the Public Health Law Conference in Washington, D.C. Jill Krueger, director at the Network for Public Health Law – Northern Region Office, co-authored the article, “Promoting Mental Health and Well-Being in Public Health Law Practice.” In the following Q&A, Jill discusses her article and how it addresses a critical public health issue.

Registered professional school nurses provide important access to prevention services, early detection, and mental health services for school-aged children and adolescents. For many children, the school nurse may be the only health care provider they will see all year. School nurses are uniquely positioned at the intersection of student health and education; and they are trained to understand the complexity of the relationship between physical and mental well-being and academic success.

Combating low vaccinations rates has become a difficult problem for public health. Consumers often receive mixed messages and false information about the safety and efficacy of vaccines and the dangers of vaccine preventable diseases. There are, however, legal steps that can be taken to inccrease vaccination rates.

Many experts and advocates consider homelessness a critical public health issue. Professor James G. Hodge, Jr., director of the Network's Western Region Office, co-authored the article “Homelessness and the Public’s Health: Legal Responses” in the recently released Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics supplemental issue. In this Q&A, he discusses his article and the role of law and advocacy to ameliorate the public health impact of homelessness.

Some of the public health law and policy stories that made headlines in April include the rising rate of kindergartener vaccinations in San Diego following a change in that state’s vaccination laws; smokeless tobacco use in major league ballparks; expanding “Health in All Policies” initiatives; a ban on the sale of flavored tobacco products in San Francisco; soda taxes; and more.

Not a lot of people think “public health” when examining state laws and policies regulating gambling—but public health professionals should. This is particularly true with respect to daily fantasy sports (DFS) because of its association with problem gambling conditions.

In an effort to reduce the costs of treating homeless individuals with chronic medical conditions by providing them with permanent housing, legislation was recently introduced in Hawaii that would classify homelessness as a medical condition.

Some of the public health law and policy stories that made headlines in March include a call by physicians for policy changes to better address the opioid epidemic, states’ efforts on oral health care access for the elderly, the effects of gun laws on suicide rates, and a new federal law requiring water companies to notify customers of lead and other dangerous contaminants in water.

The prevalence of severe black lung disease is rising at an alarming rate. With modification of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) looming, victims of black lung disease may soon face elimination of critical benefits and protection.