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In Partnership With:
December 2024
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Spotlight
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- Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Representative Doris Matsui (D-CA) reintroduced the Public Health Funding Restoration Act which would restore the Prevention and Public Health Fund (PPHF) to its original $2 billion allocation under the Affordable Care Act. The PPHF provides the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other federal public health agencies resources which goes toward prevention grants to states, counties and cities, nonprofit health-oriented groups and tribal organizations. Dr. J. Nadine Gracia, Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) President and CEO, was quoted in a press release on the legislation from Senator Blumenthal’s office. For more information, here are TFAH’s resources on the PPHF.
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Congressional, Administration, and Transition Updates
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- Congress has many items to consider during the lame duck period, which ends on January 3, 2025. Among the must-pass bills is FY25 appropriations. With the deadline to come to an agreement by December 20 looming, the most likely outcome is a short-term continuing resolution through March 2025. In addition, Congress will need to extend the Farm Bill (see below for more information). Congress could consider other public health legislation including the extension of funding for community health centers and other healthcare programs, which expire December 31st; the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment (SUPPORT) Act; the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA); and the Older Americans Act.
- Last month, the Senate Farm Bill was introduced by Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Chairwoman of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee. The bill, officially titled the Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act, authorizes numerous programs that help counties invest in infrastructure, economic development, workforce training, nutrition, and conservation. The bill includes updates to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) such as lifting the lifetime ban preventing those with felony drug convictions from receiving benefits, options to purchase hot foods, and improves access for post-secondary students. The bill also ensures that SNAP benefits can adjust to changing costs of food and dietary needs via the Thrifty Food Program. The bill would also make the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations pilot program permanent and expand the Double-Up Bucks and Produce Prescriptions Programs. For more information, here is a section by section summary from the Committee and a general overview from the National Association of Counties.
- The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights issued a Dear Colleague Letter to remind funded providers of their obligation under federal civil rights laws to ensure people are protected from discrimination including Antisemitism and Islamophobia. The letter highlights how discrimination can directly and indirectly harm patients who rely on HHS-funded programs. For more information, HHS published a press release which includes additional resources.
- The HHS delegation to the United Nations Climate Change Conference shared progress milestones on the Administration’s work on Climate issues. Highlights include decarbonization efforts, how Community Health Centers have used funds from the Inflation Reduction Act to invest in solar energy and identifying opportunities to reduce emissions throughout the health care supply chain.
- The Health Resources and Services Administration launched a new campaign to promote the National Maternal Health Hotline. The Maternal Health Hotline, which debuted in 2022, provides confidential support from trained counselors in over 60 languages to connect callers with support and health care professionals when necessary. As part of the new campaign, HHS is working with cross-sector organizations to publicize resources for moms and pregnant women in everyday locations.
- President-Elect Trump has put forward nominees for several health-related positions in his coming Administration. Nominees thus far include:
- Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Nominee, United States Secretary of Health and Human Services: Prior to running as an independent candidate in the 2024 presidential election, Kennedy served as an environmental lawyer. Kennedy is now known for the Make America Healthy Again campaign, which seeks to reduce chronic diseases. He is also known for his skepticism of vaccines and the pharmaceutical industry, most recently opposing the use of GLP-1 drugs for obesity treatment, and for his criticism of federal health agencies.
- Dr. David Weldon, Nominee, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Weldon served seven years in Congress, representing the Tampa Bay, Florida suburbs. During his tenure in Congress, Weldon championed legislation to safeguard health care providers from participating in procedures against their beliefs and spearheaded efforts to remove thimerosal from childhood vaccines.
- Dr. Martin Makary, Nominee, Director of the Food and Drug Administration: Makary currently serves as a pancreatic surgeon at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He co-developed the World Health Organization’s Surgical Checklist to improve surgical outcomes globally and has published over 250 peer-reviewed articles on health care quality and innovation.
- Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, Nominee, Surgeon General: Nesheiwat is the medical director of CityMD, a chain of urgent care centers. She has appeared as a medical news correspondent on Fox News and ABC’s Good Morning America and provided on-the-ground medical treatment during natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina and the 2011 Joplin, Missouri tornado.
- Dr. Mehmet Oz, Nominee, Administrator of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services: Oz is a cardiothoracic surgeon best known as the host of the syndicated Dr. Oz Show and frequent appearances on the Oprah Winfrey Show where he answered viewers’ medical questions. He was Pennsylvania’s Republican nominee for the 2022 Senate election, losing to current Senator John Fetterman.
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- The Surgeon General published the new report Eliminating Tobacco-Related Disease and Death, Addressing Health Disparities. The report found that despite the nation’s substantial progress in reducing cigarette smoking and secondhand smoke exposure in the overall U.S. population, that progress has not been equal for all population groups. Disparities in tobacco use persist by race and ethnicity, income, education, sexual orientation and gender identity, occupation, geography, behavioral health status, and other factors.
- The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has launched the Behavioral Health Workforce Career Navigator, a new resource designed to help current and aspiring professionals identify relevant state requirements, and steps needed to enter/stay in the field.
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Funding and Award Opportunities
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- The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity to establish state-based Healthcare Extension Cooperatives, representing a historic investment to accelerate the implementation and dissemination of patient-centered outcomes research into health care delivery through improvements in health care policy, payment, and practice, and to reduce health care disparities, especially among people who receive Medicaid, are uninsured, and/or are medically underserved. Application deadline: December 12, 2024.
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Open Comment Opportunities and Requests for Information
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- The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is seeking public comments on a proposed rule related to heat injury and illness prevention in outdoor and indoor work settings. The proposed rule would protect an estimated 36 million workers from heat exposure by requiring employers to provide breaks, water, and an observation system to check employees for signs of illness among other steps that kick in at heat triggers of 80- and 90-degrees Fahrenheit. The deadline to submit comments is December 30, 2024.
- The Administration for Strategic Preparedness & Response (ASPR) has issued a call for applications for the National Advisory Committees (NAC), which bring together top experts from across the country to provide valuable advice and recommendations to the HHS Secretary. ASPR is seeking new members for the NAC on Individuals with Disabilities and Disasters, NAC on Seniors and Disasters, and the National Biodefense Science Board. Applications are due January 11, 2025.
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If your organization submits comments, please share a copy with GIH (info@gih.org) so we can track and compile input from health funders.
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