Health
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The coalition released the following statement.
“As state attorneys general, we stand firmly in support of healthcare policies that respect the dignity and rights of all people. Health care decisions should be made by patients, families, and doctors, not by a politician trying to use his power to restrict your freedoms. Gender-affirming care is essential, life-saving medical treatment that supports individuals in living as their authentic selves.
The Trump Administration’s recent Executive Order is wrong on the science and the law. Despite what the Trump Administration has suggested, there is no connection between “female genital mutilation” and gender-affirming care, and no federal law makes gender-affirming care unlawful. President Trump cannot change that by Executive Order.
Last week, attorneys general secured a critical win from a federal court that directed the federal government to resume funding that had been frozen by the Trump Administration. In response to the Court’s Order, the Department of Justice has sent a notice stating that “federal agencies cannot pause, freeze, impede, block, cancel, or terminate any awards or obligations on the basis of the OMB memo, or on the basis of the President’s recently issued Executive Orders.” This means that federal funding to institutions that provide gender-affirming care continues to be available, irrespective of President Trump’s recent Executive Order. If the federal administration takes additional action to impede this critical funding, we will not hesitate to take further legal action.
State attorneys general will continue to enforce state laws that provide access to gender-affirming care, in states where such enforcement authority exists, and we will challenge any unlawful effort by the Trump Administration to restrict access to it in our jurisdictions.”
Joining Attorney General Bonta in issuing this statement are the attorneys general of Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Nevada, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The Transforming Maternal Health, or TMaH, Model works by reimbursing providers based on patient health outcomes and quality of care, rather than the volume of services provided.
By focusing on improving maternal outcomes, reducing costs and enhancing the quality of care, the model aims to reduce unnecessary cesareans, lower maternal morbidity, and increase access to maternal care providers, such as midwives, doulas and birth centers, for Medi-Cal members.
“It is unacceptable that the color of your skin or your income can dictate the level of care you receive when you’re pregnant. California refuses to accept that status quo, which is why we applied for funding to begin this important initiative that puts quality of care over profits and allows doctors to focus on the patient in front of them. I am eager to see the success of the TMaH Model impact our Medi-Cal members,” said Gov. Gavin Newsom.
“Your chances of surviving pregnancy and childbirth should not be determined by your race, ethnicity, or background. Yet for far too long, Black and Brown women and Medi-Cal members have faced systemic inequities that compromise their health and dignity. In California, we’re prioritizing maternal health and safety, ensuring that every woman and every family receives the compassionate, high-quality care they deserve,” said First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom.
Addressing inequities in maternal health care
Medi-Cal-members have a higher rate of maternal mortality than individuals with commercial insurance. Poor maternal health outcomes disproportionately impact Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color, particularly those in the rural regions of Southern Central Valley and Northeastern/Northern Central Valley regions of California.
This initiative will bring improvements to the state’s maternal care system, particularly for pregnant Medi-Cal members and their infants, who traditionally experience disparities in maternal health care access and outcomes.
The TMaH model will focus on areas with the greatest need for intervention and resources. The Department of Health Care Services will implement the TMaH Model in five Central Valley counties (Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera and Tulare).
The TMaH Model will provide $17 million in funding over the program's course.
The TMaH Model will provide valuable insights into the impact of value-based care models on maternal health. It will emphasize improving care coordination, enhancing provider training, and offering holistic support that accounts for social drivers of health, including housing, food security and transportation.
TMaH aligns with and will be complementary to DHCS’ Birthing Care Pathway, a comprehensive policy and care model roadmap to cover the journey of all pregnant and postpartum Medi-Cal members from conception through 12 months postpartum. The Birthing Care Pathway is being developed to be a strategic roadmap for state entities, managed care plans, counties, providers, social service entities, philanthropy, and other key partners in providing services to pregnant and postpartum Medi-Cal members.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Without an extension by Dec. 31, seniors on Medicare would lose access to critical telehealth services.
“Since my days in the California State Senate, I’ve been a big believer in telehealth’s ability to save money, time, and lives,” said Rep. Thompson. “Telehealth allows patients — especially those with low mobility or who otherwise can’t make it to the doctor’s office — to access the care they need when they need it. Expanding Americans' access to vital telehealth services just makes sense.”
“Technology is critical in expanding access to care for not only Arizonans, but for citizens across the United States,” said Rep. Schweikert. “Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth provided effective, affordable, and accommodating means of care. Telehealth is by far the most moral and bipartisan method of providing access to care, and we owe it to our everyday health heroes, physicians, and patients to ensure this resource is always available.”
“The benefits are clear — telehealth makes it easier for patients to pick up the phone, follow through on their appointments, and seek care sooner. That’s why the expansion of telehealth services has been crucial for reaching our most vulnerable patients,” said Rep. Matsui. “Removing barriers to telehealth has expanded access and improved the quality of care for Medicare beneficiaries — and we cannot afford to take any steps back. We have a nation relying on these services. That’s why my colleagues and I are working hard to ensure that Americans continue to have access to convenient, quality health care that’s right for them, when and where they need it.”
“Telehealth services have proven to be essential for our rural communities,” said Rep. Balderson. “For many folks in rural and Appalachian Ohio, access to quality health care has long been a major challenge. With the technology we have today, we are able to improve health outcomes in our most underserved areas and finally close the urban-rural divide. It is critical for Congress to act and ensure federal support for telehealth services continues into 2025.”
The members of Congress who signed the letter include Representatives Mike Thompson, Troy Balderson, Nanette Barragán, Julia Brownley, Kathy Castor, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Gerald Connolly, Angie Craig, Danny Davis, Donald Davis, Diana DeGette, Chris Deluzio, Debbie Dingell, Dwight Evans, Mike Ezell, Maxwell Frost, Jared Golden, Dan Goldman, Michael Guest, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Trent Kelly, Robin Kelly, Derek Kilmer, Doug LaMalfa, Teresa Leger Fernández, Mike Levin, Ted Lieu, Zoe Lofgren, Stephen Lynch, Seth Magaziner, Doris Matsui, Jennifer McClellan, Frank Mrvan, Kevin Mullin, Grace Napolitano, Troy Nehls, Scott Peters, Mark Pocan, Mike Quigley, Delia Ramirez, Andrea Salinas, Linda Sánchez, Jan Schakowsky, David Schweikert, Adrian Smith, Greg Stanton, Marilyn Strickland, Shri Thanedar, Paul Tonko, Lori Trahan, David Trone, Marc Veasey, Nydia Velázquez, and Nikema Williams.
Members of the U.S. Senate who signed the letter include Senators Richard Blumenthal, Cory A. Booker, John Boozman, Maria Cantwell, Shelley Moore Capito, Benjamin Cardin, Bill Cassidy, Susan M. Collins, Catherine Cortez Masto, Kevin Cramer, Steve Daines, Tammy Duckworth, John Fetterman, Deb Fischer, Kirsten Gillibrand, Lindsey O. Graham, Martin Heinrich, John Hoeven, Cindy Hyde-Smith, Tim Kaine, Mark Kelly, Angus S. King, Jr., Amy Klobuchar, Ben Ray Luján, Joe Manchin III, Jeffrey A. Merkley, Markwayne Mullin, Lisa Murkowski, Alex Padilla, Gary C. Peters, Jack Reed, James E. Risch, Jacky Rosen, Mike Rounds, Brian Schatz, Jeanne Shaheen, Kyrsten Sinema, Tina Smith, Dan Sullivan, Thom Tillis, Chris Van Hollen, Mark R. Warner, Raphael Warnock, Peter Welch, Sheldon Whitehouse, and Roger F. Wicker.
The text of the letter can be found below.
Dear Majority Leader Schumer, Minority Leader McConnell, Speaker Johnson, and Minority Leader Jeffries:
Expanded Medicare coverage for telehealth services is set to expire on December 31, 2024. As you work to advance a year-end appropriations package, we urge you to extend coverage as much as possible so that all Medicare beneficiaries retain access to these services.
Telehealth plays a critical role in health care delivery – a fact that Congress has recognized by expanding coverage during and after the COVID-19 public health emergency. Most recently, in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, Congress enacted a two-year extension of Medicare telehealth services coverage. Committees of jurisdiction in the House of Representatives have recently recognized the need to protect patients’ access to telehealth services by voting to advance an additional two-year extension on a bipartisan, unanimous basis.
We ask you to prioritize provisions that remove geographic restrictions on telehealth services and permit the home and other clinically appropriate settings as originating sites. Congress should also expand the authority for practitioners eligible to furnish telehealth services. Rural and underserved communities rely on telehealth services, and Congress should recognize federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics as telehealth distant site providers. Additionally, Congress should allow the use of telehealth in the recertification of hospice care. Finally, telehealth has transformed mental and behavioral health care, now accounting for 40 percent of telehealth services provided under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. Therefore, Congress should permanently repeal the six-month in-person visit requirement for telemental health services. It should also reject similar policies that create barriers to care.
Telehealth provides essential access to care and improves outcomes, including reduced emergency department utilization and improved medication adherence. Medicare beneficiaries have come to rely on expanded access to telehealth services and are satisfied with the care they receive. While there is overwhelming support for Congress to enact permanent telehealth legislation, we must provide patients and clinicians with long-term certainty to support continued investment in technology and clinical models to meet the evolving health care needs of Medicare beneficiaries. We appreciate your collaboration and leadership on this issue and look forward to working with you to ensure access to telehealth services is retained by the end of 2024.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
At the state’s request, the company has issued a voluntary recall of the affected milk lot code number 20241119 with a Best By date of 12/07/2024 printed on the packaging.
No human bird flu cases associated with the product have been detected. As the state continues to investigate the link between bird flu detections in retail raw milk and the ongoing spread of bird flu in dairy cows, poultry, and sporadic human cases, consumers are strongly urged to not consume any of the affected raw milk. Customers should immediately return any remaining product to the retail point of purchase.
The California Department of Food and Agriculture was onsite at Raw Farm’s milk processing facility on Wednesday, Nov. 27, collecting additional samples of stored bulk tank milk and bottled products. Results from that additional testing are pending.
As with the testing that led to the November 24 voluntary recall notice, the Santa Clara County Public Health Laboratory tested raw milk products from retail stores in their county as a second line of consumer protection. The county identified bird flu in this second sample of raw milk purchased at a retail outlet.
Risks associated with raw milk
Public health experts have long warned consumers against consuming raw milk or raw milk products due to elevated risks of foodborne illness. Outbreaks due to Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, toxin producing E. coli, Brucella, Campylobacter, and many other bacteria have all been reported related to consuming raw dairy products.
Raw milk products are not pasteurized, a heating process that kills bacteria and viruses such as bird flu.
Pasteurized milk and milk products are safe to consume because the heating process kills pathogens, including bird flu, that can cause illness.
Drinking or accidentally inhaling raw milk containing bird flu virus may lead to illness. In addition, touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands after touching raw milk with bird flu virus may also lead to infection.
Symptoms of bird flu infection in humans include eye redness or discharge, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, diarrhea, vomiting, muscle or body aches, headaches, fatigue, trouble breathing and fever. Anyone who has consumed these specific products, and is experiencing these symptoms, should immediately contact their health care provider or local health department.
California regularly tests raw milk
As part of the state’s bird flu response, testing of raw milk from dairies has been increased to help prevent raw milk consumers from getting the virus.
Once bird flu was found in California dairy herds, the California Department of Food and Agriculture began regular testing of raw milk in bulk tanks. In response to these recent positive tests from two retail raw milk batches, CDFA followed up with immediate additional sampling and testing at Raw Farm.
Pasteurized milk is safe to drink
Pasteurized milk is safe to drink. Pasteurization, one of the most significant scientific food safety discoveries in human history, is the process of heating milk to specific temperatures for a certain length of time to kill many microorganisms and enzymes that lead to spoilage and illness.
Pasteurization kills the bird flu virus and other harmful germs that can be found in raw milk. CDPH advises consumers not to drink raw milk or eat raw milk products due to the risk of foodborne illnesses.
About bird flu
Since early October, California has reported 29 confirmed human cases of bird flu, 28 of whom had direct contact with infected dairy cows. No person-to-person spread of bird flu has been detected in California or the U.S.
To date, all cases have reported mild symptoms (primarily eye infections), and none have been hospitalized.
Because bird flu viruses can change and gain the ability to spread more easily between people, public health officials have provided preventive measures and are monitoring animal and human infections carefully.
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