2000 News Archives

Community-Campus Partnerships Recruiting New Board Members
December 21, 2000
The Community-Campus Partnerships for Health board development committee has begun the process of recruiting new board members, with the aim of having 1-3 new board members join for the May 4-5, 2001 board meeting.  The organization is seeking individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds, with a broad range of experience and expertise, who are committed to furthering the mission of fostering partnerships between communities and educational institutions that improve health professions education, civic responsibility, and the overall health of communities.  Board members are asked to commit to participate in three board meetings each year, attend the national conference, serve on at least one board committee, and contribute regularly throughout the year through conference calls and other activities.  For more information or to obtain an application, visit the Web at http://futurehealth.ucsf.edu/ccph/board.html.

New Medicare Information Databases Available Online
December 21, 2000
Two new databases are available on the Web site Medicare.gov.  One is for Prescription Drug Assistance Programs (PDAP) and the other is for a Participating Physician Directory (PPD).  The PDAP database provides users with information on Medigap plans and managed care plans that provide prescription drug coverage as well as:  (1) state government pharmacy assistance programs; (2) programs offered by pharmaceutical companies; (3) community-based programs; and (4) programs that offer prescription drug coverage for particular diseases or conditions.  The PPD enables users to search for Medicare-participating physicians by specialty and location.  There is also a Spanish language version of the Medicare Health Plan Compare, increased detail to the CAHPS charts including data on all responses, and new 1998/1999 mammography data for original Medicare.  To view the new databases, visit the Web at http://www.medicare.gov/nmep.

New Community and Economic Development Program Offered Online
December 21, 2000
Two educational opportunities are being offered by Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences.  A master's degree and a graduate level advanced certificate in community and economic development are being offered at the University Park campus.  The advanced certificate will also be offered online through Penn State's World Campus beginning in January.  This is an applied multidisciplinary program that draws on the rural and agricultural expertise of the faculty, including developing new organizations and industries, growth management, protecting the environment, revitalizing downtown areas and neighborhoods, and assisting educational, social, health, and human service systems.  For more information on the master's degree in community and economic development, call 814-863-8655.  For more information on the World Campus Certificate program, call 1-800-252-3592, or visit the Web at http://www.worldcampus.psu.edu.

Healthy People 2010 Mental Health Resources
December 21, 2000
In collaboration with the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), the Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration took the lead in developing the 14 objectives for the Healthy People 2010 section on Mental Health and Mental Disorders.  The objectives are designed to improve mental health, ensure access to appropriate, quality mental health services, and reduce disparities of care.  The resource directory was developed to facilitate interaction, information dissemination, and linkage of interested individuals and groups to further the use and goals of Healthy People 2010 in the area of mental health.  The resource directory is a collection of national organizations that have a vested interest in promoting the prevention and treatment agenda.  To access the directory, visit the Web at http://www.mentalhealth.org/information/resources.htm.

Rural Policy Research Institute Releases New Report
December 21, 2000
The Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI) Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis has released a new report entitled, Rural Implications of the Medicare, Medicaid, and State Children's Health Insurance Program Benefits Improvement and Protection Act of 2000."  The report outlines provisions contained in the legislation and what effect they would likely have on rural health care.  To read the report, go to the Web at http://www.rupri.org/healthpolicy.

NIH Offers Online Vaccine Resource
December 21, 2000
The National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, is offering a 35-page publication entitled, Understanding Vaccines.  It is available online and includes discussions on vaccines and their benefits, the immune system, different types of vaccines, and vaccine development and testing.  It also includes a glossary of common immunization terms.  Visit the Web at http://www.niaid.nih.gov/publications/vaccine/pdf/undvacc.pdf.

Directory of National Immunization
Resources is Available Online
December 21, 2000
The Immunization Action Coalition has developed a Directory of National Immunization Resources that is available online. It will guide users to resources which provide immunization information and answers to vaccine-related questions.  The 50-page guide offers the best immunization resources available from government, professional organizations, non-profit groups, and private industry.  It also includes order forms for materials from the IAC, the CDC's National Immunization Program, and the CDC's Hepatitis Branch.  For the online version, visit the web at www.immunize.org/resources/.

Call for Presenters at Teen Pregnancy Prevention Conference
Decemeber 15, 2000
The Pennsylvania Coalition to Prevent Teen Pregnancy and Penn State are asking for proposals from individuals and groups who wish to present at sessions at the 2001 Teen Pregnancy Prevention Conference.  The conference will have four program tracks:  Building Community Support for Pregnancy Prevention; Working with Diverse Communities; Improving Program Development; and Impacting Public Policy.  The deadline for receipt of proposals is February 5, 2001.  For more information, contact Stephanie Tyworth at 814-865-0287.

Wayne Memorial Health System Receives Grant
to Connect Uninsured Children with Health Care
December 15, 2000
Wayne Memorial Health System has received a $25,000 grant from the  Pennsylvania Children's Health Outreach Project, a collaboration of three state agencies - Department of Public Welfare, the Insurance Department, and the Department of Health.  The focus of the Wayne Memorial project is to reach out to families through a new Mobile Dental Outreach Project to be initiated in early 2001.  The project is the latest effort to the Health System's collaborative community effort, known as The Prevention Initiative, which is the State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP) partner for Wayne and Pike Counties.   The Unit will be take to eight different sites in Wayne and Pike Counties one day per month at each site.  The staff of the Mobile Unit will provide screenings, dental procedures, and dental health education.  In addition, volunteers and staff will provide information about public health care program benefits, determine potential eligibility, and help families complete applications for MA, CHIP, and five other State health programs.  Anyone interested in more information or in volunteering with the Project can call Jack Dennis, Wayne Memorial Hospital, at 570-253-8992.

Free Pediatric Emergency Care Resource Kit Available
December 15, 2000
A group of more than 19 government, national, and professional organizations in Philadelphia released a resource kit designed to help organizations evaluate their ability to provide quality pediatric emergency care.  The resource kit is designed to help organizations and states to come into compliance with accepted pediatric emergency care standards.  The kit contains a collection of protocols, training courses, guidelines, and procedures addressing illness and injury prevention, patient care training and safety, equipment guidelines, medical direction, and public policy, as well as a reference guide to additional information, resources, and contact information for organizations in the emergency medical services for children. The kit is available online at http://www.ems-c.org or contact the EMSC National Resource Center at 202-884-4927.

New Survey Shows Employment is Key
Factor to Obtaining Health Coverage
December 15, 2000
A new survey has been released by the Health Insurance Association of America (HIAA) which finds that employment is the key factor to obtaining health insurance coverage.  According to the survey, nearly three out of four workers were offered health insurance by their employers and more than three out of five received coverage through their jobs.  However, the survey also shows that being offered health insurance at work sometimes isn't enough to guarantee coverage, as income and the cost of coverage help determine whether workers accept employment-based coverage.  The study was conducted for HIAA by researchers the Center for Risk Management and Insurance Research at Georgia State University.  To view the entire survey, visit the Web at http://membership.hiaa.org/pdfs/2000CusterFour.pdf.

Updated Vaccine Administration Record Forms
for Children and Adults Available on Web
December 14, 2000
Updated vaccine administration record forms are now available on the Immunization Action Coalition Web site.  These forms can be used to track the information that is legally required for those providing vaccinations.  To obtain the Vaccine Administration Record for Children and Teens, go to http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p2022b.pdf.  For the Vaccine Administration Record for Adults, go to http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p2023b.pdf.

Online Continuing Medical Education Opportunity from ATPM
December 14, 2000
The Association of Teachers of Preventive Medicine (ATPM) has posted a special immunization supplement to the online Journal of Family Practice.  Vaccines Across the Life Span highlights the recommendations of the Teaching Immunization for Medical Education (TIME) Project for immunizing children and adults.  The online supplement contains three continuing medical education (CME) modules:  Child Vaccination, Adult Vaccination, and Haemophilus Influenzae Type B Disease.  It also includes two other informative modules:  Vaccines Across the Life Span and Prevention of Influenza.  Each module has been reviewed and each of the CME modules are acceptable for up to two credit hours by the American Academy of Family Physicians.  Follow the instructions at the end of each of the three CME modules to obtain credit.  To view this supplement, visit the Web at http://jfponline.com/spec_feat.asp?year=4&month=9&supplement=9.

New Capital Area Rural Health
Roundtable Publication Available Online
December 7, 2000
The Capital Area Rural Health Roundtable has released a new publication entitled, Linking Rural Health Services Research with Health Policy.  The information was from a conference designed to explore strategies for strengthening the capacity of the research community to inform policy decision making with relevant and timely data and information.  The document can be accessed online at http://rhr.gmu.edu.  The next Rural Health Roundtable forum is scheduled for Wednesday, January 31, 2001.  The forum will preview the anticipated agenda for rural health policy in the coming year.  More information will be available in early January.

National Survey Shows that Some
Parents have Misconceptions about Immunization
December 7, 2000
Health professionals play an important role in helping parents make informed immunization decisions for their children, as discussed in the November 2000 issue of Pediatrics.  The study, Do Parents Understand Immunizations?  A National Telephone Survey, found that while a majority of parents understand the benefits of immunization, many have misconceptions that could erode their confidence in vaccines.  Because parents identified their children's health care providers as their most important source of information about immunizations, physicians, nurses, and other providers of primary care have an excellent opportunity to educate parents.  To reach the abstract online, visit the Web at http://www.pediatrics.org/cgi/content/abstract/106/5/1097.

Health Department Issues Behavioral Health Risks
December 7, 2000
The Pennsylvania Department of Health has released its 1999 Behavioral Health Risks of Pennsylvania Adults, a 60-page report with the results of more than 3,500 random telephone interviews with Pennsylvania adults on areas such as health status, access to health care, health awareness, use of preventive services, and knowledge and attitude assessment.  The results can be used to measure health trends, assess chronic disease risk, and monitor the effectiveness of policies, programs, and awareness campaigns.  Part of a national effort by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Pennsylvanians just one of 50 states, three territories, and the District of Columbia, that participate in collecting information.  The report is available online at www.health.state.pa.us/stats/.

New Reports Track State
Spending of Tobacco Settlement Funds
December 7, 2000
Two recent reports highlight how states are allocating tobacco settlement funds.  The first report by the National Conference of State Legislatures is based on a survey of state legislative fiscal offices and indicates that 44 state legislatures have appropriated nearly $8 billion in settlement funds for fiscal years 2000 and 2001.  The report entitled, State Allocation of Tobacco Settlement Funds, can be ordered by calling 202-624-3567.

NGA Releases Primer on the Health Care Safety Net
December 7, 2000
The National Governor's Association recently released a Primer on the Health Care Safety Net which provides an overview of the uninsured and factors that affect access to care; basic information on safety net providers and their funding sources; options to strengthen the safety net; and appendices with state-by-state data on a number of safety net characteristics.  It is available online at http://www.nga.org/Pubs/IssueBriefs/2000/Sum001025HealthPrimer.asp.

RUPRI Releases New Publications
December 7, 2000
The Rural Policy Research Institute has released two new publications.  The first is Health Insurance in Rural America which is available on the Web at www.rupri.org/pubs/archive/pbriefs/PB2000-11/PB2000-11.pdf.  The second publication is The Area Wage Index of the Medicare Inpatient Hospital Prospective Payment System:  Perspectives, Policies, and Choices.  It is available for viewing on the Web at http://www.rupri.org/pubs/archive/reports/P2000-12/index.html.

HRSA Managed Care Technical Assistance Center Available
December 7, 2000
HRSA provides a Managed Care Technical Assistance Center (MCTAC), which is designed to help HRSA grantees, health professions education and training programs, and other safety net providers establish and improve their managed care arrangements to better serve medically underserved, special needs, Medicaid, disabled, and dually eligible Medicare and SCHIP populations.  MCTAC's services are free or low-cost, and include workshops and training sessions, technical assistance, publications, and contract reviews.  Further information can be obtained on their Web site at http://www.jsi.com/hrsamctac or by calling 1-877-832-8635.

Innovative Government Programs Eligible for National Recognition
December 7, 2000
Applications are now being accepted for the 2001 Innovations in American Government Awards competition.  The Award is the nation's premier public sector recognition program funded by the Ford Foundation and administered by Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government.  The Innovations Program recognizes effective and creative examples of government at its best.  In 2001, the Ford Foundation will award $100,000 grants to winners and $20,000 grants to finalists.  To receive an application, visit the Web at http://www.innovations.harvard.edu or call 1-800-722-0074.  Applications are due by 5:00 p.m., Friday, January 12, 2001.  Online applicants may apply until 5:00 p.m. on Friday, January 19, 2001.  

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Announces Programs
December 7, 2000
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) announces scheduled activities in the coming months.  Expanding Long Term Care Choices for the Elderly:  A Series of Three Audio Teleconferences for State and Local Health Policy Makers will be held January 9, 11, and 18, 2001.  Each call will begin at 2:00 p.m. and run until 3:30 p.m. EST.  Topics include Trends in Assisted Living:  Aging-in-place, Level of Service, Oversight, and Quality Issues on January 9; Transitions from Nursing Homes:  Federal and State Initiatives on January 11; and Resources for Affordable Housing for the Elderly on January 18.  There is no charge for participation.  For more information, contact Sanda Isaacson at 301-594-6668 or e-mail ulp@ahrq.gov.

Physician Assistant Foundation Announces Fellowship Deadline
December 7, 2000
The Physician Assistant Foundation (PAF) is the philanthropic arm of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA).  As such, its mission is to foster knowledge and philanthropy that enhances the delivery of quality health care.  The Foundation is now accepting applications for its Breitman-Dorn Graduate Research Fellowship.  This award encourages a commitment to research in and on the physician assistant profession.  In addition, it provides financial assistance to individuals conducting their dissertation on the many and diverse contributions physician assistants make to medical care.  Applicants must be in the dissertation stage of their program and the research must be in progress rather than at the dissemination stage.  All applications must be postmarked no later than January 31, 2001.  The recipient will be selected in April 2001 and will be announced at the AAPA's annual conference in May 2001.  A $3,000 grant will be disbursed in August.  For more information, visit the Web at http://www.aapa.org/paf.html.

Child and Adolescent Health
Measurement Initiative Available Online
November 22, 2000
The Foundation for Accountability (FACCT), a non-profit organization that creates tools to help people understand and use quality information, has announced a new Web site for the Child and Adolescent Health Measurement Initiative.  It is designed for anyone interested in measuring and improving health care quality for children and adolescents.  The site contains general information about the Initiative, which is a national collaboration involving more than 70 organizations, as well as detailed, technical information.  The site is located at http://www.facct.org/cahmi.html.

NGA Profiles State Health Initiatives Successes
November 22, 2000
The National Governor's Association (NGA) Stateline is available on the Web.  It features information on recently passed state health care legislation and highlights of governors' health care priorities, including senior health and long-term care, health insurance and Medicaid, and tobacco control.  The site is located at www.nga.org/INDEX.htm.

State Coverage Toolbox Debuts on Web
November 22, 2000
The State Coverage Initiatives Program, an initiative of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, is pleased to announce the launching of its new Web site at http://statecoverage.net.  The site provides a comprehensive toolbox of information on health insurance coverage.  It also contains forthcoming information about small planning grants and funding for large-scale demonstration projects.  The Initiative is administered by the Academy for Health Services Research and Health Policy.

Department of Aging Offers FRIENDS Program
November 22, 2000
In 1997, the Pennsylvania Department of Aging and KePRO, spearheaded a Fall Prevention Task Force of 40 health care organizations dedicated to reducing the high number of devastating falls among older Pennsylvanians.  The new Fall Reduction Initiative:  Establishing New Directions for Safety (FRIENDS) program was created by the Task Force to help identify people with a high risk of falling and to help raise their awareness of ways to reduce their risk.  Organizations that are interested in helping with the program will be provided a manual with step-by-step instructions on how to plan and conduct a risk screening event for older Pennsylvanians, and a detailed planner to make organizing an event easier.  Host sites will receive the following materials:  FRIENDS Screening Forms, stopwatch(es), floor tape, follow-up postcards, and all the supplies necessary to conduct a screening.  There is no charge to host organizations.   The screening tests can be done by anyone who can use a stopwatch.  It consists of 10 short yes-or-no fall risk history questions and three physical skill tests to check for balance and lower limb strength.  For more information on becoming a hosting organization, contact the Pennsylvania Department of Aging at 717-772-3382.

Children's Health Act of 2000 Enacted by Congress
November 22, 2000
The Children's Health Act of 2000 was recently enacted by Congree.  The Act, which reauthorizes the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration through fiscal year 2003, contains provisions to enhance alcohol and drug prevention and treatment services.  It reauthorizes the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant and a number of new discretionary program.  A summary of the provisions of the Act is available on the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America's Web site at www.cadca.org/pubpol/updates/10.17.00update.htm.

Fact Sheet Available for
Involving Youth in Civic Life
November 22nd
The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) announces the availability of Involving Youth in Civic Life.  This 2-page fact sheet describes two activities that enhance youth civic involvement:  Youth Advisory Councils and Youth Town Hall Meetings.  Helpful resources for organizing these programs are also provided.  It is available free from the Juvenile Justice Clearinghouse by calling (800) 638-8736 or visit the Web at http://puborder.ncjrs.org.

NRHA Releases New Issue Paper
November 22, 2000
The National Rural Health Association has released Community Health Center Advisor Programs, an issue paper that discusses methods to extend and improve services to populations who are often outside of formal caregiving systems.  The paper provides a background of community health advisor programs, examples of the type of work community health advisors perform and the success of the programs' work.  To view this or any other free issue papers, visit the Web at www.NRHArural.org/dc/issuepapers or call the NRHA's Publications Department at 816-756-3140.

Guide for Treating Children of Migrant Workers Available
November 22, 2000
The American Academy of Pediatrics is pleased to announce its newest release, Guidelines for the Care of Migrant Farmworkers' Children.  The resource supplements general pediatric care guidelines and helps clinicians address the special health concerns of these children.  IT includes sections on nutrition, child care, injuries, infectious diseases and oral health.  The book is available for $29.95 by calling (888) 227-1770 or by visiting the Web at www.aap.org.

Journal Releases Special Issue
on the Internet and Health Care
November 22, 2000
The journal Health Affairs has released a special issue analyzing the impact of the Internet on health care policy, privacy and quality.  Topics in the issue include the gap between those who do and don't have Internet access, online privacy and using the Internet to solve the nation's most pressing health issues.  The issue of the journal is available at http://www.healthaffairs.org/.

Updated Vaccine information Statements for Patients
November 21, 2000
The Immunization Action Coalition has updated its educational piece titled, It's Federal Law!  You Must Give Your Patients Current Vaccine Information Statements.  The publication is a one-page reprint of an article published in Needle Tips in 1998.  Revisions include information on the latest Vaccine Information Statements for Hepatitis B and Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines, as well as updated telephone numbers and Web links.  To obtain this publication, visit the Web at http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/2027law.pdf.

CDC's Best Practices for Mass
Influenza Vaccination Campaigns on Web
November 21, 2000
The Immunization Action Coalition has added another new CDC resource to its Web site.  Best Practices for Mass Influenza Vaccination Campaigns is a one-page education piece developed by the CDC to help health professionals ensure that people at high risk and their households are vaccinated against influenza.  This resource lists general strategies for conducting a vaccination campaign as well as specific strategies that can be employed at the vaccination location.  For a copy of this resource, visit the Web at http://www.immunize.org/vis/flupract.pdf.

Influenza Vaccine Updates
November 7, 2000
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has contracted with Aventis-Pasteur, Inc. (Av-P) for the production of 9 million doses of influenza vaccine for the 2000-01 season.  This additional production ensures that approximately the same quantity of influenza vaccine is available for this year as was the previous year.  Av-P will give first priority to orders from providers who plan to vaccinate primarily high-risk persons.  Applications for vaccine orders from health care providers and programs should be sent directly to the company beginning November 3, 2000.  Additional information about the application process and vaccine availability can obtained by contacting Av-P, at (800) 720-8972, or visit the Web at http://www.vaccineshoppe.com (click on Fluzone Application Form link).

FDA Warning about over-the-counter
Cold Remedies and Diet Pills
November 7, 2000
The FDA has issued a health warning for consumers to stop taking over-the-counter cold remedies and diet pills containing Phenylpropanolamine (PPA).  Noting that PPA is linked to a small increase in the risk of hemorrhagic strokes, particularly in young women, the FDA plans to ban the substance and has asked manufacturers to voluntarily stop selling medications containing PPA immediately and to replace the ingredient with a safer alternative.

Geriatric Education Center of PA Announces
New Educational Program on Osteoporosis
November 7, 2000
The Geriatric Education Center of Pennsylvania, as part of an on-going program to provide continuing education concerning disease prevention and management of diseases disproportionately affecting elderly women, has produced an educational CD-ROM on Osteoporosis.  It contains the following sections:  (1) Overview and Epidemiology of Osteoporosis; (2) Causes; (3) Prevention; (4) Diagnosis and Treatment, including screening alternatives, interpreting BMD data, and medications; and (5) links to Internet resources.  Copies of the CD-ROM can be requested from any of the Geriatric Center offices in Pennsylvania, as long as supplies last.  Offices are located at the following  universities:  (1) University of Pittsburgh, 412-624-9190; (2) Penn State, 814-863-7903; and (3) Temple University, 215-204-6834.

CDC Satellite Training on Surveillance of
Vaccine-Preventable Disease Scheduled
November 7, 2000
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will offer the video conference Surveillance of Vaccine-Preventable Disease on December 8, 2000.  The broadcast will air from 12 Noon to 3:30 p.m. Eastern time.  The program will provide guidelines for vaccine-preventable disease surveillance, case investigation, and outbreak control.  The course is designed for nurses, physicians, epidemiologists, sanitarians, infection control practitioners, laboratorians, disease reporters, and others.  Continuing education credit will be offered.  For more information on registration and the technical specifications for the broadcast, go to CDC's Web site at http://www.cdc.gov/phtn/surveillance/vpd.htm or contact your state or county immunization program.  A list of state immunization coordinators is available on the Web site at http://www.cdc.gov/nip/ed/coordinators.htm.

New Resources on Children's Health Status
November 7, 2000

The Health Resources and Services Administration has released Child Health USA 2000, an annual publication produced in collaboration with the National Center for Health Statistics that provides a snapshot of the health of America's children and features 59 health status measures linked to Healthy People 2010 goals.  Copies of the report are available free by calling 1-888-434-4624.  In addition, the Children's Defense Fund recently released their annual report entitled, Children in the States 2000.  It ranks each state on children's health insurance coverage, prenatal care, infant mortality, low birthweight babies, immunizations, child poverty, child support, and educational spending.  The full report can be accessed on the Web at http://www.childrensdefense.org/states/data.html.  

Study Released by the Center for
Studying Health System Change
November 7, 2000
A new study released by the Center for Studying Health System Change looks at changes in the number of uninsured children.  The study is part of HSC's Community Tracking Study that surveys care providers, consumers and employers every two years to "track trends in the health care system."  Focusing on 60 national representative communities, the study notes changes in the numbers of insured children nationally.  The study is available online at http://www.hschange.org/CONTENT/276/.

Study Shows that Medicaid
Enrollment Increased by 1.1 Million
November 7, 2000
After declining each year between 1996 and 1998, Medicaid enrollment between December 1998 and December 1999 increased by 1.1 million individuals, or 3.6%, according to a new report released at an October 13 briefing by the Kaiser Family Foundation.  While official HCFA figures are not expected until January, the report entitled, Medicaid Enrollment in 50 States:  June 1997 to December 1999, prepared by Health Management Associates, indicates a "very significant change" in Medicaid.  The report is available online at http://www.kff.org/content/2000/2166/hjksmall.pdf.

Kaiser Provides Real Life Stories about the Uninsured
November 7, 2000
The Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured has released a new report, In their own Words:  The Uninsured Talk about Living without Health Insurance, which profiles eight uninsured families from across the country.  These real-life stories are useful to understand the personal experiences behind the statistics and are intended to complement the analytical work of the Commission.  You may find the new report, basic fact sheets, a chartbook, and in-depth background papers on the uninsured issue on the Kaiser Family Foundation Web site at http://www.kff.org/docs/sections/kcmu/uia2000.html.

Updated Lists of Health Professional Shortage Areas Published
November 7, 2000
On September 15, updated lists of designated primary medical care, mental health, and dental health professional shortage areas (HPSAs) were published in the Federal Register.  Included in the lists were designations made through July 31, 2000.  Current HPSA data can also be found at www.bphc.hrsa.gov/databases/newhpsa/newhpsa.cfm.  The lists identify geographic areas or groups of people that are most in needs of receiving primary health care services and assistance.  For more information on HPSAs, contact BPHC's Division of Shortage Designation at 301-594-0816 or visit the Web at http://bphc.hrsa.gov/dsd/dsd11.htm.

Strategy for Research on
Environmental Risks to Children Published
November 7, 2000
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Office of Research and Development (ORD) is pleased to announce the availability of its Strategy for Research on Environmental Risks to Children.  This document provides the strategic direction for ORD's research program in children's health.  ORD has prepared the Strategy to strengthen the scientific foundation of the EPA risk assessments and risk management decision that affect children.  The strategies provide a framework  of research needs and priorities to guide its programs over the next five to ten years.  They form the basis for more detailed research plans, which in turn link to individual ORD laboratory implementation plans.  The strategy is available online at http://www.epa.gov/ORD/WebPubs/final/ in Adobe Acrobat format.  Printed copies may be obtained by calling the Publication Office at 513-569-7562.

PA Department of Health's Rural Health Plan Available Online
November 7, 2000
The Pennsylvania Department of Health's Rural Health Plan is now available online at http://www.health.state.pa.us/pdf/hpa/ship/ruralship.pdf.  The Rural Health Plan is part of the State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP).

New Medicare Web Site
November 7, 2000
KePRO has redesigned and renamed its Web site to help users find the Medicare information they need.  The site contains commonly asked questions about Medicare, a listing of upcoming speaking events, information about Medicare's preventive health care services, and KePRO's wellness projects.  The site can be found at http://www.pamedicare.org.

Nurse Prescribing Regulations were Officially Approved
by Pennsylvania's Independent Regulatory Review Commission
November 7, 2000
Pennsylvania's Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) unanimously voted to approve nursing regulations that would allow certified registered nurse practitioners (CRNPs) to prescribe certain medications under the guidance of a licensed physician.  The CRNP must show evidence of completing at least 45 hours of advanced pharmacology education, and a physician may only supervise four CRNPs prescribing medication at any one time.  During a public hearing of IRRC prior to the vote, no opposition was voiced against the new regulations and IRRC noted, in reaching its decision, that both the state board of medicine and the state board of nursing addressed all primary concerns the committee had.

Pennsylvania Governor's School Announces Summer 2001 Session
November 7, 2000
The Pennsylvania Governor's School for Health Care introduces high school students to the world of health care, emphasizing issues of primary care, prevention, public health, human growth and development, and areas of practice.  The panel selects 110 students from across the state to participate in the program, which will be held July 1- August 4, 2001, at the University of Pittsburgh.  Costs of the program are provided through a joint venture of state and private agencies for students who are selected to participate.  Families are responsible for transportation costs, money for snacks and personal needs, and for a residential deposit that is returned if all conditions are met at the end of the program.  School guidance counselors can provide applications and deadlines for the program.  Additional information may be obtained by calling 570-524-5244 or 412-647-8129, weekdays except for holidays.

Program Designed to Curb Underage Drinking
November 7, 2000
A program initiated in Erie called Project Sticker Shock has teamed up students and beer distributors to put stickers on cases of beer that warn that "It is illegal to buy or provide alcohol for anyone under 21."  The project capitalizes on kid power to ensure that everyone receives a consistent message about the law.  The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board is underwriting the project so other communities can participate.  If you are interested in more information or implementing the project in your community, contact Lynda Kerr at 717-772-1432, or e-mail at Lkerr@lcb.state.pa.us.

Web Site Designed to Improve the Quality of
Health Care Information Available on the Web
November 7, 2000
Health Internet Ethics, or Hi-Ethics is a coalition of health internet Web sites and information providers that formed in November 1999 to address privacy, advertising and content quality issues for internet health consumers.  Hi-Ethics provides Web sites with a clear set of rules that can be successfully and accountably implemented.  The Hi-Ethics alliance is working to develop industry-wide principles to evaluate the reliability of health information that consumers receive through e-health providers.  Priority areas will include privacy protections and the disclosure of Web site sponsorships or other financial relationships between the content providers and advertisers.  For more information, visit the Web at http://www.hiethics.org.

HRSA-Funded NGA State Oral Health Policy Academy
November 7, 2000
The National Governors' Association (NGA) Center for Best Practices, through a cooperative agreement with the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), will be coordinating and conducting a Policy Academy designed to help Governors and their health care advisors to craft and implement policies to address the oral health care needs of children in their State.  The State teams will be selected to meet with oral health policy experts to assess current challenges, analyze strategic policy options, and develop and implement State-specific plans for action.   Eight States have been selected to participate, including:  Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Minnesota, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, and Virginia.  Due to the number of applications submitted to the NGA, they plan to seek additional funding to support another Policy Academy.  Should a second Academy be funded, they plan to select participant states using the pool of remaining applicants to the first Policy Academy.

Ford Foundation calls for Nominations
for Community Leadership Awards
November 7, 2000
The Ford Foundation has announced a new awards program, Leadership for a Changing World, and is seeking nominations of community leaders across the country who are successfully tackling tough social problems.  Over six years, the $19 million program will recognize 60 outstanding leaders and leadership teams that are not broadly known beyond the immediate community or field.  Leaders will receive awards of $100,000 to advance their work, plus $30,000 for supporting activities.  The program also includes a major, multi-year research initiative and numerous forums to bring awardees together with other leaders to share experiences, address specific challenges, and explore opportunities for collaboration.  Nominations will be accepted by the Advocacy Institute until January 5, 2001.  Leaders must be nominated by someone who is well acquainted with their work and can attest to their qualifications.  For more information, visit the Web at http://leadershipforchange.org.

Workshops and Technical Assistance Available
from HRSA on Managed Care Services and Assistance
November 7, 2000
The Health Resources and Services Administration's (HRSA) Managed Care Technical Assistance Center can help organizations with managed care arrangements and concerns.  It is designed for HRSA grantees, health professions education and training programs, safety net providers, or other organizations serving the medically underserved and special needs populations.  Managed care experts can help with approaching managed care organizations (MCO); negotiating a contract with an MCO; assuring that you receive sufficient reimbursement for your medical and/or social services; and assuring that your contract has terms and conditions that are favorable to you.  For more information, visit the Web at http://www.jsi.com/hrsamctac, or call 1-877-832-8635.

RWJ Issues Call for Nominations
for Health Policy Fellowships 2001
October 23, 2000
The Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Fellowships Program seeks to develop the capacity of mid-career health professionals in academic and community-based settings to assume leadership roles in health policy and management.  The program is funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and conducted by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the National Academy of Sciences.  Six Fellows participate each year in a September-to-August program of orientation and full-time work experience in Washington, D.C.  Fellows are paid annual stipends equal to their salaries prior to entering the program, up to $75,000 per year.  Nominations are made by chief executive officers of academic health centers and community-based health care organizations and agencies.  Nominations are due at the IOM by November 17, 2000 for Fellows entering the program in September 2001.  For an abstract or the full text of the Call for Nominations, visit the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Web site at http://www.rwjf.org, click on Applying for a Grant, then click on List of Open Calls for Proposals.

Ryan White CARE Act Reauthorization Sent to President
October 23, 2000
On October 5, 2000, Congress approved legislation to reauthorize the Ryan White CARE Act, which provides more than $1 billion per year for AIDS prevention and treatment programs.  As part of the reauthorization process, the funding formula was changed to account for HIV infections in addition to AIDS cases.  The new funding formula is scheduled to go into effect in 2005 and is expected to provide more money for patients living in rural areas, as well as women, infants, and minorities.  President Clinton is expected to sign the measure into law.

Announcement for Director of the
Federal Office of Rural Health Policy
October 11th, 2000
The Health Resources and Services Administration has announced that it is accepting applications for the Director of the federal Office of Rural Health Policy, Rockville, Maryland.  For more information on the position, qualification requirements, and instructions for applying for this position, visit the Web at http://www.hrsa.gov/jobs/va1.pdf.  All material must be received by HRSA by November 3, 2000.

House Commerce Committee Passes
Balanced Budget Act Relief Measure
October 11th, 2000
On September 26, 2000, the House Commerce Committee passed by voice vote a bill that would provide increased payments for Medicare providers.  The Beneficiary Improvement and Protection Act (H.R. 5291) would make several changes in the Medicare and Medicaid programs important to rural health care providers.  The House Commerce Committee has sole jurisdiction over Medicare Part B, the Medicaid program and the state Children's Health Insurance Program and shares jurisdiction with the Ways and Means Committee over Medicare Parts A and C.  The House Ways and Means Committee is expected to consider its own Balanced Budget Act relief measure in a matter of days.  There is no word on whether the Senate Finance Committee will hold a mark-up session on its own version of Balance Budget Act relief.  The legislation passed by the Commerce would create a new prospective payment system (PPS) for Federally Qualified Health Centers and Rural Health Clinics, as outlined in the Safety Net Preservation Act (H.R. 2341), endorsed by the NRHA.  The new PPS system would go into effect in fiscal year 2001.  It would insure that community health centers and rural health clinics would have a baseline of funding, increased annually by the Medicare Economic Index for primary care, plus any changes in the scope of services they provide.  To read other provisions of H.R. 5291, visit the Web at http://com-notes.house.gov/09262000/5291/amendment1.pdf.

Call for Abstracts: Supplement to Public Health Reports
October 11th, 2000
The Association of Schools of Public Health (ASPH) and the Public Health Practice Program Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a call for abstracts for its Supplement to Public Health Reports in which the theme is Research Linkages Between Academic and Practice:  Reducing Health Disparities.   The deadline for submission of abstracts is December 1, 2000 (the supplement will be published in December, 2001).  Priority will be given to abstracts that address the focus of public health research partnerships between academia and practice.  To obtain more information, contact Geri Aglipay, ASPH Project Manager, gsa@asph.org or telephone 202-296-1099, ext. 134, or visit the Web at http://www.asph.org/fac_section.cfm/71.

2000 County Profiles for Pennsylvania
Available in Print and Online
October 11th, 2000
Three major statistical publications have recently been released by the Bureau of Health Statistics -- Pennsylvania Vital Statistics 1998, 2000 County Health Profiles, and 1999 Behavioral Health Risks of Pennsylvania Adults.  These reports are available by calling the Bureau of Health Statistics at (717) 783-2548.  In addition, the reports are also available online at http://www.health.state.pa.us/stats/.  Pennsylvania Vital Statistics 1998 is the Pennsylvania Department of Health's official annual report of births, deaths, fetal deaths, population, induced abortions, and reported pregnancies.  The 2000 County Health Profiles is a set of 68 individual two-page pamphlets -- one for each of the state's counties and one for Pennsylvania.  It provides numerous statistics for varous health-related subject areas.  The 1999 Behavioral Health Risks of Pennsylvania Adults is the eleventh annual report of data collected by the Pennsyvlania Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a telephone sample survey of Pennsylvania adults.

West Nile Virus Update
October 11th, 2000
As of October 16, 2000, the following states have reported finding the West Nile Virus:  (1)  Connecticut; (2) Maryland; (3) Massachusetts; (4) New Hampshire; (5) New Jersey; (6) New York; (7) PENNSYLVANIA; (8) Rhode Island; (9) Vermont; (10) Virginia; and (11)  Washington, D.C.  Samples of the virus came from either birds, mammals, or mosquitoes.  West Nile has been found in the following counties in Pennsylvania:  Bradford (bird); Bucks (bird); Chester (bird & mosquito); Cumberland (bird); Dauphin (horse); Delaware (bird); Lehigh (mosquito); Schuylkill (mosquito); Philadelphia (bird & mosquito); Union (mosquito); Wyoming (mosquito); and York (bird).  For the most up-to-date information on West Nile, visit the following Web sites:  http://www.pested.psu.edu/spWestNile.html; http://www.westnile.state.pa.us/;  http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/index.htm; and http://ace.orst.edu/info/nptn/wnv.htm.

Obtain Childhood Immunization Information and
Earn Continuing Education Units from your Office
October 11th, 2000
The National Association of Pediatric Nurse Associates and Practitioners (NAPNAP) has developed a 2000 edition of the Workbook, Childhood Immunization:  A Continuing Education Workbook for Pediatric Nurse Practitioners in the United States.  This free continuing education resource for nurses and nurse practitioners contains current immunization recommendations and information from recognized experts.  To obtain 2.5 contact hours of NAPNAP-approved continuing education units, complete the self-test at the back of the workbook and mail it to NAPNAP with a $12 processing fee by January 31, 2001.  For a free copy of the workbook, call 212-886-2266, and leave your name, mailing address, and phone number when prompted.  For questions about the content of the program or NAPNAP, contact the organization at 877-662-7627, or visit the Web at http://www.napnap.org/.

Updated Recommendations from the Advisory Committee on
Immunization Practices in Response to Delays in
Supply of Influenza Vaccine for the 2000-01 Season
October 11th, 2000
On July 14, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported a substantial delay in the availability of a proportion of influenza vaccine for the 2000-01 season and the possibility of a vaccine shortage.  Since then, resolution of manufacturing problems and improved yields of the influenza A (H3N2) vaccine component have averted a shortage.  Although safe and effective influenza vaccine will be available in similar quantities as last year, much of the vaccine will be distributed later in the season than usual.  Because of the potential health impact of delayed influenza vaccine availability, the CDC has published a notice titled, Updated Recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices in Response to Delays in Supply of Influenza Vaccine for the 2000-01 Season, in the October 6, 2000, issue of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.  The goal of these recommendations is to minimize the adverse health impact of delays on high-risk persons.  Minimizing the adverse impact on this group will require an effective response by the private and public sectors, including actions that have not been undertaken during past seasons.  To review the recommendations, visit the Web at www.cdc.gov/nip.

New and Revised Educational and Informational
Materials Ready to Download from IAC's Web site
October 11th, 2000
The Immunization Action Coalition (IAC) has updated many features on its site for health professionals and patients.  English-language versions of immunization materials are reviewed for technical accuracy by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with the exception of opinion pieces.  Unless otherwise noted, the materials are camera-ready and copyright-free, so you can simply download one copy and make as many additional copies as you need.   IAC's Web site lists the revised and all new materials under What's New at http://www.immunize.org/.

NIOSH Finds that Teens Face Serious Risk of
Job-Related Death in Agricultural Operations
October 11th, 2000
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) reported that young people under 20 face a serious risk of death from work-related injuries in agricultural operations, particularly when engaged in crop production activities and working with tractors and other vehicles.  Analyzing five years of data, NIOSH found that 12.2 occupational fatalities occurred for every 100,000 youths working in agriculture, more than twice the rate for fatal occupational injuries overall in the U.S. for a comparable period.  The NIOSH findings, which originally were published in the Journal of Agromedicine, are consistent with results from earlier research showing that youths who work and live on farms are at risk for injury and death.  The NIOSH findings build on previous research by providing new data on age-specific fatality rates and identifying crop production as having both high numbers and high rates of fatalities, among other advancements.  For more information on this study, visit the Web at www.cdc.gov/niosh/farmag.html.

HRSA Awards Nearly $3 Million to Study Health Concerns in Rural Communities
October 3, 2000
Nearly half of the 46 million Americans without health care access are rural residents.  How to help them receive affordable, accessible, quality health care is the focus of a new $3 million research project sponsored by the Health Resources and Services Administration.  Six research centers in Maryland, Nebraska, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas and Washington will participate in this study of health care access in rural America.  Centers will examine issues such as rural health care access, health disparities, health work force recruitment and retention, and health delivery systems and minority health issues.  HRSA is the lead agency for improving access to health care for individuals and families nationwide.  For more information, visit the Web at http://www.hrsa.gov/newsroom.

WISE EARS! Health Education Campaign Underway
October 3, 2000
The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) has teamed with the National Institute on Occupational Safety and Health and more than 70 government agencies, public organizations, businesses, industries, unions and groups advocating for children and older Americans to establish the WISE EARS! health education campaign.  The goals are to increase awareness that noise-induced hearing loss is preventable; hearing matters; and WISE EARS! can last a lifetime.  For more information, visit the Web at http://www.nih.gov/nidcd or call 301-496-7243 or (800) 241-1044.  You can get answers to hearing questions; read about campaign activities; tour the kids and teachers page; use the interactive sound ruler; and find resources to prevent noise-induced hearing loss in your community.

Web Site Provides Information for Veterans
October 3, 2000
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs maintains a Web site containing the latest information, a directory of medical centers in Pennsylvania, and the 2000 benefits guide for veterans.  To access this information, go to http://www.va-stars-and-stripes.com.

HCFA Releases Proposed Medicare Ambulance Fee Schedule
October 3, 2000
On September 12, 2000, the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) published a proposed rule creating a new Medicare ambulance fee schedule.  The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 mandated that HCFA develop an ambulance fee schedule by January 1, 2000.  However, development of the fee schedule was delayed, and it will now go into effect January 1, 2001, with the fee schedule phased in over four years.  To read the proposed rule, visit the Web at http://www.ruralhealth.hrsa.gov/regs.htm and click on Medicare Program; Payment of Ambulance Services, Fee Schedule.

Ecologist, Poet, and Cancer Survivor to Speak at Penn State
October 3, 2000
Sandra Steingraber, research ecologist, cancer survivor and author of Living Downstream:  An Ecologist Looks at Cancer and the Environment will visit Penn State to talk about how environmental factors can affect human health.  The presentation is scheduled for 6:45 p.m., October 23, at the Penn Stater Conference Center and Hotel.  A reception and book signing will follow the event.  Steingraber also will be a guest on the live 60-minute televised radio call-in program To the Best of my Knowledge, hosted by Penn State President Graham Spanier on October 24 at 7:00 p.m.  To downlink the presentation, call Kathy Allison or Ann Ward at 814-863-8693.  To register to attend the presentation at the Penn Stater on October 23, call 1-800-PSU-TODAY.  For registration information on other downlink sites, visit the Web at www.outreach.psu.edu/C&I/LivingDownstream.

New Summary Suggests Loss of Coverage after Welfare
October 2, 2000
A new summary of over 25 state welfare "leaver" studies - which track how former welfare recipients are faring - concludes that a growing body of evidence suggests welfare policy changes in recent years have caused a loss of Medicaid among low-income families with children.  The analysis, conducted by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, shows that in most states with relevant studeis, a significant proportion of both parents and children lose Medicaid after their families leave welfare.  They also show that families leaving welfare have very limited access to private coverage, and as a result may become uninsured.  The study is available at http://www.cbpp.org/8-16-00wel.htm.

Study Says Health Systems Miss most
Mentally Ill Children and Adolescents
October 2, 2000
More than 7 out of 10 American adolescents with mental health problems are not getting care, according to data released this week at the Surgeon General's conference on Children's Mental Health.  Studies from both the RAND Corporation/University of California at Los Angeles and the Behavioral Sciences Institute at Puerto Rico University highlighted a lack of mental health need identification by systems that serve children and adolescents, worsening problems among minority children and among those who lack health insurance as a result of language barriers and a strong cultural stigma of mental illness that inhibits them from seeking care.  The studies also cited inconsistent delivery of mental health care services to these populations as nearly 60% of adolescents identified by their primary care doctors as needing mental health services never receive them.  A summary of conference activities will be available in the coming months from the Surgeon General's Office.   Copies of the report on Mental Health by the Surgeon General can be obtained from http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/.

ood Health Care is more than Medicine
October 2, 2000
The September 22, 2000 issue of The Chronicle of Higher Education contains an article entitled, Good Health Care is more than Medicine, by Richard D. Lamm, former governor of Colorado, and University Professor and Executive Director of the Center for Public Policy and Contemporary Issues at the University of Denver.  The article looks at some key health care indicators and discusses the quality of the U.S. health care system, comparing it to other countries' health systems.  The author discusses ways the health care dollars can be spent to make the U.S. healthier.  He states, "When I entered the Colorado legislature in 1966, the United States spent 6 percent of its gross domestic product on health care, and another 6 percent on education, from kindergarten on up.  Today we spend 14 percent on health care, and still 6 percent on education.  During those years, our rankings in international health comparisons have declined.  Isn't there something wrong with this picture?". Chronicle subscribers can read this article on the Web at http://chronicle.com/weekly/v47/i04/04b01701.htm.

Four Federal Agencies Among Group Which
Collaborates on National Strategy to Improve Health Care
October 2, 2000
A strategic national plan that will lead to health improvements in both agricultural and urban areas has been drafted to improve the medical profession's ability to recognize, manage, and prevent pesticide-related health conditions.  The text, Pesticides and National Strategies for Health Care Providers (Draft Implementation Plan), represents collaboration among four federal agencies including the EPA, HHS, USDA, DOL, the National Environmental Education and Training Foundation (NEETF), and hundreds of health care practitioners and educators.  The draft plan is open for comment through the Federal Register until December 1, 2000.  For a published copy, call 202-833-2933, ext. 535, or, for more information, visit the Web at http://www.neetf.org.

Oral Health Report Released by GAO
October 2, 2000
The GAO has released a report on oral health entitled, Oral Health:  Factors Contributing to Low Use of Dental Services by Low-Income Populations.  The report addresses (1) factors that explain low dental service use by Medicaid and SCHIP beneficiaries; and (2) the role of other federal safety-net programs in improving access to dental care.  To view this report, visit the Web at http://www.gao.gov/new.items/he00149.pdf.

New Children's Defense Fund Publication
September 13th, 2000
The Children's Defense Fund (CDF) will release the annual publication of Children in the States.  This publication provides accurate, timely, and comprehensive data on key children's indicators in each state in a concise, uniform format.  The state profiles are tools for planning and action, particularly useful as state and local governments, as well as the private sector, take on increasing levels of responsibility for the design and implementation of programs affecting children.  The presentation of this key state and national data enables readers to take a look at how their own state is doing, compared to neighboring states and the national average, and then urge their elected officials (at the federal, state and local levels) to do more for children.  You may access the report online at www.cdfactioncouncil.org.  Call 202-662-3665 for more information or to order a copy by phone, or e-mail CDF at cdfactioncouncil@childrensdefense.org.

Research Findings on Medicaid
Expansion to Parents and Children
September 13th, 2000
According to new research by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, expanding state Medicaid programs to provide coverage for parents also increases the number of low-income children protected by health insurance.  The research compares changes in children's coverage in states that extended coverage to low-income parents to changes in coverage in states that did not institute such expansions.  It found that in three states that were early to expand Medicaid coverage to parents, coverage of eligible children increased by 16% between 1990 and 1998.  By contrast, states that did not expand coverage to include parents, coverage of eligible children only increased by 3% during the study period of 1990-1998.  The study, entitled, The Importance of Family-Based Insurance Expansions:  New Research Findings About State Health Reforms, can be found at www.cbpp.org/9-5-00health-rep.pdf.

Study Available from NHTSA
September 13th, 2000
A new study, Racial and Ethnic Group Comparisons, National Surveys of Drinking and Driving -- Attitudes and Behavior -- 1993, 1995, 1997, was  printed in July 2000 and is available for distribution.  The report can be ordered from the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration resource center online at http://www.nhtsa.gov/, order no. DOT HS 809 071, or by faxing your request to (202) 493-2062.  Volume I consists of the findings of the three-year survey on drinking and driving attitudes and behavior.  Volume II, Methods Report, describes the methods used to conduct the interviews and analyze the data and contains the most recent questionnaire.  For more information about the report, contact Paul Tremont at 202-366-5587.

The Pew Environmental Health Commission Urges Tracking
of Diseases and Environmental Exposures to Save Lives
September 13th, 2000
The Pew Environmental Health Commission at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health called on Congress and the White House to protect Americans from chronic diseases--the number 1 cause of death in the U.S.--by tracking where and when these health problems occur and possible links to environmental factors.  The Commission said that the nation faces an environmental health gap and proposed a Nationwide Health Tracking Network to provide the critical information now lacking in nearly every state.  Without this netowrk, the Commission said the U.S. will remain unable to mount effective prevention efforts for asthma, birth defects, developmental disabilities, cancers, and neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, among other chronic diseases.  To view a summary and the full report, visit the Web at http://health-track.org/reports/pehc/.

NHTSA Provides Getting to School Safely Community Action Kit
September 13th, 2000
In an effort to increase the safety of all students traveling to and from school and school-related events, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in cooperation with the NRHA and other partner organizations, has developed the Getting to School Safety Program.  The program will provide everyone involved in student travel--parents, caregivers, school administrators, teachers, police officers, crossing guards, and the many other community organizations concerned about student safety such as rural hospitals, community health centers and clinics--the resources they need to improve the safety of students traveling to school.  Community Action Kits are available that will include information on how to identify your community's safety problems related to students traveling to school in all modes of transportation and create lifesaving programs to address the problems. The kit also includes fact sheets, safety tip sheets, examples of successful programs, and a calendar of transportation and safety events.  To order the Kit, fax your name and mailing address to the NHTSA at 202-366-7721, attention Arlene.  For more information on NHTSA programs, visit the Web at http://www.nhtsa.gov/.

Policy Assistance Targeted Toward
Children with Special Health Care Needs
September 13th, 2000
In order to promote comprehensive, family-centered systems of care for children with special health care needs, Johns Hopkins University, Health Systems Research, and Family Voices have created the National Policy Center for Children with Special Health Care Needs.  This center, funded under a cooperative agreement with the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, produces information relevant to the operational needs of managed care organizations and state agencies, professional and family program administrators, federal and state officials, and families.  Some of the Center's resources include documents on defining medical necessity, measurements of quality for children with special health care needs, data uses to enhance quality of care for children with special health care needs, and new opportunities to serve children with special health care needs under the State Children's Health Insurance Program.  More information on the Center, as well as copies of documents can be found by calling 410-614-5553, or e-mailing jlambert@jhsph.edu.

CDC Releases Guide to Contraindications to
Childhood Vaccinations for the Year 2000
September 11th, 2000
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released the 2000 edition of Guide to Contraindications to Childhood Vaccinations.  According to the CDC, this guide is designed to "help providers of childhood vaccinations decide what common symptoms and conditions should be considered contraindications to vaccination and which ones should not."  The booklet has two major changes from the previous edition:  the removal of rotavirus vaccine and the inclusion of the new pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7).  To order copies of the guide, visit the Web at https://www2.cdc.gov/nchstp_od/PIWeb/niporderform.htm or call 1-800-232-2522.

National Day of After-School Awareness Planned
September 13th, 2000
A national day of after-school awareness, is scheduled for October 12.  The event will involve hundreds of after-school programs simultaneously hosting an open house for parents, community leaders, elected officials, and the media.  Participants will not only showcase the benefits of their programs, but will also underscore the need for keeping the lights on for all children after the end of the traditional school day.  For more information, visit the Web at http://www.afterschoolalliance.org/lightson.html.

National Primary Care
Initiative Launched by Medical Students
September 6, 2000
Because primary care physicians are the first line of defense for more than 44 million uninsured Americans, they are increasingly more important in the medical community, according to the American Medical Student Association (AMSA), the nation's largest, independent medical student organization.  Unfortunately, statistics indicate that the nation's medical schools are not producing enough primary care doctors to adequately provide care to the American people.  In response, the AMSA recently announced plans for National Primary Care Week 2000:  Caring for Communities.  It will be held at nearly every American medical school between October 15-21, 2000, and is dedicated to promoting primary care as an important and legitimate specialty for health professional students (medical, dental, and nursing students, as well as nurse practitioners and physician's assistants).   The week is being produced with support from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Bureau of Health Professions, Division of Interdisciplinary, Community Based Programs, Division of Medicine and Dentistry and the Division of Nursing.

Free Videoconferences about Child Abuse
September 6, 2000
The University of Maryland School of Public Affairs is sponsoring a series of six free videoconferences about child abuse.  The objective of these conferences is to provide high quality training on the recognition and reporting of child abuse and neglect to professionals mandated to report suspected child maltreatment.  The material will be suitable for those without any prior exposure to the subject as well as those who have had substantial experience making reports.  The videoconferences will be held once a month beginning in January 2001.  For more information, call (202) 862-4879 or visit the Web at www.welfareacademy.org.

KePRO Reports on Changes
to Medicare Payment Systems
September 6, 2000
KePRO recently released a statement for Medicare patients concerning the new Outpatient Prospective Payment System.  This system will eventually assure that patients are only paying the 20 percent co-payment for the cost of hospital outpatient services, which in the past has cost patients about 50 percent.  The points to know about the new system include:  (1)  Depending upon which services you get and the hospital where you receive these services, your out-of-pocket costs may initially be slightly higher or lower than they were before for the same service; and (2) It will lower your out-of-pocket costs over time.  These changes will help to improve the system, and eventually save you money.  For more information about the new payment system, visit the Web at http://www.medicare.gov or call KePRO at 1-800-322-1914.

PA Breast Cancer Coalition's
Traveling Photo Exhibit
September 6, 2000
The Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition's traveling photo exhibit entitled, 65 Women - 67 Counties:  FAcing Breast Cancer in Pennsylvania, is on display September 7-17, at the Oxford Valley Mall.  The opening reception, which will be held September 7, 7:00 p.m., is open to the public free of charge.  The photo exhibit is an educational work of art that showcases at least one woman from each of Pennsylvania's 67 counties, and celebrates the lives of those who have battled breast cancer throughout the Commonwealth.  The PA Breast Cancer Coalition is sponsoring the exhibit, which is funded by the PA Department of Health.

AHEC Offers Farmedic and First on
the Scene for Farm Families Classes
September 6, 2000
The Pennsylvania Area Health Education center (AHEC) regional offices will offer Farmedic and First on the Scene for Farm Families classes for those organizations that wish to host such classes.  In addition, many of the regions offer additional farm safety and agricultural programs for young people and adults.  For more information, contact the AHEC office in your region:

NE - 570-945-5623	NC - 570-724-9145
NW - 814-453-6551, ext. 221	SE - 610-430-8055
SC - 814-472-3907	SW - 412-247-0184

National Emergency Medicine
Association Publishes Parenting Booklet
September 5, 2000
The National Emergency Medicine Association has published a booklet entitled, The Little Book of Parenting.  The 28-page booklet, the result of a grant from Gerber, includes topics for parents of infant children through adolescents.  Some of the topics included in the book are child care, immunizations, breast and formula feeding, poison control, positive discipline, step families, single parent families, etc.  Large quantities of this free book are available by calling 410-494-0300 or e-mail dinema@aol.com.  There are 150 booklets per box.  In addition they have two videos available at no charge:  one on gun violence; one on peer pressure.  These can be ordered online at http://www.nemahealth.org/kidsmatter.html.

1999 Report to Congress on
Title V Incentive Grants Available
September 5, 2000
The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention announces the availability of 1999 Report to Congress:  Title V Incentive Grants for Local Delinquency Prevention Programs.  Title V Incentive Grants for Local Delinquency Prevention Programs, provides the framework, tools, and funding for States and communities to establish comprehensive, community-based strategies that deter youth from becoming involved in the juvenile justice system.  This report, the sixth in this annual series mandated by Congress, begins with a review of current trends in juvenile justice and the role these grants play in prevention and control of youth problem behaviors.  The report also provides an overview of the allocation of Title V resources that have been provided to date, the impact the program has had in changing community norms nationwide related to collaboration and systems-level change, the coordination of State and Federal efforts to support local delinquency prevention, and the Nation's commitment to delinquency prevention and the promise it holds for moving to a healthier, safer future for children, youth, and families.  The report is available online at http://ojjdp.ncjrs.org/pubs/generalsum.html#182677 or by calling 800-638-8736.

Pennsylvanians Against Underage Drinking Provide Information Packet
September 5, 2000
Pennsylvanians Against Underage Drinking is a coalition comprised of organizations and individuals, both youth and adult, working together toward one common goal:  reducing underage drinking in Pennsylvania.  They have put together a packet of informational brochures and fact sheets about underage drinking.  To obtain this information, contact the organization at 717-705-0859, or e-mail fdebacco@lcb.state.pa.us.   The organization is supported through a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.  The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, located in Harrisburg, serves as the lead agency for this statewide coalition.

Surgeon General Releases Report on
Oral Health as Silent Epidemic
September 5, 2000
The first-ever Surgeon General's report on oral health identified oral health as a silent epidemic of dental and oral diseases which burdens those without the knowledge or resources to achieve good oral care, and particularly causes health disparities among poor Americans, racial and ethnic minorities, children and the elderly.  The full report of Oral Health in America:  A Report of the Surgeon General can be obtained at http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/sgr/oralhealth.htm.

Influenza Pandemic Preparedness
Planning CD Available Online
September 5, 2000
To help state and local public health officials and policy makers prepare for the next influenza pandemic, the CDC has developed FluAid, 2.0, a specialized software that estimates the number of deaths, hospitalizations, and outpatients visits that may occur during the next pandemic.  The software also will help planners calculate the potential burden of an influenza pandemic on health care resources.  FluAid, 2.0, will be available from the National Vaccine Program Office's Web site at www.cdc.gov/od/nvpo/pandemics/.  The software can be downloaded or can be accessed as an online calculator.  A manual is provided explaining the software, required data inputs, and suggestions for data sources.  It is free of charge.  

CDC Warns to Expect Flu Vaccine
Supply Delays and Possible Shortages
August 30, 2000
Influenza vaccine manufacturers have told the FDA and CDC to expect delays in flu vaccine shipments this flu season.  In addition, the possibility of a U.S. shortage of influenza vaccine for the 2000-01 season continues to be a concern.  The CDC is urging all health care provides who provide flu vaccines to consider ways to ensure their high risk patients receive the vaccination if a severe vaccine shortfall were to occur.  The CDC also encourages delaying adult mass influenza vaccination campaigns until November to diminish the possibility that these campaigns will need to be cancelled because vaccines are not available.  Regardless of the overall availability of the vaccine this flu season, the CDC emphasizes that health care providers should vaccinate persons at hightes risk of death from influenza and the health care workers who take care of them.  For more information, visit the CDC Web site at http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/flu/fluvirus.htm.

September is National Cholesterol Education Month
August 30, 2000
To increase the awareness of the importance of monitoring cholesterol levels and steps to achieve or maintain healthy levels, the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) is sponsoring National Cholesterol Education Month during September.  During September, CDC funded state cardiovascular health programs and their partners will highlight programs that raise awareness and understanding about high blood cholesterol as a risk factor for heart disease.  Additional information about how cholesterol may affect health and about other risk factors for heart disease is available from the American Heart Association Web's site at www.americanheart.org/cholesterol.  Other information is available on the Web at www.nhlbi.nih.gov/about/ncep/index.htm and www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/cvd.