The Network for Public Health Law (NPHL) has issued five new public health resources that can be read and accessed below.

Nothing to Laugh About: Nitrous Oxide Misuse and the Need for a Public Health Response

There are legitimate and safe uses of the gas nitrous oxide for medical, culinary arts, and industrial use.  However, recreational use of nitrous oxide is on the rise, due in great part to its popularity on social media.  Given the significant short-term and long-term health impacts of nitrous oxide use, public health officials and community organizations should examine their state laws to determine if law change, or just law enforcement, is needed.

Preventing Medical Debt: State Laws Requiring a Uniform Application for Hospital Financial Assistance Programs

Despite the Affordable Care Act mandate requiring hospitals that participate in federal healthcare programs provide financial assistance policies (FAPs), many patients are unaware or overlook them.  The adoption of a uniform application has the potential to increase patient awareness, enrollment, and utilization of FAPs.  This 50-state survey provides an overview on the adoption of uniform applications for hospital FAPs and highlights some of the mechanics of these uniform application requirements.

Disease and Data Modernization – Opportunities (and Safeguards) For Enhanced Public Health Data Collection

Renewed governmental focus on chronic disease prevention can provide a new impetus to enhance public health data collection for non-communicable diseases.  This issue brief reviews how public health authority generally would support an expansion of reporting requirements.  However, where jurisdictions gather more individual data about chronic conditions to bolster responsive interventions, they should also ensure appropriate confidentiality safeguards in order to maintain public trust.

U.S. Judge Halts Trump’s Clawback of Public Health Funds

This article, published in The Lancet, discusses a U.S. federal judge's decision to temporarily block the Trump Administration's seizure of more than $11 billion in already dispersed federal funds for state and local public health programs.  The article includes a discussion with Network Western Region Director Allison Winnike, J.D., regarding the “devastating impact” the clawbacks have already had on state and local public health programs, and the serious potential repercussions in light of the current measles outbreak in Texas.

How the Private Sector Community Benefits Movement is Advancing Health Equity