Health Alert Network (HAN) Update
Distributed via the CDC Health Alert Network May 25, 2016 Diagnostic Testing of Urine Specimens for Suspected Zika Virus Infection Summary On May 13, 2016, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued interim guidance that recommends Zika virus rRT-PCR testing of urine collected less than 14 days…
FDA approves first implantable drug to treat opioid addiction
The Washington Post (5/26, McGinley) reports in “To Your Health” that the Food and Drug Administration “on Thursday approved the first implantable drug to deliver long-lasting medication to people addicted to opioids.” The implant, known as Probuphine, “administers the anti-addiction drug buprenorphine in a continuous dose for six…
House passes multiple bills to address opioid epidemic
The U.S. House of Representatives earlier this month passed 18 bills to address the opioid epidemic, including the Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Reduction Act (H.R. 5046), which would authorize various grant programs through the Department of Justice. The House also passed H.R. 4641, which would establish an inter-agency task…
Confronting a Crisis: An open letter to America’s physicians on the opiod epidemic
By Steven J. Stack Emergency physician and the 170th president of the American Medical Association. The medical profession must play a lead role in reversing the opioid epidemic that, far too often, has started from a prescription pad. For the past 20 years, public policies - well-intended but…
Arkansas Works Update
On Thursday, April 21, SB 121 (including funding for Arkansas Works) was passed in the Senate then signed by Governor Asa Hutchinson. When signing, Governor Hutchinson executed the expected line item veto, extending the life of the program from an original end date of December 31, 2016 to…
Arkansas Works helps Arkansans get back to work
Physicians across the state have seen first-hand the benefits of Arkansas Works/Private Option and are fighting to secure its funding. Under this program, hard-working Arkansans have been able to get the care they need, return to work faster and stay at work longer. Losing this program would create…
What you can do now to help address a U.S. Zika outbreak
Article from AMA Wire. In preparation for the warmer weather just around the corner, more than 300 local, state and federal government officials and health experts gathered Friday for a special Zika summit to develop action plans for preventing and addressing mosquito-borne transmission of the virus in certain…
Baby wait list for Medicaid mostly gone
Article by Andy Davis, Northwest Arkansas Arkansas Democratt Gazette, 3/4/2016 In the past month, the state Department of Human Services has reduced by more than half the number of infants whose applications for Medicaid have been pending more than 45 days, a department official told state lawmakers on…
CDC reports nine additional pregnant women infected with Zika
USA Today (3/18, Szabo) said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “is reporting nine additional Zika infections in pregnant women,” bringing the total up to 18 cases of Zika diagnosed in pregnant women in the US. According to the CDC, eight are still pregnant while the other…
Governors discuss ways to fight opioid abuse epidemic
The AP (2/22, Nuckols) reports that President Obama “declined to endorse” a proposal by the National Governors Association to limit the number of opioid pain medications physicians can prescribe. According to the AP, “Obama was cool to the idea at a meeting with the governors he hosted at…
US, Brazil launch campaigns against spread of Zika virus
The Washington Post (2/13, A1, Sun, Dennis) reported that global health officials “are mobilizing to battle the fast-spreading Zika virus, sending rapid-response teams to affected regions, issuing travel warnings for pregnant women, accelerating vaccine trials and even deploying mosquito-fighting troops to hard-hit areas in Brazil.” The Post explained…