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Budget Victories for Fiscal Year 2007
The last day of the formal legislative session capped a great year of budget advocacy, when the Senate voted to override Governor Romney’s veto of $8.25 million in supplemental funding for substance abuse programs. The legislature overrode every one of Romney’s public health vetoes in the FY07 budget.
The Department of Public Health budget for FY07 is $473.4 million, an increase of $42.7 million over FY06 (not including purchase of service reserves). In addition, the legislature and governor approved $14.5 million for DPH disease prevention programs as part of the 2006 health care reform law. The supplemental health care reform spending will roll over into FY07, providing DPH with a combined increase of $57 million (10 percent) over FY06, a larger percentage increase than most other departments of state government. The bad news is that
DPH funding, corrected for inflation, is still 21.5 percent lower than in FY01.
Included in the FY07 budget are significant increases for MPHA budget advocacy priorities, including immunizations, school health services, the state laboratory, substance abuse services, and public health hospitals. Significant increases were also included for early intervention, family health, and domestic violence services.
Legislation Update: Two Victories, One Set-Back as Session Ends
 At the close of the formal 2006-07 legislative session, MPHA and our allies scored two significant victories for public health, winning passage of the Mercury Products Bill and the Pharmacy Access Bill.
Passing the Mercury Products Bill was an important achievement for the Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow, a coalition of health, labor, religious and environmental organizations, of which MPHA is a leading member. The law will phase out the use of mercury in products where alternatives exist and require manufacturers to take back mercury-containing devices.
The Pharmacy Access Bill finally became law after public health advocates overwhelmed stubborn opposition by Republican leadership. This law will play a key role in preventing AIDS and hepatitis C by allowing the over-the-counter sale of clean needles to adults without a prescription.
Unfortunately, our school nutrition bill failed to move beyond the House Ways and Means Committee. MPHA waged a strong, creative campaign to pass legislation filed by Rep. Peter Koutoujian to prevent childhood obesity by prohibiting the sale of sugar-packed drinks and junk food in schools. We published over 50 letters-to-the-editor and op-ed pieces, garnered over 100 endorsements from organizations and newspapers, distributed nearly 4,000 "got lunch?" postcards, blanketed Beacon Hill with letters and fact sheets, and mobilized hundreds of parents, teachers, students and other concerned people in support of preventing childhood obesity.
While the bill didn't pass this session, we can take pride in effective statewide public education and organizing to prevent childhood obesity. At the local level, we helped develop policies in Boston and other communities to promote healthy nutrition in schools. On the national level, we contributed to grassroots advocacy that compelled industry to agree to phase out soda sales in schools throughout the country. If the industry deal is fully implemented, it will be a valuable step.
MPHA’s Annual Meeting and Expo: Thursday, October 5
MPHA's annual meeting will be on Thursday, October 5 at the Royal Plaza Hotel and Trade Center in Marlborough. The event is titled “Pandemic Flu: Learning from the Past, Preparing for the Future” and will feature keynote speaker Dr. Alfred Crosby, author of America's Forgotten Pandemic: The Influenza of 1918. The event will include an expo and poster session, luncheon and awards ceremony, business meeting, update on our very productive year, and conclude with a book-signing and reception.
Campaign for a Healthy Massachusetts
As the temperature rises, the campaign for governor is also heating up, and MPHA is determined to ensure that the candidates address public health concerns. To that end, MPHA has sent a candidate questionnaire to all of the gubernatorial candidates and will post the results on our website. We are also drafting a “Platform for a Healthy Massachusetts” and will publicize the platform through fact sheets, letters-to-the-editor, email, and at candidate events.
We are actively seeking people to help with the “Campaign for a Healthy Massachusetts.” For more information, or to get involved, contact Eric Weltman: 617-524-6696, ext. 111; eweltman@mphaweb.org.
Susan M. Lett Appointed to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices
Susan M, Lett, MD, MPH has been appointed by Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Michael O. Leavitt to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The ACIP, consisting of 15 members appointed by the Secretary of HHS, advises the director of CDC and the Secretary of HHS on control of vaccine-preventable disease and vaccine usage. Recommendations of the ACIP become CDC policy when they are accepted by the director of CDC and are published in CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).
Dr. Lett has been with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health for 19 years, where she is the Medical Director of the Immunization Program. Under her leadership, Massachusetts has achieved the highest immunizations rates in the nation for children younger than two years of age. Dr. Lett is a graduate of St. Anselm’s College nursing program, the Medical College of Virginia and Harvard University School of Public Health. She has worked in refugee camps in Thailand and as a consultant for the William Joiner Foundation in Vietnam, and currently serves on a numerous national and statewide task forces and advisory groups. Dr.Lett is also a member of the Massachusetts Public Health
Association.
Dr. Lett’s appointment to the ACIP is a tribute to her expertise and an acknowledgement of all that she has accomplished in the field of immunizations.
Central Massachusetts Report
MPHA’s Central Massachusetts regional committee is undertaking extensive organizing and networking efforts around pandemic flu and emergency preparedness. The committee is planning a forum in October on pandemic flu planning for special populations, continuing the work in this area began by the City of Worcester’s Metropolitan Response System and the Emergency Management Division. MPHA is collaborating with a host of other regional agencies and organizations, including the Worcester Office on Disability and the Medical Reserve Corps.
Western Massachusetts Report
In Western Massachusetts, a flurry of final activity around MPHA’s budget and legislative priorities was combined with local organizing around emergency preparedness and school nutrition. In partnership with Springfield’s Department of Health and Human Services, a community focus group was held at Shriner’s Hospital to discuss pandemic flu planning. Led by Helen Caulton Harris, the city’s health director, the group included a broad diversity of neighborhoods and ethnic groups. Next steps are neighborhood meetings and a citywide forum.
In Holyoke, MPHA continues its collaborative effort to restore a greenhouse at the Sullivan Elementary School. The project recently won a grant from WGBY, the local PBS station, and the Holyoke Garden Club. MPHA looks forward to reaping the harvest - literally - of its work by growing healthy food with students, parents, and staff of the school. For more information, or to get involved, contact AJ Juarez: 413-750-2060; ellis6065@charter.net.
Renew your membership today!
MPHA has won important victories in recent months and your support, your voice, and your membership were critical to these victories. MPHA has an ambitious agenda laid out for the coming months and we need your continued support. Please take a moment to renew your membership in MPHA and invite your friends and colleagues to join, too!
For more information contact Kara Keenan: 617-524-6696 ext.113; kkeenan@mphaweb.org.
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