Lance's Corner

NYSDOH Issues Podcast on Combatting Opioid Overdose Epidemic

Sep 24, 2024

Per the notice below, the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) has issued a podcast on efforts to combat the opioid overdose epidemic.

New York State Department of Health Releases Latest Episode of New York Public Health Now Podcast Focused On Progress Made Combatting the Opioid Overdose Epidemic

Latest Episode Features State Department of Health Experts in Drug Prevention and Harm Reduction

Podcast is Also Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Other Listening Platforms

The latest edition of the State Department of Health's New York Public Health Now podcast takes a closer look at some promising data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on fatal drug overdoses.  The CDC's provisional data is showing declines in overdose deaths, including by synthetic opioids (especially fentanyl) to levels not seen since July 2021 in New York State (outside of New York City) and November 2022 in New York City.

"What we're seeing from the CDC's provisional data is a pattern of decline in drug overdoses in New York State, which is the topic of conversation for the latest edition of New York Public Health Now," State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald.  "I'm pleased to be joined for this episode by two of our Department's top experts in drug prevention and harm reduction to take a look at this new trend, what may be influencing it, and what's next for New York State."

Episode two of season three, "Downward Trend in Fatal Overdoses," hosted by State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald and Executive Deputy Commissioner Johanne Morne, dropped today.  Senior Policy Advisor Dr. David Holtgrave and Director of the Office of Drug User Health Allan Clear joined the episode to examine the changes seen in the data and to explore what this means in New York State.

Senior Policy Advisor to the Commissioner of Health Dr. David Holtgrave said, "The new data appear to confirm a real downward trend in fatal drug poisonings in New York and the nation; this allows us to now have a very welcome new conversation about the exact causes of the declines and the best ways forward to maintain and even accelerate these life-saving decreases."

Director of the Office of Drug User Health, AIDS Institute, Allan Clear said, "Getting on top of the problems caused by the illicit drug supply has been a barrier to bringing the number of overdose deaths down in New York State.  Working with people who use drugs, our community of harm reduction providers and local government, we may be finally seeing the dividends of our approach to the problem.  That said, any death from overdose is too many."

The discussion explores potential causes behind the declines, including the expansion of naloxone distribution, increases in drug checking programs, and the availability of drug user health hubs where individuals can access medical and social services.  Dr. Holtgrave previously joined Commissioner McDonald and Executive Deputy Commissioner Morne on the podcast to discuss his new role as Senior Policy Advisor to the Commissioner following a 35-year career in areas of drug prevention, control and substance use policy, including serving in the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy from 2022-2024.  New York public health Now is a conversational bi-weekly podcast featuring a rotating roster of front-line public health specialists discussing timely and important health topics and the good work happening at the State Department of Health.  All recordings are available on the DOH website  here, where they can also be downloaded by clicking on the up arrow in the lower right corner of each episode.  The podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and many other listening platforms.

USDOL Issues Comprehensive Employer Guidance on Long COVID

The United States Department of Labor (USDOL) has issued a comprehensive set of resources that can be accessed below for employers on dealing with Long COVID.

Supporting Employees with Long COVID: A Guide for Employers

The “Supporting Employees with Long COVID” guide from the USDOL-funded Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN) and Job Accommodation Network (JAN) addresses the basics of Long COVID, including its intersection with mental health, and common workplace supports for different symptoms.  It also explores employers’ responsibilities to provide reasonable accommodations and answers frequently asked questions about Long COVID and employment, including inquiries related to telework and leave.

Download the guide

Accommodation and Compliance: Long COVID

The Long COVID Accommodation and Compliance webpage from the USDOL-funded Job Accommodation Network (JAN) helps employers and employees understand strategies for supporting workers with Long COVID.  Topics include Long COVID in the context of disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), specific accommodation ideas based on limitations or work-related functions, common situations and solutions, and questions to consider when identifying effective accommodations for employees with Long COVID.  Find this and other Long COVID resources from JAN, below:

Long COVID, Disability and Underserved Communities: Recommendations for Employers

The research-to-practice brief “Long COVID, Disability and Underserved Communities” synthesizes an extensive review of documents, literature and data sources, conducted by the USDOL-funded Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN) on the impact of Long COVID on employment, with a focus on demographic differences.  It also outlines recommended actions organizations can take to create a supportive and inclusive workplace culture for people with Long COVID, especially those with disabilities who belong to other historically underserved groups.

Read the brief

Long COVID and Disability Accommodations in the Workplace

The policy brief “Long COVID and Disability Accommodations in the Workplace” explores Long COVID’s impact on the workforce and provides examples of policy actions different states are taking to help affected people remain at work or return when ready.  It was developed by the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) as part of its involvement in USDOL’s State Exchange on Employment and Disability (SEED) initiative.

Download the policy brief

Understanding and Addressing the Workplace Challenges Related to Long COVID

The report “Understanding and Addressing the Workplace Challenges Related to Long COVID” summarizes key themes and takeaways from an ePolicyWorks national online dialogue through which members of the public were invited to share their experiences and insights regarding workplace challenges posed by Long COVID.  The dialogue took place during summer 2022 and was hosted by USDOL and its agencies in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Surgeon General.

Download the report

Working with Long COVID

The USDOL-published “Working with Long COVID” fact sheet shares strategies for supporting workers with Long COVID, including accommodations for common symptoms and resources for further guidance and assistance with specific situations.

Download the fact sheet

COVID-19: Long-Term Symptoms

This USDOL motion graphic informs workers with Long COVID that they may be entitled to temporary or long-term supports to help them stay on the job or return to work when ready, and shares where they can find related assistance.

Watch the motion graphic

A Personal Story of Long COVID and Disability Disclosure

In the podcast “A Personal Story of Long COVID and Disability Disclosure,” Pam Bingham, senior program manager for Intuit’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Tech team, shares her personal experience of navigating Long COVID symptoms at work.  The segment was produced by the USDOL-funded Partnership on Employment and Accessible Technology (PEAT) as part of its ongoing “Future of Work” podcast series.

Listen to the podcast

HHS OIG Issues Annual Report on State MFCUs

Per the notice below, the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) of the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued its annual report on the performance of state Medicaid Fraud Control Units (MFCUs).

Medicaid Fraud Control Units Fiscal Year 2023 Annual Report (OEI-09-24-00200) 

Medicaid Fraud Control Units (MFCUs) investigate and prosecute Medicaid provider fraud and patient abuse or neglect. OIG is the Federal agency that oversees and annually approves federal funding for MFCUs through a recertification process. This new report analyzed the statistical data on annual case outcomes—such as convictions, civil settlements and judgments, and recoveries—that the 53 MFCUs submitted for Fiscal Year 2023.  New York data is as follows:

Outcomes

  • Investigations1 - 556
  • Indicted/Charged - 9
  • Convictions - 8
  • Civil Settlements/Judgments - 28
  • Recoveries2 - $73,204,518

Resources

  • MFCU Expenditures3 - $55,964,293
  • Staff on Board4 - 257

1Investigations are defined as the total number of open investigations at the end of the fiscal year.

2Recoveries are defined as the amount of money that defendants are required to pay as a result of a settlement, judgment, or prefiling settlement in criminal and civil cases and may not reflect actual collections.  Recoveries may involve cases that include participation by other Federal and State agencies.

3MFCU and Medicaid Expenditures include both State and Federal expenditures.

4Staff on Board is defined as the total number of staff employed by the Unit at the end of the fiscal year.

Read the Full Report

View the Statistical Chart

Engage with the Interactive Map

GAO Issues Report on Medicaid Managed Care Service Denials and Appeal Outcomes

The United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) has issued a report on federal use of state data on Medicaid managed care service denials and appeal outcomes.  GAO found that federal oversight is limited because it doesn't require states to report on Medicaid managed care service denials or appeal outcomes and there has not been much progress on plans to analyze and make the data publicly available.  To read the GAO report on federal use of state data on Medicaid managed care service denials and appeal outcomes, use the first link below.  To read GAO highlights of the report on federal use of state data on Medicaid managed care service denials and appeal outcomes, use the second link below.
https://www.gao.gov/assets/d24106627.pdf  (GAO report on federal use of state data on Medicaid managed care service denials and appeal outcomes)
https://www.gao.gov/assets/d24106627_high.pdf  (GAO highlights on federal use of state data on Medicaid managed care service denials and appeal outcomes)

CMS Issues Latest Medicare Regulatory Activities Update

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued its latest update on its regulatory activities in the Medicare program.  While dentistry is only minimally connected to the Medicare program, Medicare drives the majority of health care policies and insurance reimbursement policies throughout the country.  Therefore, it always pays to keep a close eye on what CMS is doing in Medicare.  To read the latest CMS update on its regulatory activities in Medicare, use the link below.
https://www.cms.gov/training-education/medicare-learning-network/newsletter/2024-03-14-mlnc