MDHHS Updates

Respiratory Virus Season This Fall and Winter: A CDC & AMA Fireside Chat
Join CDC and the American Medical Association Tuesday, December 12, 1:45-2:30 p.m. EST, for a special fireside chat with CDC Director, Dr. Cohen, on how to protect yourself and your patients during the fall and winter respiratory virus season.

During the fall and winter, germs are more likely to spread within the community and within healthcare settings. As a healthcare worker, you play a critical role in slowing and preventing the spread of viral respiratory infections, including flu, COVID-19, and RSV. Project Firstline can help you access the infection control information and resources you need to take action this respiratory virus season. 

Don’t miss the opportunity to hear from Dr. Mandy Cohen, Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, and AMA’s Immediate Past Chair Dr. Sandra Fryhofer as they discuss vaccinations and other tools that can keep everyone safe and healthy. 
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Register and submit your questions today


HHS Unveils the Fifth National Climate Assessment
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of Climate Change and Health Equity (OCCHE) has released its November 2023 Climate and Health Outlook. This edition explores the climate-related health hazards of heat, wildfire, drought, and hurricanes and provides information on how to reduce health risks associated with each. It also features findings from a survey of Californians on their health impacts from climate change, an overview of why wildfire smoke is a public health concern, and a feature on alpha-gal syndrome.

Visit the Climate and Heat Outlook Portal, which has interactive maps of county-level data on climate hazards and individual-level risk factors for health impacts.
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HHS, as a part of the U.S. Global Change Research Program, released the Fifth National Climate Assessment. The Fifth National Climate Assessment is the U.S. Government’s preeminent report on climate change impacts, risks, and responses. It is a congressionally mandated interagency effort that provides the scientific foundation to support informed decision-making across the United States. Read the full Climate Assessment, as well as a fact sheet from HHS explaining more about the importance of the document.

HHS Alerts Health Care Sector to Ransomware, Data Extortion Gang
HHS recently released an advisory to help health care organizations protect their systems and networks from 8Base, a ransomware and data extortion gang targeting small- and medium-sized organizations in health care and other sectors. Recommendations include prioritizing cybersecurity best practices, from regularly updating and patching systems to educating employees to avoid and report phishing emails and malicious attachments. 
Read the full advisory from HHS. 
 

The Biden-Harris Administration is Taking Actions to Improve the Health of Rural Communities and Help Rural Health Care Providers Stay Open
The Biden-Harris Administration is taking actions to improve the health of rural communities and help rural health care providers stay open. These actions:

• Build on the Affordable Care Act and Inflation Reduction Act to increase access to affordable health coverage and care for those living in rural communities
• Keep more rural hospitals open in the long run to provide critical services in their communities
• Bolster the rural health workforce, including for primary care and behavioral health providers
• Support access to needed care such as behavioral health and through telehealth services.

Read the Press Release from HHS