News

State Laws Governing Debt Collection Lawsuits Vary Widely and Most Still Offer Little Protection to Consumers

Wednesday, February 14, 2024

While most states have laws that specifically govern debt collection lawsuits, the laws vary widely and few offer protections for consumers, according to new data released today by the Center for Public Health Law Research at Temple University Beasley School of Law.

New Research Finds a Third of States Restrict Access to Lifesaving Medicine for Opioid Use Disorder

Wednesday, February 7, 2024

Newly released data show that laws in more than one-third of states restrict access to buprenorphine, a lifesaving treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD). The data, published at PDAPS.org by the Center for Public Health Law Research at Temple University Beasley School of Law in collaboration with the Vital Strategies Overdose Prevention Program, supports urgent adoption of low-barrier, medication-first approaches to OUD treatment across states.

Legal Barriers to Medicaid Remain Upon Release for Many Justice-Involved Individuals

Thursday, January 11, 2024

New data released today by the Center for Public Health Law Research (CPHLR) at Temple University Beasley School of Law point to continued legal barriers for justice-involved seeking continuity of care through Medicaid coverage upon their release from incarceration, a population much more likely to face risk of overdose or death from opioid use disorder.  

46 of America’s Largest Cities Garner Top Policy Medals in CityHealth’s 2023 Assessment

Tuesday, December 5, 2023

Today, CityHealth, an initiative of the de Beaumont Foundation and Kaiser Permanente, released its 2023 annual policy assessment of the largest 75 cities in the United States, finding significant progress made by cities advancing health-promoting, prevention-oriented policies that support community health.

Top Legal Experts Offer 84 Opportunities for Improving US Drug Policy

Thursday, November 9, 2023

With support from the Foundation for Opioid Response Efforts (FORE), public health law experts from Indiana University McKinney School of Law and the Temple University Center for Public Health Law Research at the Beasley School of Law present 84 opportunities for US drug policy reform at the federal, state, and local levels.  

Widespread legislative activity in early 2023 related to school vaccination and vaccine provider scope of practice mostly unsuccessful

Thursday, October 19, 2023

Between January 1, 2023, and May 22, 2023, legislators in 43 states and the District of Columbia introduced 196 bills addressing school entry vaccination requirements, non-medical exemptions, and scope of practice for providers to administer vaccines. Of those 196 bills, only about 5% (11 bills) were enacted, according to new data published today by the Center for Public Health Law Research at Temple University Beasley School of Law.

Newly updated data track prior authorization for Medicaid fee-for-service plans and managed care plans

Tuesday, October 10, 2023

Data published by the Center for Public Health Law Research explore state regulations across the US in place that manage access to ADHD prescription medications for children under 18 years old. These include prior authorization requirements that restrict approvals to patients of a certain age or that require additional provider involvement for specific medications before approval for payment is granted. 

ASTHO Legal Mapping Center Launches Maps of Harm Reduction Policies to Prevent Overdose

Tuesday, August 8, 2023

The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) has launched a new legal mapping resource capturing policies that may prevent overdose. The maps visualize the national policy landscape of overdose prevention centers and laws supporting community distribution of naloxone and fentanyl test strips. Each map provides links to the state law or legislation referenced, a tool for public health leaders and policymakers to find laws in other jurisdictions that may help prevent overdose. 

States Continue to Leverage Medicaid Section 1115 Waivers to Address Opioid Crisis as Disenrollment and Work Requirements Loom

Tuesday, June 20, 2023

With the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency on May 11, 2023, and the end of Medicaid’s continuous enrollment provisions meant to protect coverage during the pandemic, millions are expected to lose Medicaid coverage in the coming months. New data published today on PDAPS.org displays key features of approved state section 1115 waivers, particularly eligibility and benefit expansions that may increase access to services that benefit people with SUD, as well as expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, across all 50 states and the District of Columbia approved as of April 20, 2023.

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