Hunger Is a Public Health Issue: SNAP Food Assistance Cutoff Imminent
SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits are about to be cut off due to the shutdown of the federal government leaving thousands of Arizona families without the resources they rely on to buy groceries. There is no set date, but it’ll likely be in early November. And hunger doesn’t exist in isolation. It’s one of the strongest social determinants of health. Kids facing food insecurity struggle to focus and learn. Adults
Celebrating Excellence in Public Health: AzPHA’s 2025 Awards Gala
Last Thursday we hosted our annual Public Health Awards at the vibrant 435 Collective in downtown Phoenix. The event was a resounding success, drawing over 90 members and guests who gathered to honor the exceptional individuals and organizations advancing public health across Arizona. Those of you that do similar events for your organizations should consider the facility for your events – the service and facility were terrific and it was
Public Health Journalism this Week
Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices Standards for Assessing Evidence | Infectious Diseases | JAMA | JAMA Network A small Arizona town, measles and the long shadow of Warren Jeffs Sunday Squareoff – Marketplace Subsidy Drama Ongoing government shutdown revokes funding for Telehealth visits – Arizona PBS Sun City West seniors blast massive APS rate hike at town hall Mosquitoes are breeding across the Valley after heavy rains Arizona measles outbreak
Newly Formed Governors Public Health Alliance Aims to Protect Science-Based Health Policies: Arizona Should Join
This week, 15 governors from across the country came together to form the Governors Public Health Alliance — a new partnership focused on keeping public health decisions based on facts, data, and science. The Alliance was created in direct response to the lack of clear, evidence-based and scientifically sound leadership, guidance and decisions coming out of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services these days. The Alliance has four initial main
Supreme Court Spotlight Decision: Braidwood v Becerra (aka Kennedy v Braidwood)
In Kennedy v. Braidwood Management (the Supreme Court’s resolution of Braidwood v. Becerra), the Court held 6-3 that members of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force are “inferior officers” whose appointment by the HHS Secretary is consistent with the Appointments Clause. As a result, the ACA’s requirement that private health plans (and Medicaid expansion plans) cover Task Force–recommended preventive services without cost sharing survived the challenge, essentially upholding the current system linking health insurance
2025 Supreme Court Decisions: A Mixed Bag for Public Health
One of the most important parts of the U.S. Constitution is its system of checks and balances. This system makes sure that no one branch of government—Congress, the President, or the Supreme Court—has too much power. The Supreme Court plays a critical role by interpreting the law and protecting people’s rights, especially when politics get extreme (like now). In times like these, when big public health challenges are hitting the