It’s no secret to any of us that there has been quite a bit of recent disagreement between the opposing sides of the political aisle in the United States. And nowhere has that been more apparent lately than in the public health sphere.
But while there has been back-and-forth discourse on various issues for months, recently, 15 governors took unprecedented action this week when they announced the Governors Public Health Alliance, an initiative aimed at coordinating public health recommendations and emergency preparedness.
The Alliance was announced to serve as a hub for state leaders to share public health data, co-draft policy guidelines, prepare for disease outbreaks, and buy vaccines in bulk. It also generally strengthens the collaboration between governors and keeps an “open dialogue with the global health community.”
It is sponsored by a nonpartisan organization called GovAct, and while the effort bills itself as nonpartisan, no Republican-led states have joined the effort yet.
And while several states had already banded together to form regional alliances, including the three-state West Coast Health Alliance and the 10-state Northeast Public Health Collaborative, given the population of the states that joined, this new joint one covers a full one-third of American citizens.
This is unprecedented, because as the Wall Street Journal noted, it is the largest move so far to create what it calls an alternate “public-health universe outside the federal government.” It is, of course, typically the federal government’s job to coordinate responses to public health issues and emergency preparedness.
But with the increasing fragmentation of viewpoints surrounding these issues, some noted that governors are now on the front lines of public health – and are frequently at odds with the Trump Administration on related issues – necessitating this alternate universe.
When questioned about the Alliance, a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) spokesperson reiterated that the Trump Administration’s public health recommendations are grounded in rigorous evidence and what it calls “Gold Standard Science.”
What is somewhat unclear is how effective (and permanent) this alternate universe will be. The guidelines that state coalitions would devise would not be legally binding, and it would still remain up to individual states how they wish to interpret any policy recommendations.
And this would, of course, create a patchwork situation, wherein health policy and even perhaps coverage of some vaccines would depend on the state you’re in. When asked about effectiveness, an expert predicted that this would be more about open communication and mutual preparedness, as opposed to acting as a shadow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): something more akin to what professional associations already do.
Major professional societies and medical organizations generally don’t dip their toes into the lake of politics, but similarly to the 15 states in the Alliance, many are finding themselves issuing guidance outside of the Trump Administration’s versions. This includes the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Academy of Family Physicians, among others, that already issued their own guidance related to their respective public health issues that were contrary to federal policy.
Two big questions remain. One, will this Alliance – and the alternate health universe it’s helping create – be permanent? And two, what are the long-term consequences of an increasingly fragmented public health system?
It’s too early to tell, but these questions will eventually need to be answered.
EDITOR’S NOTE:
The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of MedLearn Media. We provide a platform for diverse perspectives, but the content and opinions expressed herein are the author’s own. MedLearn Media does not endorse or guarantee the accuracy of the information presented. Readers are encouraged to critically evaluate the content and conduct their own research. Any actions taken based on this article are at the reader’s own discretion.
Well, it’s what we’ve all been waiting for… In a late-night move last Wednesday, Nov. 12, President Trump signed the Continuing Appropriations Act (CAA) of
Here are my thoughts on what to expect when the federal shutdown finally ends. First, the lights don’t all flick back on at once. Agencies
Please log in to your account to comment on this article.
Accurately determining the principal diagnosis is critical for compliant billing, appropriate reimbursement, and valid quality reporting — yet it remains one of the most subjective and error-prone areas in inpatient coding. In this expert-led session, Cheryl Ericson, RN, MS, CCDS, CDIP, demystifies the complexities of principal diagnosis assignment, bridging the gap between coding rules and clinical reality. Learn how to strengthen your organization’s coding accuracy, reduce denials, and ensure your documentation supports true medical necessity.
Accurately determining the principal diagnosis is critical for compliant billing, appropriate reimbursement, and valid quality reporting — yet it remains one of the most subjective and error-prone areas in inpatient coding. In this expert-led session, Cheryl Ericson, RN, MS, CCDS, CDIP, demystifies the complexities of principal diagnosis assignment, bridging the gap between coding rules and clinical reality. Learn how to strengthen your organization’s coding accuracy, reduce denials, and ensure your documentation supports true medical necessity.
Denials continue to delay reimbursement, increase administrative burden, and threaten financial stability across healthcare organizations. This essential webcast tackles the root causes—rising payer scrutiny, fragmented workflows, inconsistent documentation, and underused analytics—and offers proven, data-driven strategies to prevent and overturn denials. Attendees will gain practical tools to strengthen documentation and coding accuracy, engage clinicians effectively, and leverage predictive analytics and AI to identify risks before they impact revenue. Through real-world case examples and actionable guidance, this session empowers coding, CDI, and revenue cycle professionals to shift from reactive appeals to proactive denial prevention and revenue protection.
Denials continue to delay reimbursement, increase administrative burden, and threaten financial stability across healthcare organizations. This essential webcast tackles the root causes—rising payer scrutiny, fragmented workflows, inconsistent documentation, and underused analytics—and offers proven, data-driven strategies to prevent and overturn denials. Attendees will gain practical tools to strengthen documentation and coding accuracy, engage clinicians effectively, and leverage predictive analytics and AI to identify risks before they impact revenue. Through real-world case examples and actionable guidance, this session empowers coding, CDI, and revenue cycle professionals to shift from reactive appeals to proactive denial prevention and revenue protection.
Get clear, practical answers to Medicare’s most confusing regulations. Join Dr. Ronald Hirsch as he breaks down real-world compliance challenges and shares guidance your team can apply right away.
Get clear, practical answers to Medicare’s most confusing regulations. Join Dr. Ronald Hirsch as he breaks down real-world compliance challenges and shares guidance your team can apply right away.
Federal auditors are zeroing in on Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility (IRF) and hospital rehab unit services, with OIG and CERT audits leading to millions in penalties—often due to documentation and administrative errors, not quality of care. Join compliance expert Michael Calahan, PA, MBA, to learn the five clinical “pillars” of IRF-PPS admissions, key documentation requirements, and real-life case lessons to help protect your revenue.
Federal auditors are zeroing in on Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility (IRF) and hospital rehab unit services, with OIG and CERT audits leading to millions in penalties—often due to documentation and administrative errors, not quality of care. Join compliance expert Michael Calahan, PA, MBA, to learn the five clinical “pillars” of IRF-PPS admissions, key documentation requirements, and real-life case lessons to help protect your revenue.
Happy National Doctor’s Day! Learn how to get a complimentary webcast on ‘Decoding Social Admissions’ as a token of our heartfelt appreciation! Click here to learn more →
CYBER WEEK IS HERE! Don’t miss your chance to get 20% off now until Dec. 1 with code CYBER25
CYBER WEEK IS HERE! Don’t miss your chance to get 20% off now until Dec. 2 with code CYBER24
