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Alabama Department of Public Health

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Health Committee gives favorable report to bill to mandate vaccination reporting

Wednesday, the Senate Health Committee gave a favorable report to a bill that would require that all medical providers share their vaccination records with the State of Alabama. Senate Bill 56 is sponsored by State Senator Tim Melson (R-Florence) Sen. Melson said that SB56 would require medical providers to report vaccinations in the registry. “This … Continued
February 13, 2020

Does it take more than money to stay afloat?

“Houston, we have a problem” was a phrase coined on April 14, 1970 by John Swigert, Jr. and James Lowell on U.S.’s Apollo 13 moon flight. The Houston phrase or similar coinage has been used repeatedly by politicians, hospitals and anyone associated with the hospital industry to draw attention to the plight of rural hospitals. There are … Continued
December 11, 2019

Alabama releases 2019 Fish Consumption Advisory

Before you plate up that striped bass, freshly caught from your favorite fishing hole, you’d better check the Alabama Department of Public Health’s recently released 2019 Fish Consumption Advisory to make sure it’s safe to eat.  The annual report tells the public which fish taken from state waters are safe to eat, and which might … Continued
August 26, 2019

ADPH is awarding competitive grants to public water systems

Thursday, the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH), Office of Oral Health, is offering public water systems the opportunity to compete for fluoridation grants to initiate, update or expand community water fluoridation. ADPH is offering a total of $100,000 to fund the one-year grants, with the maximum allowable award being $25,000 per water system. “In … Continued
August 23, 2019

Measles not in Alabama yet

The Senate Health Committee was briefed Wednesday on the measles epidemic that is gripping the nation and Alabama’s measles status. “We are hearing more and more measles discussion in our state,” said Health Committee Chairman Jim McClendon, R-Springville. “We asked Dr. (Scott) Harris to update the committee on this.” Harris is the Alabama public health … Continued
May 2, 2019

ADPH investigating growing hepatitis A outbreak in Northeast Alabama

The Alabama Department of Public Health is currently researching a growing outbreak of hepatitis A in DeKalb and Jackson counties. Cherokee and Marshall counties have also been affected by potentially linked outbreaks. “Hepatitis A vaccination and proper hand washing will significantly reduce the spread of this virus in these counties and are important measures to … Continued
March 20, 2019

CHIP program changes will cost Alabama an estimated $1 billion over the next decade

Recent changes to the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) means that the state of Alabama is going to have to shoulder substantially more of the cost for the program. An estimated 220,000 children receive their health insurance through the CHIP program, which is managed by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama (BCBSAL) and marketed under … Continued
January 31, 2019

State Warns Medical Providers to Watch for Ebola

By Brandon Moseley Alabama Political Reporter On Thursday, August 8, the Alabama Department of Public Health issued a message to primary care providers in Alabama to report any suspected Ebola cases and to collect specimens from any suspected patients for testing.  At this point in time, there have been no known cases of the disease … Continued
August 12, 2014

Senator Roger Bedford Passes Bill Requiring the Alabama Department of Public Health to Develop Plan to Educate Breast Cancer Patients on Options

Staff Report On Monday, Senator Roger Bedford (D-Russellville) and Representative Todd Greeson (R-Ider) passed SB22, which will greatly benefit breast cancer patients in the state of Alabama. The passing of this legislation coincides with Congressman Leonard Lance’s (R-NJ-07) reintroduction of the “Breast Cancer Patient Education Act”. SB22 requires the Alabama Department of Public Health to … Continued
May 22, 2013