Author Archive
Kaitlyn Levinson
Management
Why a lawsuit may be state and local governments’ best chance to cut insulin prices
The skyrocketing cost of insulin hits employee health plans and limits governments’ ability to finance other projects, such as infrastructure improvements. The multidistrict litigation aims to fix that.
Management
States, White House gear up to bring prescription costs down
Maryland’s prescription drug affordability board will evaluate eight drugs for potential cost reduction. The federal government could help move the process along, one expert says.
Management
Beyond the books: Teens check out mental health resources at libraries
In Hartford, Kentucky, the public library invites teens to weekly sessions to foster positive thinking amid a growing youth mental health crisis.
Infrastructure
Turf wars: States, cities grow skeptical of artificial grass
Bans on synthetic turf look to address its impact on the environment and human health.
Finance
Cash isn’t the only thing guaranteed income programs can deliver
Data is starting to show that supplemental income programs can boost participants’ employment, housing stability and family well-being.
Management
States look to Medicaid to curb maternal mortality
Expanding Medicaid postpartum care from 60 days to 12 months gives states more tools for addressing rising maternal death rates.
Digital Government
For effective community research, get the right people at the table
When people with lived experience participate in a research project’s design, data collection and analysis, they can increase engagement, build trust and lay the groundwork for system-level change.
Workforce
County supports its aging residents by focusing on family caregivers
To ensure its older adults receive quality care, Fairfax County, Virginia, steps up services for their families.
Management
States turn to Medicaid to tackle housing insecurity
Section 1115 Medicaid waivers can help states reduce health inequities by covering housing costs and providing meal support for vulnerable populations.
Management
Community groups step up to help rural agencies’ disaster recovery
Organizations like long-term recovery groups can help rural agencies get housing, financial, health care and food assistance to victims of natural disasters.
Finance
Tips for weaving equity into opioid settlement spending
The Equity Expectation Policy framework offers state and local officials insights on how to allocate opioid settlement funds effectively and fairly across communities.
Featured eBooks
Management
Medicaid waivers help states pilot solutions to health, housing disparities
If approved, Nebraska’s Section 1115 Medicaid waiver would help finance two medical respite centers, or post-hospital recovery centers, for individuals experiencing homelessness.
Workforce
States get some help to recruit caregivers for an aging population
With a projected 9.3 million direct care jobs needing to be filled by 2031, states must find ways to fill that gap. That’s why a new program is helping states build a direct care workforce.
Infrastructure
Downtowns need a makeover. Resident, commercial engagement could help.
Cities are finding ways to attract residents and tourists back downtown, building small business support, community spirit and a local identity.
Management
One state looks to collect multiyear data to address the mental health crisis
Ohio has launched a $20 million research project to study the social and biological factors influencing mental health. Researchers hope the study will continue for two decades and deliver actionable insights for policymakers nationwide.
Emerging Tech
Vending machines expand scope, impact of public health initiatives
The self-serve kiosks distribute health and hygiene products for free, which experts say improves accessibility to essential services and helps an increasingly pinched public health workforce.
Finance
How one state has mapped out its opioid recovery plans
The Garden State is pouring more than $95 million of its opioid settlement money into harm reduction, treatment and housing as it starts to mitigate substance use disorders.
Emerging Tech
Policies to expand access to psychedelics could be ‘short-sighted’
While research shows psychedelics’ potential to mitigate the effects of substance use disorders, observers warn states might be better off waiting for federal guidance before legalizing their use and possession.
Management
Cities pay a climate penalty as air pollution worsens
Communities vulnerable to deteriorating air conditions and the resulting public health issues may find it ever more difficult to adapt to the changing environment, a new report suggests.
Management