HHSC announced on Friday July 15 that Family Planning and Expanded Primary Health Care contractors who have a remaining balance in their Categorical award can use those funds to pay for Zika-related supplies and services. Supplies that may be purchased with these funds for distribution include insect repellant condoms and insect netting.
Contractors are to contact Travis Duke at travis.duke@hhsc.state.tx.us and Lesley French at Lesley.french@hhsc.state.tx.us if they plan to use their remaining balance for Zika-related supplies.
Texas Stakeholders Call on State Leaders to Advocate for Zika Prevention Measures
- TWHC Chair Dr. Janet Realini wrote an op-ed featured in TribTalk and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram urging the state to incorporate family planning into its Zika prevention strategy. The TWHC also submitted a letterto state leadership with policy recommendations.
- A collection of provider public health and public policy organizations raised concerns with the states Zika preparedness plan in a letter submitted to HHSC Executive Commissioner Charles Smith.
- Executive Commissioner Smith submitted a letter requesting state leaders to allow Medicaid and other programs to provide free or reduced-price mosquito repellent to women of childbearing age. Commissioner Smiths letter is summarized in this article from The Dallas Morning News.
- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Population Affairs (OPA) has developed aFamily Planning Zika Toolkit for healthcare providers that care for non-pregnant women and men of reproductive age. The OPA hosted a webinar about the toolkit on July 13th; you can check back at this linkfor webinar resources once archived.
- The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists is hosting a free webinar on Thursday July 21st emphasizing the importance of contraception especially long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) as a defense against the spread of Zika.
- The Texas Gulf Coast Community Health Workers/Promotores Association is hosting a training in Houston on Friday July 29th discussing how community health workers can assist with Zika prevention.
