Industry news provided by AAOHN

CDC Updates General Business and Workplace Guidance for the Prevention of H1N1 Flu in Workers

The updated guidance states that a worker who has been exposed to a person with pandemic influenza A (H1N1) may continue to go to work unless he/she becomes ill.

A pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus has infected humans in the United States as well as multiple other countries, and the spread of this virus continues. Businesses and employers, in general, play a key role in protecting employees' health and safety, as well as in limiting the negative impact of the outbreak on the individual, the community, and the nation’s economy. This interim guidance is meant to inform and educate management, unions, and employees about appropriate precautions and work practices to minimize the risk of potential employee exposure, illness, and the spread of pandemic influenza A (H1N1) flu in the workplace through general prevention and preparedness strategies and in the event that a worker becomes ill.

Read the updated guidance at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidance/workplace.htm.

Legislation Seeks to Establish National Prevention and Wellness Strategy

The recently released joint version of the House Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce and Education and Labor Committees’ health reform legislation seeks to establish a National Prevention and Wellness Strategy.

The Strategy that will identify specific goals and objectives in prevention and wellness; establish nation priorities for prevention and wellness programs and research; and address health disparities in prevention and wellness activities.

The legislation also provides for a Public Health Investment Fund which grows from $4.7 billion in FY2010 to $8.8 billion in FY2014. Funds would be available for a variety of public health purposes, including community health centers; health and public health workforce; and prevention and wellness programs. Of the total amount, $2.4 billion is made available in FY2010 for a Prevention and Wellness Trust, starting at $2.4 billion in FY2010, and rising to $3.5 billion in FY2014. Available funds are divided into several funding categories, including community and clinical prevention services task forces; prevention and wellness research; community-based prevention and wellness; and core state and local public health infrastructure.

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