Lance's Corner

NYSDOH Highlights International HPV Awareness Day

Mar 4, 2025

Per the notice below, the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) is highlighting International Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Awareness Day.

New York State Department of Health Recognizes International Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Awareness Day and Urges New Yorkers to Get Vaccinated

The HPV Vaccine is a Safe and Effective Cancer Prevention Measure

Vaccination Proven to Reduce 90 Percent of HPV-Related Cancers

The New York State Department of Health recognizes today, March 4, as International Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Awareness Day and stresses the importance of screenings and getting vaccinated for HPV.  International HPV Awareness Day was established to help spread awareness about HPV and educate people about the importance of vaccination and other preventive measures.

"Getting the HPV vaccine series is the best protection against preventable cancers such as cervical cancer which is caused by HPV infection," State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said.  "As a pediatrician for more than three decades, thousands of my patients enjoy the peace of mind this protection affords.  I encourage parents and guardians to talk with their child's provider and ensure they get the long-lasting protection the vaccine provides."

HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States.  Over 40 types of HPV can cause cancer many that are preventable with the vaccine.  These include cancer of the cervix, mouth, throat, genital area, and anus.  An average of 2,829 New Yorkers were diagnosed with an HPV-related cancer each year between 2017 and 2021, with about 58 percent of cases in females and 42 percent in males.  Starting HPV vaccination at age 9 is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Practice, the American Cancer Society, and multiple organizations across the state. The HPV vaccine is given in a series of two or three shots. Individuals who start the HPV vaccine series between the ages of 9 and 14 need two shots at least six months apart.  Those who start the series later – between ages 15 and 26 – and anyone who has a weak immune system (age 9 through 26) will need three doses for full protection from the virus.  Adults through age 45 who were not already vaccinated might choose to get the HPV vaccine after speaking with a doctor about the benefits and potential risks of vaccination.  Even though the HPV vaccine can prevent many cancers, more than 38 percent of adolescents (ages 13-15) in New York State have not gotten the vaccine as recommended.  The Department endorses the HPV Vaccination Roundtable's 'Start at Age 9' campaign and recommends starting HPV vaccination for children at age 9.  The vaccine is safe and effective and can be administered at the same time as other recommended vaccines, including:

  • Tdap (which prevents tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis, or whooping cough).
  • Meningococcal vaccine (which prevents meningitis).
  • COVID-19 and flu vaccine.

The Department works closely with the NYS Cancer Consortium's HPV Coalition, local health departments, and Cancer Prevention in Action partners to increase HPV vaccination rates and reduce the burden of HPV‐related cancers and diseases.  Local health departments or federally designated health facilities may participate in the NYSDOH Vaccines for Adults Program, which gives the vaccination free of charge, for anyone who are uninsured or underinsured and over the age of 18.  Since 2021, pharmacists in New York State are also allowed to administer the HPV vaccine to individuals who are 18 years of age and older.

Additional Resources for Parents:

USDOL Issues Comprehensive Employer Guidance on Long COVID

The United States Department of Labor (USDOL) has issued a comprehensive set of resources that can be accessed below for employers on dealing with Long COVID.

Supporting Employees with Long COVID: A Guide for Employers

The “Supporting Employees with Long COVID” guide from the USDOL-funded Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN) and Job Accommodation Network (JAN) addresses the basics of Long COVID, including its intersection with mental health, and common workplace supports for different symptoms.  It also explores employers’ responsibilities to provide reasonable accommodations and answers frequently asked questions about Long COVID and employment, including inquiries related to telework and leave.

Download the guide

Accommodation and Compliance: Long COVID

The Long COVID Accommodation and Compliance webpage from the USDOL-funded Job Accommodation Network (JAN) helps employers and employees understand strategies for supporting workers with Long COVID.  Topics include Long COVID in the context of disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), specific accommodation ideas based on limitations or work-related functions, common situations and solutions, and questions to consider when identifying effective accommodations for employees with Long COVID.  Find this and other Long COVID resources from JAN, below:

Long COVID, Disability and Underserved Communities: Recommendations for Employers

The research-to-practice brief “Long COVID, Disability and Underserved Communities” synthesizes an extensive review of documents, literature and data sources, conducted by the USDOL-funded Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN) on the impact of Long COVID on employment, with a focus on demographic differences.  It also outlines recommended actions organizations can take to create a supportive and inclusive workplace culture for people with Long COVID, especially those with disabilities who belong to other historically underserved groups.

Read the brief

Long COVID and Disability Accommodations in the Workplace

The policy brief “Long COVID and Disability Accommodations in the Workplace” explores Long COVID’s impact on the workforce and provides examples of policy actions different states are taking to help affected people remain at work or return when ready.  It was developed by the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) as part of its involvement in USDOL’s State Exchange on Employment and Disability (SEED) initiative.

Download the policy brief

Understanding and Addressing the Workplace Challenges Related to Long COVID

The report “Understanding and Addressing the Workplace Challenges Related to Long COVID” summarizes key themes and takeaways from an ePolicyWorks national online dialogue through which members of the public were invited to share their experiences and insights regarding workplace challenges posed by Long COVID.  The dialogue took place during summer 2022 and was hosted by USDOL and its agencies in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Surgeon General.

Download the report

Working with Long COVID

The USDOL-published “Working with Long COVID” fact sheet shares strategies for supporting workers with Long COVID, including accommodations for common symptoms and resources for further guidance and assistance with specific situations.

Download the fact sheet

COVID-19: Long-Term Symptoms

This USDOL motion graphic informs workers with Long COVID that they may be entitled to temporary or long-term supports to help them stay on the job or return to work when ready, and shares where they can find related assistance.

Watch the motion graphic

A Personal Story of Long COVID and Disability Disclosure

In the podcast “A Personal Story of Long COVID and Disability Disclosure,” Pam Bingham, senior program manager for Intuit’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Tech team, shares her personal experience of navigating Long COVID symptoms at work.  The segment was produced by the USDOL-funded Partnership on Employment and Accessible Technology (PEAT) as part of its ongoing “Future of Work” podcast series.

Listen to the podcast

HHS OIG Issues Annual Report on State MFCUs

Per the notice below, the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) of the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued its annual report on the performance of state Medicaid Fraud Control Units (MFCUs).

Medicaid Fraud Control Units Fiscal Year 2023 Annual Report (OEI-09-24-00200) 

Medicaid Fraud Control Units (MFCUs) investigate and prosecute Medicaid provider fraud and patient abuse or neglect. OIG is the Federal agency that oversees and annually approves federal funding for MFCUs through a recertification process. This new report analyzed the statistical data on annual case outcomes—such as convictions, civil settlements and judgments, and recoveries—that the 53 MFCUs submitted for Fiscal Year 2023.  New York data is as follows:

Outcomes

  • Investigations1 - 556
  • Indicted/Charged - 9
  • Convictions - 8
  • Civil Settlements/Judgments - 28
  • Recoveries2 - $73,204,518

Resources

  • MFCU Expenditures3 - $55,964,293
  • Staff on Board4 - 257

1Investigations are defined as the total number of open investigations at the end of the fiscal year.

2Recoveries are defined as the amount of money that defendants are required to pay as a result of a settlement, judgment, or prefiling settlement in criminal and civil cases and may not reflect actual collections.  Recoveries may involve cases that include participation by other Federal and State agencies.

3MFCU and Medicaid Expenditures include both State and Federal expenditures.

4Staff on Board is defined as the total number of staff employed by the Unit at the end of the fiscal year.

Read the Full Report

View the Statistical Chart

Engage with the Interactive Map

GAO Issues Report on Medicaid Managed Care Service Denials and Appeal Outcomes

The United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) has issued a report on federal use of state data on Medicaid managed care service denials and appeal outcomes.  GAO found that federal oversight is limited because it doesn't require states to report on Medicaid managed care service denials or appeal outcomes and there has not been much progress on plans to analyze and make the data publicly available.  To read the GAO report on federal use of state data on Medicaid managed care service denials and appeal outcomes, use the first link below.  To read GAO highlights of the report on federal use of state data on Medicaid managed care service denials and appeal outcomes, use the second link below.
https://www.gao.gov/assets/d24106627.pdf  (GAO report on federal use of state data on Medicaid managed care service denials and appeal outcomes)
https://www.gao.gov/assets/d24106627_high.pdf  (GAO highlights on federal use of state data on Medicaid managed care service denials and appeal outcomes)

CMS Issues Latest Medicare Regulatory Activities Update

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued its latest update on its regulatory activities in the Medicare program.  While dentistry is only minimally connected to the Medicare program, Medicare drives the majority of health care policies and insurance reimbursement policies throughout the country.  Therefore, it always pays to keep a close eye on what CMS is doing in Medicare.  To read the latest CMS update on its regulatory activities in Medicare, use the link below.
https://www.cms.gov/training-education/medicare-learning-network/newsletter/2024-03-14-mlnc