Press Releases — 2009

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Please contact the Public Information Team

December

• 12/23 State responds to second non-safety related recall of some H1N1 vaccine
• 12/22 Fact Sheet: Tips for Avoiding Holiday Stress and Depression
• 12/22 Fact Sheet: Tips for staying safe this holiday season
• 12/15 State responds to non-safety related recall of some 2009 H1N1 vaccine
• 12/11 Public comment sought on Health Care Commissions draft strategic plan
• 12/2 Fairbanks detox program reopens
• 12/04 Alaska’s Medicaid billing error rate excellent

November

• 11/30 View H1N1 press availibility
• 11/30 State relaxes restrictions on H1N1 vaccine
• 11/25 State releases study of H1N1 hospitalizations
• 11/23 State agencies promote tips for stress free, healthy travel during the holidays
• 11/19 Feds award $224,000 to Alaska for adoptions
• 11/13 State ensures veteran Pioneer Home resident health, prescription benefits
• 11/13 Governor’s Emergency Medical Service Awards announced
• 11/6 UPDATE: One additional Little Diomede resident medevaced to Nome
• 11/5 Two Little Diomede residents medevaced to Nome with possible H1N1
• 11/3 State to alter how hospitalized flu patients are counted

October

• 10/30 Breach of Information Notice
• 10/29 State awards $1.02 million to build regional suicide prevention teams
• 10/29 Alaska Youth Suicide Prevention Project fact sheet
• 10/23 State receives more H1N1 vaccine
• 10/09 State meets improvement benchmark for Alaska's Medicaid waiver programs
• 10/09 State orders second shipment of H1N1 vaccine
• 10/08 State Medicare Information Office’s hard work earns extra funding
• 10/05 First shipment of H1N1 vaccine arrives in Alaska
• 10/05 Initial shipment of H1N1 vaccine arrives in Anchorage
• 10/02 New federal funds to expand Alaska’s Aging & Disability Resource Centers

September

• 9/30 State orders first shipment of H1N1 vaccine
• 9/30 WIC changes bring more variety, healthier foods to Alaskans
• 9/29 Update: State no longer to issue press releases on flu-related deaths
• 9/22 State releases new guidelines for pneumonia vaccine
• 9/6 Video: Press availibilty about H1N1-related death of a child
• 9/6 Update: Alaska confirms H1N1-related death of a child
• 9/5 Alaska reports first probable H1N1-related death of a child
• 9/4 Health and Social Services appoints new chief medical officer and public health director
• 9/4 State submits improvement plan for Alaska’s Medicaid waiver programs
• 9/3 State wins federal grant to recruit health care providers
• 9/3 Hunger Action Month Kick Off Sep. 3, 200 9

August

• 8/28 Moratorium lifted from Alaska's Medicaid waiver programs
• 8/17 State temporarily closes Fairbanks detox program
• 8/10 State health department now on Twitter, Facebook
• 8/7 Federal moratorium on Personal Care Assistance applications lifted
• 8/7 Alaska No. 1 Again in National Physical Activity Challenge

July

• 7/29 State Senior and Disabilities Services takes steps to end federal moratorium on some Medicaid services
• 7/24 Alaska records first H1N1 related fatality
• 7/14 Rural substance abuse prevention grant amount revised to $10.7 million
• 7/13 Press Availability: Senior and Disabilities Services moratorium on some Waiver services at request of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
• 7/13 State Senior and Disabilities Services works with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to improve oversight
• 7/10 Alaska receives $11.5 million for rural substance abuse prevention
• 7/1 State Senior and Disabilities Services responds to federal review

June

• 6/29 July 4th holiday may result in delay of some Public Assistance checks
• 6/24 State agrees to new operator to run long-term care center
• 6/22 13 New Cases in Alaska
• 6/12 Seven new H1N1 cases in Alaska: Current confirmed case count is 21
• 6/10 First Anchorage Novel H1N1 Confirmed

May

• 5/28 Alaska reports first H1N1 (swine) flu case
• 5/20 H1N1 (Swine Flu) Media Update
• 5/19 Nurse Alert
• 5/12 H1N1 (Swine Flu) Media Update
• 5/10 View DHSS Press Conference on probable case in AK waters (youtube)
• 5/10 Probable case of H1N1 (swine) flu detected on ship in Alaska waters
• 5/8 H1N1 (Swine Flu) Media Update
• 5/7 H1N1 (Swine Flu) Media Update
• 5/6 H1N1 (Swine Flu) Media Update
• 5/5 H1N1 (Swine Flu) Media Update
• 5/5 Guidance on School Closures for Alaska Schools
• 5/4 Swine Flu Media Update
• 5/1 Swine Flu Media Update

April

• 4/30 Swine Flu Media Update
• 4/29 Swine Flu Media Update
• 4/28 Swine Flu Media Update
• 4/27 Swine Flu Media Update
• 4/24 State monitors swine flu situation
• 4/06 Sexually transmitted diseases infect thousands of Alaskans, state reports

March

• 3/16 C hild and Family Services Review of DHSS Complete
• 3/05 Bush dog brought to Anchorage tests positive for rabies

February

• 2/23 Chief Medical Officer to share Medical Data
• 2/11 Sitka residents sickened; oysters possible cause
• 2/6 State offers hepatitis B shots for high risk adults

January

• 1/27 Health impact of a volcanic eruption: Residents are reminded of possible health effects
• 1/26 State receives report recommending improvements to trauma system
• 1/20 Official Statement: Department offers tools to understand, support teens
• 1/15 State health department will continue to survey residents over the next year
• 1/05 State launches ‘FosterWear’ clothing effort Tuesday
• 1/05 New database to help doctors, parents track immunizations