AGP Executive Report

Rural mental health funding: Alabama’s Rural Health Transformation Program is sending school-based behavioral health dollars to Perry County service areas, with Cahaba Medical Care Foundation getting $958,307 to expand services in Bibb and launch new Perry County support, and Rural Health Medical Program Inc. receiving $660,527 for school-based behavioral health across multiple rural counties including Perry. Rural women’s health expansion: Infirmary Health says it received more than $5.3 million to expand rural care, including a $3.5 million regional referral and technology network and multiple women’s health projects such as prenatal and telehealth-enabled access. Medicaid spending snapshots (Alabama communities): Trussville Medicaid alcohol and drug abuse treatment charges jumped to $6,767 in 2024 (+388.6%); Homewood durable medical equipment rose to $25,932 (+14.1%); Cullman dental services climbed to $440,078 (+8.1%); and Athens pathology/lab payments reached $244,909 (+1%). School health concern: Colbert County High School reported six teen girls with seizure-like episodes on the same day; officials say there’s no public outbreak and the cause remains unknown.

Medicaid Spending Watch: New federal data show local Medicaid billing rising across Alabama—Attalla’s Evaluation & Management claims hit $15,434 in 2024 (+5.1%), Hoover’s Surgery payments reached $5,480 (+6.7%), Heflin’s Dental Services totaled $19,004 (+6.5%), and Montgomery’s Alcohol & Drug Abuse Treatment climbed to $995,621 (+2.5%). Care Access & Public Health: The same dataset flags big swings in some areas, including Grand Bay’s Medicine Services and Procedures jumping to $16,996 (+161.5%) and Vestavia Hills’ Durable Medical Equipment rising to $2,241 (+7.5%). HIV Stigma: A new report finds many Americans still lack awareness of HIV prevention and treatment advances, underscoring ongoing education needs in Alabama’s LGBTQ+ communities. Food Safety Alert: The FDA upgraded a pistachio butter recall risk to Class I, warning it could cause serious illness or death from possible salmonella contamination. Community Health News: Alabama State Troopers reported a fatal Barbour County crash involving a van, and a separate report highlights how caregivers and families are seeking better dementia support.

Food Safety: The FDA upgraded its recall of Bettergoods pistachio nut butter to a Class I risk, saying it “could cause serious illness or death” due to possible salmonella contamination—especially dangerous for kids, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems. Nutrition Research: A University of Washington professor says fruits, vegetables, and grains may be less nutrient-dense than in the past, pointing to modern farming’s “dilution effect,” while nutrition experts urge variety and freshness. Alabama Health Access: Alabama’s second medical cannabis dispensary opened in Talladega, aiming to reduce travel burdens for patients as more locations prepare to launch. Rural Care Funding: Hale County Hospital received $2.41 million under Alabama’s Rural Health Transformation Program to strengthen emergency and maternal care and expand diagnostics. Local Health Operations: Huntsville Hospital Health System and Marshall Medical Centers opened a new Arab operations center to support hospital billing, scheduling, and other nonclinical functions, with up to 250 jobs planned. Public Health & Safety: Cullman Police is reminding dog owners about “Beau’s Law” outdoor care, shelter, and tethering requirements ahead of the Oct. 1 start date.

Medical Access in Alabama: Callie’s Apothecary opened as the second legal medical cannabis dispensary in Talladega County, with more Alabama locations expected to launch soon. Maternal Health Gap: A new March of Dimes report finds maternal care deserts are slightly increasing, leaving more than 2 million women without nearby OB-GYN access—an issue rural Alabama mothers say hasn’t improved much. Rural Hospital Funding: Hale County Hospital in Greensboro is set to receive a $2.5 million grant through Alabama’s Rural Health Transformation Program to strengthen emergency and maternal care and expand diagnostic services. Public Health Safety: Alabama health officials warned restaurants in Dothan to watch for an imposter posing as a state health inspector, urging staff to verify credentials and call police if someone can’t prove their identity. Medication Recall: Auburn-based Vitruvias Therapeutics initiated a nationwide recall of a thyroid tablet lot after testing found pills may be too strong, raising risks especially for elderly and pregnant patients. School Health Concern: Colbert County High School reported six students with seizure-like episodes; state health officials say there’s no public health outbreak or threat.

FDA Recall Watch: Auburn-based Vitruvias Therapeutics is recalling a nationwide batch of 30 mg thyroid tablets after lab testing found pills may be too strong, raising risk of hyperthyroidism—especially for elderly patients, pregnant people, and infants. Mental Health & Campus Safety: Troy University hosted Alabama’s Higher Education Suicide Prevention Conference, focusing on campus-community partnerships to support student well-being. Maternal Care Access: A March of Dimes report finds maternal care deserts are still growing, with more than 2 million women nationwide lacking nearby OB-GYN services—highlighting rural Alabama travel burdens. Workforce Snapshot: Alabama’s job ads rose in July, with registered nurses and retail/customer service roles leading demand. Food Safety Alerts: Jefferson County health inspections flagged multiple restaurants for temperature control and sanitation problems, including a Hoover buffet chain with major cold-holding and mold issues. Public Health Vigilance: Dothan-area officials warned about an imposter claiming to be a state health inspector trying to enter restaurants without proper credentials. Healthcare Infrastructure: Coosa Valley Medical Center partnered with LeoSight to upgrade hospital security and incident coordination.

Medical Cannabis Access: Alabama’s second medical cannabis dispensary is set to open Friday in Talladega, easing travel for patients who previously had to go to Montgomery. Workplace Safety: OSHA fined Koch Foods $167,000 after a deadly Fairfield plant fire found severe safety gaps, including missing evacuation training and plans. Child Health & School Safety: Parents in Bessemer say mold found in a pre-K classroom is linked to ongoing illness, raising new questions about building conditions. Opioid Awareness: A free Alabama webinar will focus on opioid use and overdose prevention, with community Q&A and practical steps for families. Rural Health Funding: Gov. Sarah Sanders announced nearly $150 million in Arkansas rural health transformation grants, including telehealth and remote monitoring support. Food Safety Alert: Walmart’s recalled pistachio nut butter has been upgraded to the FDA’s most serious Class I category due to Salmonella risk. Local Care Expansion: Russell Medical in Alexander City opened a new $1.5 million surgery suite to streamline patient check-in and services. EMS Training: Alabama’s annual EMS challenge in Tuscaloosa is putting first responders through high-pressure scenarios to sharpen lifesaving skills.

Meta Youth-Safety Settlement: Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall announced a landmark $117.3 million settlement with Meta over Instagram/Facebook youth harms, with required safety changes including limits for teens. Rural Health Funding: Alabama’s rural care push continues as the state rolls out major Rural Health Transformation Program grants aimed at telehealth, specialty access, trauma readiness, and emergency response. Foodborne Illness Watch: The Alabama Department of Public Health reported 127 cyclosporiasis cases, including travel, outbreak, and restaurant-linked clusters, urging careful handwashing and thorough produce washing. Maternal Health Lawsuit: A new Tuscaloosa-area medical malpractice case alleges DCH Northport staff missed signs of an obstetric emergency, delaying care and contributing to a stillbirth. Pregnancy & Infection Research: A new study links preterm birth risk from urinary tract infection to the body’s immune response, pointing to possible biomarkers and targets. Public Health & Safety Tech Debate: A national investigation highlights how some opioid settlement money is being used for AI license-plate cameras, raising concerns about treatment funding. Recall Alert: Walmart shoppers in Alabama should check for a Bettergoods pistachio nut butter recall tied to Salmonella.

FDA Breakthrough: The FDA authorized a tumor-targeted gene therapy injection delivered directly into cerebrospinal fluid for leptomeningeal disease, a major option for patients with hard-to-treat brain cancers. Maternal Health Research: A new study links higher preterm birth risk after pregnancy UTIs to the body’s immune response—not the bacteria—pointing to possible biomarkers and treatments. Alabama Child Well-Being Data: VOICES for Alabama’s Children is launching a public “living resource” online dashboard to make child well-being data easier to use for lawmakers, educators, and local leaders. Local Mental Health Support: Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox proposes expanding the city’s mental health program with added social workers and a cyber-intelligence analyst to strengthen partnerships. Medication Safety: Baxter issued recalls of IV nutrition and blood-collection products after stainless steel or fiberglass particles were found, raising risks like clots and organ damage. Maternal Mortality Spotlight: Alabama’s maternal mortality rate remains the highest in the nation, with higher risk for Black mothers.

Meta Youth-Safety Settlement: Alabama is set to receive more than $117M from Meta after a multistate deal over Instagram/Facebook features alleged to be addictive and harmful to minors, with new limits like a combined 2-hour daily cap, “productive pauses,” nighttime restrictions, stronger age checks, and tighter controls around bullying and self-harm. Maternal Care Boost: Cullman Regional Hospital won a $3.8M grant to expand rural maternity access, including a family medicine residency with an obstetrics track and maternal/fetal outreach across its seven-county area. Prenatal Clinic Opens: East Alabama Health will launch a Community Prenatal Clinic in Valley on Sept. 1, offering check-ups, pregnancy coordination, tests, vaccines, and UTI treatment for patients between OB/GYN visits. Food Insecurity After Discharge: USA Health and Feeding the Gulf Coast are partnering with Watershed Health to route patients flagged for food insecurity to nutrition help and SNAP resources, aiming to improve recovery outcomes. Veterans Telehealth Therapy: Centerstone Military Services will provide 3,000 free telehealth therapy sessions for Alabama veterans and families through a $750,000 grant tied to national opioid settlement funding. Rural Health Grants: Alabama is also rolling out more than $144M in rural health transformation funding through dozens of grants statewide, including workforce, transport, and mental health access.

Rural Health Funding: Alabama kicked off the Alabama Rural Health Transformation Program with $144M+ in first-round grants to 138 projects statewide, targeting rural health access, workforce, mental health, specialty care, and upgrades to electronic health records and cybersecurity. Maternal & Specialty Care: West Alabama’s DCH Regional Medical Center is set to use a $5M award to improve non-emergency transportation and expand access to cardiology and electrophysiology specialists. Medication Safety: Auburn-based Vitruvias Therapeutics issued a nationwide recall of one lot of thyroid tablets after testing found the pills may be “superpotent,” with the FDA warning the biggest risks fall on older adults and pregnant patients. Myopia Prevention Research: UAB researchers report that indigo light exposure prevented nearsightedness in animal studies, pointing to a possible new angle for reducing childhood vision problems. Military Family IVF Coverage: A Missouri Army family says TRICARE’s lack of IVF coverage left them paying out of pocket, while Starbucks coverage helped fill the gap after a federal proposal to expand military IVF benefits was removed from a defense bill. School Health Response: Alabama’s State Board of Education honored Scottsboro officials for a fast, lifesaving response to a student medical emergency.

Rural Health Funding: Gov. Ivey announced Alabama’s first $144 million in Rural Health Transformation Program grants, with projects across every county aimed at expanding access to care, upgrading rural tech and cybersecurity, boosting telehealth and mobile services, and strengthening the rural health workforce. Medication Safety: Auburn-based Vitruvias Therapeutics issued a nationwide recall of one lot of thyroid tablets (USP 30 mg) after testing found the pills could be “superpotent,” raising risk of hyperthyroidism—especially for elderly patients, pregnant people, and infants. Public Health & Overdose Trends: Jefferson County’s coroner reports drug fatalities are down over the past two years (67 confirmed so far this year), with fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine still the main drugs driving overdoses. Animal Health Threat: Mississippi State University is warning about the Asian longhorned tick, confirmed in nearby states including Alabama, stressing rapid reproduction and the need for public help spotting it early. Student Mental Health: Troy University will host an Alabama Higher Education Suicide Prevention Conference focused on partnerships and practical strategies for campus well-being. Food Safety: A “clean, separate, cook, chill” tailgate checklist highlights how to prevent foodborne illness during fall gatherings.

Rural Health Funding: Gov. Kay Ivey announced 138 grants totaling more than $144 million under Alabama’s Rural Health Transformation Program, including major West Alabama awards for DCH Health System, Whatley Health Services, Hale County Hospital, and University of Alabama support hubs aimed at boosting cardiology access, non-emergency medical transportation, maternal/emergency care, and rural provider technology and cybersecurity. Healthcare Workforce Pipeline: Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences welcomed its first student class in Demopolis, a tuition-free program designed to build the rural health workforce through nursing, biomedical sciences, certifications, and hands-on training, with a temporary campus at UWA until the permanent site opens. School Safety Tech: Mobile County Public School System rolled out the SpeakUp app so students and parents can report online and in-person threats, mental health concerns, and suspicious behavior directly to school safety teams. Food Safety Alert: Federal officials highlighted ongoing food recall activity, including a Salmonella outbreak tied to imported jalapeños that has sickened hundreds across many states, including Alabama. Community Health & Access: The state also announced additional rural health investments and provider support aimed at closing access gaps across every Alabama county.

Rural Health Funding: Gov. Kay Ivey announced 138 grants totaling more than $144 million under the Alabama Rural Health Transformation Program, aimed at boosting access, mental health services, rural workforce support, and upgrades to electronic health records and cybersecurity across the state. Kidney Disease Research: UAB nephrologist Dana Rizk, MD, discussed the Phase 3 VISIONARY trial testing APRIL blockade in high-risk IgA nephropathy, a large global study built around biopsy-confirmed patients. Food Safety Alert: Publix expanded a frozen berry recall tied to E. coli, with Alabama among the distribution states and the FDA classifying it as the most serious risk level. Community Health Tech: UAB researchers reported an automated phone counseling program (DIAL) helped inactive adults in rural Alabama Black Belt counties add about an hour of exercise weekly and improve activity levels. Local Care Access: East Alabama Medical Center earned reaccreditation as a Robotic Surgery Center of Excellence, highlighting robotic options close to home. Public Health Monitoring: Colbert County schools said student seizure-like episodes prompted outreach to the Alabama Department of Public Health, stressing there’s no public health outbreak.

Food Safety: The FDA upgraded Publix frozen berry recalls to the highest risk level after possible E. coli contamination, and the UAE says none of the recalled products were sold there—Alabama shoppers should check GreenWise frozen blueberry/mixed berry items and discard or return them for a refund. Cancer Research: A UAB preprint analysis of 187 glioblastoma patients found those vaccinated for COVID-19 within 100 days before surgery lived about twice as long as unvaccinated patients, though researchers stress it shows an association, not proof of cause. Allergy Science: Scientists say they’ve figured out how to change peanut DNA to make peanuts hypoallergenic, with a goal of safer exposure in shared spaces like schools and planes. Local Health & Wellness: Franklin County food and lodging inspections show 56 of 56 establishments scored “satisfactory compliance” (85+). Community Health: Mobile’s Sisters for Life Wellness Expo offered mental health sessions and teen workshops at the Mobile Convention Center. Public Health/Workforce: Alabama’s unemployment rose to 3.4% in July while labor force participation fell.

Alabama State University: The school announced the death of a student after emergency crews responded to an incident at an off-campus facility; the case is now with the Montgomery Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division. UAB Leadership: Dr. Cheri Canon, a longtime UAB radiology leader and chief physician executive, says her “North Star” is always how care impacts patients as she’s recognized for decades of service. Community Health & Access: Sowing Seeds of Hope wrapped up Perry County programs, including back-to-school support for 179 students and vision services for 15 residents to reduce transportation barriers. Workforce Snapshot: Alabama’s unemployment rate rose to 3.4% in July while labor force participation fell, signaling more people looking for work but fewer participating overall. Local Recognition: The University of West Alabama awarded honorary doctorates to Sen. Bobby Singleton and Rep. A.J. McCampbell for public service and support of educational opportunity in the Black Belt. Policy Watch: A state property tax reappraisal cap set to expire in 2027 is drawing debate over whether lawmakers should extend it.

Blueberry Safety Alert: The FDA upgraded Publix frozen berry recall to Class 1, warning of a “reasonable probability” of serious illness or death after E. coli sickened 12 people and hospitalized four; affected GreenWise products were sold in Alabama and multiple states. Home & Community Care: A primer explains why Medicaid home and community-based services for older adults matter—especially for seniors who can’t afford paid support or face barriers to care. Local Senior Services: Marshall County Council on Aging is still stuck in temporary space and is asking the County Commission for a permanent building as open enrollment approaches. Mental Health Staffing: Wellstone held a job fair in Huntsville to recruit psychiatric nurses as demand for mental health and substance-use care rises. Public Health & Safety: Alabama health officials reported a rabid fox in Autauga County, urging pet owners to take precautions. Community Health: A child car-seat safety event offered hands-on checks to help families install seats correctly.