Read more about the article Health Plans and Insurers Must Submit First Gag Clause Attestations by End of Year
Employee Benefits and Relations / Health and Human Services / NACo and Federal Issues
Health Plans and Insurers Must Submit First Gag Clause Attestations by End of Year

Health care plans must submit gag clause attestations by December 31, 2023, per the 2020 federal prohibition of gag clauses. The Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services and the Treasury (the "Departments") issued FAQs on the prohibition of gag clauses under the transparency provisions of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA). As outlined in the FAQs, plans and issuers must annually submit an attestation of compliance with the CAA’s prohibition of gag clauses to the…

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March 24, 2023
Environment / NACo and Federal Issues
Federal EPA Proposes PFAS Standards for Drinking Water Systems

In a much-anticipated move, the Environmental Protection Agency has issued its proposed drinking water standards for PFAS, the so-called "forever chemicals" that may pose long term health concerns. The proposed standards are open for public comment for 60 days. “Communities across this country have suffered far too long from the ever-present threat of PFAS pollution. That’s why President Biden launched a whole-of-government approach to aggressively confront these harmful chemicals, and EPA is leading the way…

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March 17, 2023
Read more about the article Counties to Feds: Maryland Spots Best for FBI Relocation
Economic Development / NACo and Federal Issues / Public Safety and Corrections / State Budget and Fiscal Issues
Counties to Feds: Maryland Spots Best for FBI Relocation

MACo joined a number of Maryland State and county leaders observing that Maryland's proposed sites for the new site of the FBI Headquarters are string, accessible, equitable, and efficient. This week, Maryland leaders made the strong case for our state to host the new headquarters for the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Governor Wes Moore on Twitter: "We are very serious when we say that Maryland is the best possible site for the @FBI https://t.co/U0aUFli0Dt" /…

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March 10, 2023
Read more about the article Complete NACo’s Survey on Digital Government – Due March 30
Information Technology / NACo and Federal Issues
Complete NACo’s Survey on Digital Government – Due March 30

NACo and its partners have developed a survey on technology-driven government services. Have your county complete the survey today, and look to the NACo Annual Conference in July for award winners, and broader survey findings. The Center for Digital Government (CDG) and NACo have partnered on this survey - a comprehensive look into how counties are using technology to make government services better - for nearly two decades! You may have seen the survey notice…

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March 2, 2023
Read more about the article County Governments are Critical Drivers in Fostering Community Job Markets
County News / NACo and Federal Issues
County Governments are Critical Drivers in Fostering Community Job Markets

Counties collectively employ over 3.6 million public servants and are critical drivers in fostering a thriving community labor market. The latest data analysis highlights several trends as they relate to the state of the nation's workforce. As one of the largest collective employers in the country, county leaders understand the importance of a thriving labor market. Access to high-quality, stable employment is critical to a healthy, thriving community,2 and is often referenced as one of the top…

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February 22, 2023
Read more about the article New FDA Rules Permit Food Donations from Retail Establishments
NACo and Federal Issues / News You Can Use
New FDA Rules Permit Food Donations from Retail Establishments

County governments can take advantage of a clarification of federal rules to help address hunger and food insecurity in their communities, while combatting food waste. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) recently released 2022 Food Code helps reduce barriers to food donations by clarifying for the first time that food donations from retail food establishments are acceptable as long as proper food safety practices are followed. This addition in the Food Code is part of the…

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February 20, 2023
Read more about the article Senator Cardin & Others Reintroduce Bipartisan Oral Health & Literacy Legislation
U.S. Senator Ben Cardin
Health and Human Services / NACo and Federal Issues
Senator Cardin & Others Reintroduce Bipartisan Oral Health & Literacy Legislation

On February 14, 2023, U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD), Ray Luján (D-NM) and Susan Collins (R-ME), alongside U.S. Representatives Tony Cárdenas (CA-29) and Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), reintroduced the bipartisan Oral Health Literacy and Awareness Act of 2023 which directs the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to develop an oral health literacy strategy to reach underserved communities. This bipartisan bill aims to curb the rise in oral disease and related illnesses by providing prevention education through a five-year oral health literacy campaign.…

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February 15, 2023
Read more about the article County Technology Workforce Recruitment and Retention Guide
Employee Benefits and Relations / Information Technology / NACo and Federal Issues
County Technology Workforce Recruitment and Retention Guide

The NACo guide provides an overview, along with benefits and questions to consider in the technology recruitment and retention process. The National Association of Counties (NACo) County Technology Advisory Council, with input from the Tech Xchange and the NACo Workforce Advisory Board, has developed a guide on workforce retention and recruitment for technology workers. Workforce recruitment and retention is certainly top of mind for county governments and the State of Maryland as human resources departments…

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February 6, 2023
Read more about the article Opioid Solutions Strategy Briefs – A NACo Resource
Health and Human Services / NACo and Federal Issues
Opioid Solutions Strategy Briefs – A NACo Resource

The National Association of Counties (NACo) has released strategy briefs on multiple topics in relationship to opioid solutions and recovery. Like many counties across the country, all twenty-four Maryland jurisdictions are grappling with the challenge of helping their residents and communities who are in desperate need of opioid use treatment and remediation services. While settlement funds have begun rolling in from the manufacturers and distributors of opioids to the locations taking part in the National…

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January 30, 2023
Read more about the article Cyberattack Simulation for Election Disruption: A NACo Training
Cyber / Elections / NACo and Federal Issues
Cyberattack Simulation for Election Disruption: A NACo Training

Presented by the NACo County Tech Xchange and Professional Development Academy, join a cyberattack simulation to prepare your county's response. In response to the growing threat landscape and complexity of the interdependent and networked business of counties, the National Association of Counties (NACo) is partnering with the Professional Development Academy and their community of CISOs, CIOS, risk managers and cyber leaders to launch cyberattack simulation training. When: February 27, 2023, at 1:00 PM to March 3,…

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January 23, 2023
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