Vacation Day 3

Posting will be light for the next few days as family activities and the early autumn air occupy my time. I will be popping in occasionally (at least daily?) but Robert Wallace (An Old Piece of Leather) will be adding his opinions to this page. And we love Robert’s take on things, don’t we!

Meantime, the leaves here in Maine are just beginning to change color, beginning with the silver and gold coin-shaped leaves of the white birches.

Here’s what’s on my mind today, so I asked GROK:

The New England states are trying to form a regional health care coalition that separates from the federal government. What can you tell me about it?

Overview of the Northeast Public Health Collaborative

The initiative you’re referring to is the Northeast Public Health Collaborative (NPHC), a bipartisan regional alliance formed by public health officials from several Northeastern states and New York City. It was officially announced on September 18, 2025, after months of informal meetings and planning that began as early as August 2025. While it originated with New England states (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont), it has expanded to include non-New England partners like New Jersey, New York State, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New York City. This coalition is not a full “separation” from the federal government in the sense of secession or complete autonomy, but rather a coordinated effort to develop independent, evidence-based public health policies—particularly on vaccines—due to perceived unreliability in federal guidance under the Trump administration’s Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), led by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The NPHC is part of a broader trend of Democratic-led states pushing back against federal health policies, similar to the West Coast Health Alliance (formed by California, Oregon, Washington, and Hawaii in early September 2025). These coalitions aim to “fill the gap” left by federal changes, such as disrupted vaccine recommendations and cuts to CDC staffing and funding.

Background and Reasons for Formation

The coalition emerged amid significant turmoil at the federal level:

• Federal Policy Shifts: Since taking office, the Trump administration has fired thousands of HHS and CDC employees (including about 2,400 at the CDC), halted court-challenged mass firings, and restructured advisory bodies like the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). Kennedy, known for vaccine skepticism, replaced all 17 ACIP members with skeptics and allies, leading to narrower federal recommendations (e.g., no longer endorsing COVID-19 vaccines for pregnant women or healthy young children, despite evidence of risks).
• Impact on States: These changes have created uncertainty around vaccine approvals, liability for providers (e.g., pharmacies), funding for labs and surveillance, and emergency preparedness. States report challenges like reduced federal lab support and politicized guidance, prompting calls for regional alternatives.
• Timeline:
  • August 22, 2025: Initial meeting in Providence, RI, with health leaders from eight states (all New England except NH, plus NJ, NY, PA).
  • Early September 2025: Delaware joins; informal talks intensify.
  • September 6, 2025: Massachusetts announces progress on a Northeast coalition.
  • September 18, 2025: Official launch with seven core states plus NYC.

The NPHC’s stated mission is to “share expertise, improve coordination, enhance capacity, strengthen regional readiness, and promote and protect evidence-based public health” without relying on federal ideology.

Member States and Participants

The coalition includes most New England states but excludes New Hampshire, which has declined to join under Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte, opting instead to rely on individual state experts. Here’s a breakdown:

State/Entity	Governor/Leader	Joined	Notes
Connecticut	Ned Lamont (D)	Aug 2025	Focus on infectious disease management.
Maine	Janet Mills (D)	Aug 2025	Emphasizes emergency preparedness.
Massachusetts	Maura Healey (D)	Leading (Aug 2025)	Spearheaded initial talks; addressing pharmacy liability.
Rhode Island	Dan McKee (D)	Aug 2025	Hosted first meeting; lab support focus.
Vermont	Phil Scott (R)	Aug 2025	Bipartisan involvement; cost-saving bulk purchases.
Delaware	Matt Meyer (D)	Sep 5, 2025	Joined for vaccine recommendations.
New Jersey	Phil Murphy (D)	Aug 2025	Coordination on surveillance.
New York State	Kathy Hochul (D)	Aug 2025	Announced as rebuke to federal shifts.
Pennsylvania	Josh Shapiro (D)	Sep 17, 2025	Formal announcement; disease surveillance.
New York City	Eric Adams (D, Mayor)	Sep 18, 2025	Urban health integration.

• Total: 10 entities (9 states + NYC).
• Notable Absence: New Hampshire cited preference for state-level decisions.

Goals and Activities

The NPHC focuses on practical collaboration rather than broad healthcare reform. Key areas include:

• Vaccine Recommendations: Issuing regional guidance based on organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics, diverging from CDC (e.g., endorsing COVID shots for pregnant women and children 6 months–2 years).
• Disease Surveillance and Labs: Sharing data, bulk-buying supplies for cost savings (vital for smaller states like Vermont), and supporting public health labs amid federal funding cuts.
• Emergency Preparedness: Coordinated responses to outbreaks, including epidemiology and resource allocation.
• Other Efforts: Unified messaging campaigns, liability assurances for providers, and insurance coverage alignment to remove cost barriers.

Unlike the West Coast alliance, which has already released winter virus vaccine lists, the NPHC is still ramping up but plans similar outputs soon.

Reactions and Broader Context

• Support: Governors like Healey and Hochul hail it as a “responsibility as states” to prioritize science over “ideology.” Public health advocates, including patient groups, praise it for protecting vulnerable populations.
• Criticism: Federal HHS has accused the states of eroding trust through past COVID measures like mandates. Conservative voices, such as Moms for Liberty, call it “undemocratic” and an overreach by unelected officials. Some X users frame it as “secession” or “blue-state rebellion,” while others see it as necessary defiance.
• Legal/Practical Notes: The coalition is voluntary and doesn’t override federal law but allows states to act independently where possible (e.g., state vaccine mandates). It’s bipartisan in spots (e.g., Vermont’s GOP governor) but predominantly Democratic-led.

This development highlights growing federal-state tensions on public health, echoing early COVID responses. For the latest, check official state health department sites or follow updates from outlets like The New York Times or NPR. If you have specifics (e.g., a state’s role), I can dive deeper!