Virginia Secretary of Health and Human Resources http://www.hhr.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/rss/HomePageRSS.cfm Secretary of Health and Human Resources - Latest News Releases (c) Secretary of Health and Human Resources 2009 Commonwealth of Virginia <![CDATA[Governor Kaine Dedicates New Public Health Building and Patient Care Facility ]]> November 10 — Governor Timothy M. Kaine joined the Richmond City Health District, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), and the Department of General Services (DGS) to dedicate the Richmond City Health District's new facility. The new location at 400 East Cary Street/401 East Main Street will include a patient care clinic, offices for many public health programs, and general administrative offices. The dedication ceremony was held at the new location and included a tour of the program offices and new patient clinic.

"I'm proud to see state and local governments working together to ensure that the citizens of the City of Richmond continue to have access to quality health care services," Governor Kaine said."This project improves the care provided to citizens and further strengthens the Commonwealth's commitment to the Richmond community."

]]> http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=1139 <![CDATA[5,900 Jobs Created or Retained by Recovery Act Spending ]]> October 30 — Governor Timothy M. Kaine noted that state agencies have reported more than 5,900 jobs created or saved from American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds flowing through the State Treasury. To date, more than $5 billion in ARRA contracts, grants and loans have been awarded in Virginia, with more than half in the form of direct aid to localities and organizations outside of state government.

"President Obama's Recovery Act was intended to get the economy moving again and in Virginia we are beginning to see that occur," Governor Kaine said. "These funds have allowed us to begin construction on infrastructure projects that we would not have been able to build, keep our Medicaid plan funded, improve our schools and in some cases build new ones, and expand unemployment benefits to those most affected by the economic crisis."

]]> http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=1130 <![CDATA[Ten Virginians Receive Governor's Caregiver Recognition Award]]> October 26 — Governor Timothy M. Kaine announced the recipients of the Governor's Caregiver Recognition Awards, the annual award that honors the more than one million unpaid caregivers in Virginia. Ten outstanding caregivers from throughout the Commonwealth will receive awards in a ceremony on November 17 in Richmond. The annual awards program, in its fourth year, is sponsored by the Virginia Council on the Status of Women.

"Too often we overlook the simple sacrifices that Virginians make every day to care and provide for their loved ones," Governor Kaine said. "I am happy and humbled to recognize the extraordinary recipients of the 2009 Governor's Caregiver Recognition Awards, and hope that their stories will inspire others to assist those in the community who may be in need."

]]> http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=1125 <![CDATA[Statement of Governor Kaine on President Obama's Emergency Declaration for H1N1 Flu]]> October 24 — Governor Timothy M. Kaine issued the following statement today on the declaration by President Obama of a national emergency to deal with the "rapid increase in illness" from the H1N1 influenza virus. President Obama's declaration allows Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius "to temporarily waive or modify certain requirements" should health care entities find the need to operationalize emergency plans to deal with the current pandemic:

"I support the President's move today to ease the nationwide response to the novel H1N1 influenza virus. The President's declaration will allow Virginia's hospitals to rapidly augment patient care services should we experience a significant surge of illness from H1N1 influenza.

]]> http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=1123 <![CDATA[Governor Kaine Announces Creation of Health IT Advisory Commission]]> October 13 — Governor Kaine announced the creation of the Health Information Technology Advisory Commission by Executive Order 95. The Commission, which will be chaired by Secretary of Health and Human Resources Marilyn Tavenner, is charged with ensuring broad stakeholder engagement and providing guidance to the Governor on the most effective use of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds designated for Health Information Technology.

"Health Information Technology has the potential to both reduce costs and improve the quality of health care for all Virginians," Governor Kaine said. "This initiative will ensure that the Commonwealth remains a leader in this area by leveraging the expertise and efforts of our public and private sector partners."

]]> http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=1111 <![CDATA[Governor Kaine Kicks Off "Countdown to the Restaurant Smoking Ban"]]> October 8 — With just about 50 days to go before the Commonwealth's landmark smoking ban goes into effect, Governor Timothy M. Kaine is joining dining patrons and community leaders across Virginia today to highlight restaurants that have already gone smoke-free.

The new law-called "monumental" in one of the nation's biggest tobacco-producing states-takes effect December 1 and will prohibit smoking in nearly all restaurants across the Commonwealth.

]]> http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=1108 <![CDATA[Announcing More Than $900,000 for Virginia Healthy Small Business Initiative]]> September 21 — Governor Timothy M. Kaine announced that Virginia has been awarded $912,658 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through its new State Health Access Program (SHAP) to provide greater access to affordable health coverage for workers in Virginia's small firms. The federal award will increase each year of the five-year grant period to correspond with proposed program expansions, resulting in more than $15 million to Virginia.

The Virginia Center for Healthy Small Business will have a statewide mission to strengthen Virginia small business by spreading employee health innovation and educating small businesses about the value of health coverage and employee wellness.

]]> http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=1080 <![CDATA[Virginia Receives ARRA Funds to Reduce Healthcare Associated Infections ]]> September 18 — Governor Timothy M. Kaine announced that Virginia has received a $1,063,554 grant in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds for a program to reduce the incidence of healthcare-associated infections (HAI) in the state. These infections are acquired by patients while receiving treatment for another medical or surgical condition.

The grant is from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which estimates that each year more than 1.7 million infections and 99,000 deaths are attributed to healthcare-associated infections in the United States. In 2008, Virginia began requiring acute care hospitals to report data on certain severe bloodstream infections. In the first six months of reporting, 159 such infections were reported.

]]> http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=1077 <![CDATA[More Than $11 Million in Grants is Awarded Through the Homelessness and Rapid Re-Housing Program ]]> September 9 — Governor Timothy M. Kaine announced more than $11 million in grants through the Homelessness and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP), authorized through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The HPRP program is designed to provide assistance and support to prevent homelessness or to quickly re-house and stabilize those who are currently homeless.

Individuals who are homeless or feel they may be at-risk of becoming homeless are advised to contact their local HPRP service provider directly to determine eligibility for services and schedule an initial consultation with a case manager.

]]> http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=1062 <![CDATA[September 11 Proclaimed Day of Service and Remembrance in Virginia ]]> September 9 — Governor Timothy M. Kaine proclaimed September 11, 2009 as a Day of Service and Remembrance in the Commonwealth, and urged citizens to find a way to honor the lives lost in 2001 through volunteer work in their communities.

"I can't think of a better way to commemorate the American spirit and the heroism we witnessed on 9/11 than by giving something back to our communities and to each other," Governor Kaine said.

Hundreds of volunteer needs in Virginia are posted to the www.serve.gov site, ranging from helping seniors balance their checkbooks to school beautification projects.

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