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Welcome to the website of the Commissioned Officers Association of the U.S. Public Health Service. COA is dedicated to improving and protecting the public health of the United States by addressing unmet health needs and providing support for more than 7,000 members.
COA protects the interests of the Commissioned Corps officers of the U.S. Public Health Service, who are leaders in the realms of public and global health. Recent achievements in legislative advocacy include the Senate passing of amendments that will fix the Survivor Benefit Plan and provide for concurrent receipt of military retiree pay and VA disability compensation. The association also provides educational opportunities such as the U.S. Public Health Service Professional Conference, held annually.
COA Mourns Passing of Former Surgeon General, Julius B. Richmond |
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07/30/2008 - Dr. Julius B. Richmond, USPHS, (Ret.), 91, and COA Life Member died July 27 of cancer. Dr Richmond served as President Carter’s Assistant Secretary for Health and as U.S. Surgeon General from 1977 to 1981 and promoted anti-smoking, preventive health-care and public health policy campaigns. In 1979, Dr. Richmond released a 1,200-page Surgeon General’s Report on the multiple harmful effects of smoking, which included lung cancer, heart disease, emphysema and other illnesses. He also issued the first surgeon general’s report on health promotion and disease prevention, urging Americans to cut their consumption of alcohol, salt, sugar and fats, get moderate exercise, obey speeding laws, use seat belts and see a doctor regularly.
To read the full obituary, please click here.
The Military Coalition Weighs in to Support PHS and NOAA Corps in Webb GI Bill
07/16/2008 - At the urging of COA, The Military Coalition, representing some 35 uniformed service and veteran's organizations and 5.5 million constituents, has written to every member of the Senate Committee on Veteran's Affairs seeking to have the PHS and NOAA Commissioned Corps included in the new (Webb) GI Bill. COA has also, in the strongest manner possible, urged the leadership of the Department of Health and Human Services to seek inclusion of the PHS Commissioned Corps in this law by engaging with the Senate Committee.
Click here to read the full text of TMC's letter...
House and Senate Appropriations Committees Whack Corps Funding for FY 09
07/11/2008 - For the second year in a row, House and Senate appropriators have inexplicably reduced the Administration's request for Commissioned Corps funding. Last year the Corps got zero of $38M requested. This year it looks like the Corps will receive only $10M of $32M requested; barely enough to keep the Commissioned Corps on life support.
The Senate Appropriations Committee marked the Corps' funding down without comment. On the House side, the Committee questioned the need for Health and Medical Response (HAMR) teams. The House Committee also demonstrated the usual confusion about the Commissioned Corps by asking for a report on how the Commissioned Corps intends to address the institution of a systematic quality assurance mechanism for the Division of Immigration Health Services; a question more appropriately addressed to the Department of Homeland Security rather than the Commissioned Corps.
COA is seeking clarification of the concerns expressed by the committee and trying to ascertain their origin (author). We will make every effort to provide accurate information to the committees in the hope of having the requested funding restored.
But this is another issue where the Corps' political leadership must engage if there is to be any hope of success. Secretary Leavitt has stated that the Corps' transformation and expansion are among his top priorities. It is long past time for the Secretary to get personally engaged with the Hill appropriators and convince them to put money where his mouth is.
COA has most strongly urged the Assistant Secretary for Health and the Surgeon General to take the necessary action to get these funds restored - including getting the Secretary engaged.
COA Works to Have PHS Commissioned Corps Entitled to New (Webb) GI Bill - You Can Help
07/11/2008 - Whether it was an intentional omission or an erroneous oversight, the fact is that both the PHS and NOAA Commissioned Corps are not included in the entitlement afforded by the new (Webb) GI Bill signed into law by the President on 30 June. COA is pulling out all the stops to have the PHS (and NOAA) Commissioned Corps added to this historic and potentially generous entitlement. You can help.
Learn more about the Webb GI BIll and how to help. Click here...
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New COA Membership BenefitsPublic Health Foundation Publication Discounts In our constant effort to add value to membership in COA, the COA Board of Directors is pleased to announce a partnership with the Public Health Foundation through which COA members will receive a generous discount on select purchases from the Public Health Foundation’s online bookstore. Targeted at the American Eagle Series of books about diabetes in Native American communities, COA members will receive a 50% discount on bulk purchases (packages of 68) of “Through the Eyes of the Eagle,” “Knees Lifted High,” Plate Full of Color,” and “Tricky Treats” and a 20% discount on “Eagle book series & Educational Guide: Tools for Community Diabetes Prevention.” Ordering code for the 50% discount is COA081; and for the 20% discount, use ordering code COA082. Visit the Public Health Foundation on-line bookstore at http://bookstore.phf.org/. Public Health Report Discounts Public Health Reports (PHR) is the journal of public health of the US Public Health Service and the US Surgeon General. PHR is the oldest journal of public health in the US and second oldest in the world. PHR is an informative and accessible resource for practitioners, teachers, and students of public health. The Journal provides important research and key discussions on the major issues confronting the public health community: |
Revised 07/30/2008