Briefing Book
Public Health
This briefing began with a description of public health and its role in promoting health, preventing disease, and improving the well-being of populations. At the federal level, each branch of government and several executive agencies—including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security—all play an important role. The briefing outlined the structure and activities of federal, state, and local public health; important legal authorities for public health activities; and public health financing at the national, state, and local levels. After laying a general foundation, discussion turned to three timely public health topics: (i) the relationship between health care and public health, (ii) health system preparedness to respond to emerging public health threats, and (iii) the increasing incidence of vaccine-preventable disease in the United States.
Speakers
Sarah A. Lister, DVM, MPH (bio)
Specialist in Public Health and Epidemiology, Congressional Research Service
Slides: "Public Health: Policy Essentials"
Briefing Materials
"The Public Health Service" (The Basics, February 11, 2015)
Additional Resources
Public Health
- Redhead et al., Congressional Research Service (CRS), Public Health Service Agencies: Overview and Funding, R43304, October 8, 2014
- Institute of Medicine (IOM), For the Public’s Health: Investing in a Healthier Future (The National Academies Press, April 10, 2012)
Public Health and Health Reform
- Steve Redhead and Elayne Heisler, coordinators, CRS, Public Health, Workforce, Quality, and Related Provisions in the ACA: Summary and Timeline, R41278, May 17, 2013
- Internal Revenue Service (IRS), "New Requirements for 501(c)(3) Hospitals Under the Affordable Care Act" (updated December 19, 2014)
- The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA) established the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) within the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to develop and test new payment and health care delivery models. Many CMMI initiatives support efforts by states and local communities to develop new approaches for improving population health. See, for example, the Health Care Innovation Awards and the State Innovation Models Initiative.
- IOM, Primary Care and Public Health: Exploring Integration to Improve Population Health (The National Academies Press, March 28, 2012)
Health System Preparedness
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), "Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Emergency Preparedness Requirements for Medicare and Medicaid Participating Providers and Suppliers; Proposed Rule" (Federal Register, 78, no. 4, December 27, 2013)
- Sheri Fink, "Citing Urgent Need, U.S. Calls on Hospitals to Hone Disaster Plans" (The New York Times, March 11, 2014)
- For information on health security and the National Health Security Preparedness Index, see www.nhspi.org
- CRS, "The Global Health Security Agenda and International Health Regulations," In Focus, December 19, 2014
Immunization Update
- For general information on immunizations and immunization policy, including links to resources from various sources, see the National Conference of State Legislators, "Immunization Policy Overview" (January 12, 2015)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), "National, State, and Selected Local Area Vaccination Coverage Among Children Aged 19-35 Months–United States, 2013" (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), 63, no. 34 (August 29, 2014), pp. 741-748)
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