Public Health Intersection

Just what is in the recently passed health reform laws will be keeping many of us busy for some time.

In the old days, (meaning at least two years ago), it would have been my job to sort all of it out and provide a digestible version for my constituents and colleagues minutes after the votes.

This time around that work falls to talented colleagues and I await their dissections and helpful explanations.

Having been in our nation’s capitol last week while all of this was starting to wind down, I was struck by how there didn’t seem to be a commonly held reaction to what was, arguably, a long awaited and landmark accomplishment.

If the old adage that the most telling feature of a good law is that nobody is happy with the final result holds true, this is arguably the most outstanding law passed in a long time.

Now the work begins to make sure that public health gets the most out of this unique opportunity.

While there are several opportunities for public health in the recently passed law, making the most of them will be a substantial challenge.

For the first time since 9/11 this law provides focus and support for science and practice based public health interventions and activities.

For those of us who may recall, the Kennedy/Frist Public Health Improvement Act showed great promise until overshadowed, almost immediately, by the events of 9/11 followed by several anthrax exposures and deaths, causing any new public health funding to focus, almost exclusively on disaster preparedness and emergency response.

In many cases, public health was able to take advantage of the funding and attention to improve their communication, information technology and emergency and disaster planning abilities.

Recently, however, as the money became scarcer and restrictions on its use increased, public health, particularly local public health has suffered and lost staff, capacity and momentum.

The opportunities and challenges that the recently passed health reform provide could reshape governmental public health for better or worse.

It’s up to all of us to make sure we do our part to work together to make the most of this next opportunity to rebuild and sustain a public health system that assures a healthier future for everyone.