Victory for Public Health! Funds Included in Economic Stimulus Package
The public health community joined together to advocate successfully for the inclusion of funds for prevention and wellness in the economic stimulus bill, signed by President Obama on February 17. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 contained $787 billion to stimulate the American economy and assist people who have been hurt by the economic downturn.
The public health community, including many NACCHO members, contacted lawmakers in support of the Prevention and Wellness Fund included in the legislation. The House included $3 billion for this fund, and the Senate Appropriations Committee initially included $5.8 billion, which was removed in negotiations in order to garner enough votes for passage. It was an uphill battle to save this funding, with many interested parties vying to be included in the bill. NACCHO worked closely with partners such as the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), the American Public Health Association, Trust for America’s Health, and others.
The final bill contains $1 billion for prevention and wellness, divided as follows:
• $300 million for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention section 317 immunization program
• $50 million to states to reduce healthcare associated infections
• $650 million to carry out evidence-based clinical and community-based prevention and wellness strategies authorized by the Public Health Service Act as determined by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, that deliver specific, measurable health outcomes that address chronic disease rates.
NACCHO members were encouraged to take action through several action alerts sent by e-mail and linked to NACCHO’s Legislative Action Center. More than 200 individuals responded to NACCHO’s call to action and contacted lawmakers in support of funding for public health and prevention. See below for more information about NACCHO’s Local Health Department Congressional Action Network (LHD-CAN).
Other Health and Human Services Funding:
Health Workforce Training
$500 million including $300 million for the National Health Service Corps and $200 million for all the disciplines trained through the primary care medicine and dentistry program, the public health and preventive medicine program, the scholarship and loan repayment programs authorized in Title VII (Health Professions) and Title VIII (Nurse Training) of the Public Health Service Act, and grants to training programs for equipment. Funds may also be used to foster cross-State licensing agreements for healthcare specialists.
Health Information Technology
$2 billion total
An unspecified amount is included to improve and expand the use of health information technology by public health departments.
Community Health Centers
$1.5 billion: community health centers to renovate and repair buildings and acquisition of health information technology
$500 million: provision of health care services by CHCs
Indian Health
$85 million for health information technology for Indian Health Services
$415 million for Indian Health Facilities
NACCHO has provided a summary of other provisions related to public health in the stimulus package.
Thank you to all NACCHO members who took action and helped to ensure that public health and prevention were not left behind. NACCHO will continue to provide updates as implementation of the economic stimulus law moves forward.
NACCHO Creates Grassroots Advocacy Network: LHD-CAN
The success achieved by local health departments advocating for public health and prevention in the economic stimulus package demonstrates the power that NACCHO members can have when they make their voices heard. NACCHO has created a new grassroots advocacy network: the Local Health Department Congressional Action Network (LHD-CAN).
Through this network, NACCHO members will receive guidance from NACCHO staff about current legislative developments and how to take effective action to influence policymakers. This is one of the primary ways that NACCHO will increase its visibility and realize its vision of serving as “the national voice of local public health.” The network will meet through conference calls and webcasts and in person at NACCHO’s annual conference. If you would like to join LHD-CAN, please send an e-mail to Eli Briggs, NACCHO Senior Government Affairs Specialist.
