Shortchanging America's Health 2005: A State-by-State Look at How Federal Public Health Dollars are Spent

Publication Date:

Publisher: Trust for America's Health

Author(s): S.A. Hearne; K. Elliott; C. Juliano; L.M. Segal

Research Area: Health

Type: Report

Abstract:

This report examines how money from many federal health programs is allocated to states at per-capita levels and then compares the states' key health and wellness indicators. While state governments bear the primary responsibility for delivering public health services, the federal government also plays an important role, especially by funding state public health activities. This report examines states' funding per person from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Health Resources and Services Administration. State health statistics highlighted include percent of adults and children with chronic conditions such as asthma and diabetes, percent of obese adults and overweight children, adult cancer rates and rate of low birth weight in babies. Overall, the report finds that the United States is falling short of achieving the national health improvement and disease prevention objectives for health outlined in Healthy People and that sufficient funding or strategies to achieve those goals have not been enacted. The United States needs to develop a proactive approach to health, focusing on prevention of illness and injury. According to the report, this type of approach would save lives and money and improve overall health.