Co-authored with : Christina Fuleihan
Public health in Massachusetts has long been starved for funding. Local public health boards and their health departments play essential roles in providing basic public health services. Direct state funding is needed to expand services and improve resource sharing among the 351 local health departments in Massachusetts. The staffing and capabilities of local health departments have long been dependent on inconsistent funding from municipalities, without additional state support. Recent public health emergencies have revealed longstanding issues with the state’s public health preparedness.
Poor structural and financial support for local health departments weakens Massachusetts’ ability to respond to current and future public health crises. Increased fortification of local health will be essential amid ongoing efforts to improve health equity within the state. The current State Action for Public Health Excellence (SAPHE) bill, proposes to address these unmet needs by building on prior legislation to better balance the inequitable distribution of resources by requiring direct state funding and greater collaboration between municipalities.
Continue reading : https://www.publichealthpost.org/viewpoints/local-health-funding/
