How Underfunding Public Health Hurts Us All
Written by Victoria Barahona, Policy Associate, Coalition for Health Funding
On June 20, CHF co-hosted a webinar titled, “Shortchanged: The Impact of Chronic Underinvestment in Public Health,” in collaboration with Trust for America’s Health (TFAH). The webinar featured experts in public health policy and funding who emphasized the importance of increased investment in public health and prevention to improve our nation’s health and well-being. Furthermore, the webinar shed light on the consequences that arise from underfunding in this critical area.
The centerpiece of the webinar was TFAH’s newly released report, “The Impact of Chronic Underfunding on America’s Public Health System: Trends, Risks, and Recommendations, 2023.” This comprehensive report offers a detailed analysis of the state of public health funding, outlining its implications for our health outcomes and health care costs. The report also offers specific recommendations for federal, state, and local policymakers to address the gaps and challenges in the public health system.
The event, moderated by CHF Executive Director Erin Morton, featured influential speakers who are shaping the field of public health including Tekisha Dwan Everette, Ph.D., MPA, CPH, Executive Vice President of TFAH, presented the report’s key findings and recommendations. Erin Will Morton, Executive Director of the Coalition for Health Funding, facilitated a panel discussion with Krista R. Wasowski, MSW, MPH, Health Commissioner Medina County (OH) Health Department, and Brian Castrucci, DrPH, President & Chief Executive Officer de Beaumont Foundation. The panelists provided valuable perspectives on the urgent need for increasing and sustaining public health spending in the United States.
Throughout the webinar, the profound impacts of chronic underfunding on various aspects of our public health system and population health were highlighted. These impacts include higher rates of chronic disease and premature death, archaic data and lab systems, health inequities, higher health care costs, and depleted public health workforce.
A particularly impactful segment of the webinar was when Brian Castrucci addressed the importance of student loan forgiveness and affordable tuition to encourage more people to enter the public health field. He made a powerful argument for why we need to invest in the public health workforce and foster diversity and inclusivity within the field. His vision and dedication left a lasting impression on attendees, including the recent-ish college graduates among the CHF staff.
The webinar concluded with a set of federal recommendations for policymakers aimed at increasing public health funding, improving public health outcomes, and addressing health disparities. These recommendations include increasing overall CDC funding to at least $11.6 billion in FY2024, modernizing and strengthening public health in every community, investing in the nation’s health security, addressing health disparities and root causes of disease, promoting health and prevent chronic diseases across the lifespan, and investing in primary prevention of behavioral health concerns and deaths of despair.
This event was a great opportunity to connect with experts and advocates in public health policy and funding, facilitating an informative and insightful exchange that deepened policymakers’ understanding of public health. We encourage you to check out the recording and slides here, and read the full report here. We look forward to continuing these types of collaborations in the future!