779: Public Health State-Level Funding Changes, Telehealth Impact Report

JANSON SILVERS: 

This is the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition for Monday, October 28, 2024 I'm Janson Silvers. Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.

MAGGIE DAVIS: 

I think a number of states saw how fragile the public health system was during the pandemic, that not investing in public health really kind of put them on their back foot to address an emerging outbreak.

SILVERS: 

ASTHO's State Health Policy team is examining recent state-level funding changes for public health services as those. Maggie Davis says some states have made significant investments.

DAVIS: 

In recent years, we saw some states like Washington that in 2019 conducted an overall assessment of their public health funding, finding that they needed at least $255 million more a year to meet their core public health services. So, that state and their legislature has taken steps over the last several budget cycles to increase their funding for those foundational public health services.

SILVERS: 

Washington isn't the only West Coast state taking steps to shore up their public health budget.

DAVIS: 

California passed a law that created a specific program to invest in public health infrastructure known as the Future for Public Health initiative, and in that program, they put, I believe, about $300 million a year to really bolster that core public health infrastructure.

SILVERS: 

For future investments, many states have to navigate balancing a budget while also thinking about public health, now that the influx of funds from a few years ago is starting to dry up. Even with this obstacle and budget cuts, some states continue to see the importance of public health. Davis has written a Health Policy Update outlining all of the state-level funding changes you should be paying attention to. Use the link in the show notes to read it.

DAVIS: 

Maryland had a 1.8 budget reduction this past budget cycle, but within the budget allocated 21 million for 300 new positions across the Department of Health. So, even though overall, the landscape is getting a little tricky, we are seeing some of those bright spots of states seeing the value of that investment in the public health workforce.

SILVERS: 

The Minnesota Department of Health has finalized a report for the state legislature on the impact of the 2021 Minnesota Telehealth Act. Minnesota's Dr. Pamela Mink says they did a thorough assessment to create the report.

PAMELA MINK: 

We talked to healthcare providers, we talked to Minnesota patients, we talked to health plans and public health professionals here at MDH, and everybody was really consistent and in agreement that telehealth's greatest contribution has really been to expand access to care when it is needed.

SILVERS: 

Mink says the report points to several conclusions.

MINK: 

So, it really, you know, expands access, it did not appear to negatively impact quality or to, you know, increase costs. And so, in terms of behavioral health care, that's really been the most common use of telehealth that we've seen.

SILVERS: 

However, Mink adds, telehealth is not a 'one size fits all' solution.

MINK: 

And so, while telehealth can help overcome some of the barriers to in-person care, barriers related to transportation, to bad weather, to needing to arrange childcare, many people also experience barriers to using telehealth. So, things like, you know, having access to good broadband, not being familiar with or being uncomfortable with the technology, having a need for translation services.

SILVERS: 

You can read the full report from Minnesota by clicking the link in the show notes.

Also today, make sure you stay up to date with the latest happenings in your jurisdictions and in Washington, D.C. by signing up for ASTHO's Legislative Alerts. There's a link to get in the know in the show notes.

Finally, this morning, apply today to be part of ASTHO's next Diverse Executives Leading in Public Health cohort. Applications to join are still being accepted, but time is almost up. The deadline is October 31; less than one week from now. Learn more about the program and apply to join by clicking the link in the show notes.

That'll do it for today. We're back tomorrow morning with more ASTHO news and information. I'm Janson Silvers. You're listening to the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition. Have a great day.