Now that 95 percent of Oregonians have health insurance, the next step in health system transformation is to ensure all Oregon communities have basic public health protections. From Cascadia earthquake preparedness to Zika outbreak containment, public health plays a key role in protecting people in Oregon.
An assessment of public health programs in Oregon found that one-third of communities––or more than one million Oregonians––have limited or minimal access to essential public health programs. The 2016 assessment was required under House Bill 3100, sponsored by Rep. Mitch Greenlick (D-Portland), chairman of the House Health Care Committee.
Today legislators, community partners, local public health officials and the Oregon Health Authority met to discuss this gap in Oregon’s public health programs and how best to address it.
“We know that 80 percent of what shapes our health happens outside of the doctor’s office,” Representative Greenlick said at today’s briefing. “Because of this, a modern public health system should protect and help every person in Oregon thrive whether they live in downtown Portland, Enterprise or Coos Bay.”
“Across Oregon, counties and community leaders are working hard to protect and promote public health,” said Lynne Saxton, Director of the Oregon Health Authority. “Yet today’s patchwork of grants and other investments has left gaps in our public health infrastructure. We want to make sure every Oregon community can depend on receiving the same essential public health protections.”
Zeke Smith, chairman of the Oregon Health Policy Board, described the importance of investing in a modern public health system.
“Oregon consistently ranks in the bottom half of states in its per capita investment in public health, well below neighbor states like Idaho and Washington,” Smith said. For context, Idaho invests $94.70 per capita in public health. Oregon spends $26.60.
"It is time to move beyond health care and into a place where we are really investing in healthy systems and healthy people,” Smith said. “Our work toward public health modernization is critical for that shift.”
Priorities for a modern health system: charting a blueprint for equity and efficiency
Based on the findings from the public health modernization assessment, the Public Health Advisory Board has recommended the following priorities for the 2017-2019 biennium:
- Communicable diseases. Detect and respond to traditional and emerging infectious disease.
- Environmental health. Limit environmental risks to human health.
- Emergency preparedness. Prepare for and respond to natural disasters and other catastrophic events.
- Health equity. Ensure that every state and local public health authority has the capacity to engage communities that experience an excess burden of disease.
- Population health data. Ensure that every state and local public health authority has access to timely, accurate and meaningful data needed to understand the health of the community.
- Public health modernization planning. Support state and local public health authorities to build an equitable and efficient public health system while developing a workforce equipped to fulfill future needs.
The Public Health Advisory Board recommends an initial investment of $30 million for the 2017-2019 biennium.
For more information, visit the board’s website at http://www.healthoregon.org/modernization.
