Restoring Health to Health Reform
Journal of the American Medical Association, Vol. 303, pp. 1419-1420, 2010
4 Pages Posted: 21 Jul 2010
Abstract
In this article, we discuss the public health provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). We first set forth a framework to identify the key reforms that are needed for a robust public health system. These include workforce and infrastructure investments. We then assess the PPACA against these criteria. We conclude that although the act would make significant investment in public health (especially in wellness and prevention programs), it does little to improve the existing structural deficiencies that the public health system must overcome if it is to be effective in improving the population’s health.
Keywords: public health, medical care, health insurance, health care reform
JEL Classification: H51, I10, I11, I18, K00, K32
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation