Transcript Denver - Trust for America's Health

Ready or Not? Protecting the
Public’s Health from Diseases,
Disasters, and Bioterrorism
Jeffrey Levi, PhD
Congressional Briefing
February 3, 2012
Who We Are
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Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization dedicated to
saving lives by protecting the health of every
community and working to make disease
prevention a national priority.
Overview
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Progress in public health preparedness over
past decade
Economic crisis and federal budget cuts leave
us less prepared than a few years ago
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Basic capabilities are eroding
Policy opportunities
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PAHPA reauthorization
FY 13 budget and sequestration (risks and
opportunities)
th
9
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Goals:
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Annual Ready or Not? report
Demonstrate progress,
challenges in preparing
nation for disaster
Illustrate role of public
health
Supported by Robert
Wood Johnson Foundation
A Decade of Progress
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10 years ago, health departments responded to
9/11 with little preparation. Since then:
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PHEP and HPP Grants established
All states and localities have tested their plans to
receive and distribute medical supplies
Developing domestic vaccine and other medical
countermeasure capacity
Growth in lab capacity
Passage of PAHPA, FSMA
Federal, State & Local Cuts
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Federal funds for state & local preparedness
cut by 38% since FY05 (adjusted)
$72M cut to PHEP grants from FY10-12
40 States & DC cut public health funding
49,000 lost state & local public health jobs
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More prepared than a decade ago…but may be
less prepared than even a few years ago
Programs at Risk from FY 11&12
Cuts and Potential Sequestration
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51 of 72 cities in Cities Readiness Initiative
Level 1 Chemical Testing Labs in 10 states
Field epi program in 24 states
Research and training centers at 18
different universities
Comprehensive nuclear, radiological,
chemical response support from CDC
Recommendations
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Assuring dedicated funding and strengthening
the public health preparedness core
capabilities
Improving biosurveillance to rapidly detect
and track outbreaks or attacks
Improving research, development and
manufacturing of vaccines and medications
Recommendations
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Enhancing the ability to provide care for a
mass influx of patients during emergencies
Providing better support to help communities
cope with and recover from disasters
Coordinating food safety with other
preparedness efforts through the strategic
implementation of the FDA Food Safety
Modernization Act of 2011.
Pandemic and All-Hazards
Preparedness Act (PAHPA)
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Originally passed in 2006 to specifically address
public health preparation and response for disasters
Created Assistant Secretary for Prep & Response at
HHS (ASPR)
Created BARDA to spur development of pipeline of
vaccines, drugs, devices (MCM)
Created National Health Security Strategy
New focus on at-risk individuals
PAHPA Reauthorization
(H.R. 2405/S. 1855)
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Key Provisions Include:
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Flexibility for states to surge public health staff
during disaster (House)
Limited carryover of unspent preparedness funds
(Senate)
MCM implementation plan and 5-year budget
Review of need to replenish SNS
PAHPA Reauthorization (cont.)
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Key provisions:
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MCM Strategic Investor to leverage venture
capital and technical expertise (Senate)
Plan to improve coordination among
biosurveillance plans. Senate bill includes
coordination with HIT
Separate Senate medical surge
capacity bill to allow 1135
waivers for evacuation areas
PAHPA Reauthorization
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Principal Area of Concern
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Spending capped at lowest level in several
programs’ history, including state & local
preparedness grants
Questions?
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Please contact TFAH:
Dara Lieberman, Senior Government Relations
Manager –
[email protected] or 202-223-9870 ext. 20.
 www.healthyamericans.org
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