Our Health Policy Matters

It was good news when Congress recently agreed on a budget for the first time in forever.  It was the product of compromise, and everyone expected to give at least a little.  But when the details came out last week, it turned out that some had to give more than others.  And the ones who probably gave up the most were the people who have saved the greatest number of lives over the past century – the public health and prevention community. Last week, the House introduced the FY2014 Omnibus Labor, Health, Human Services, and Education bill – one of twelve appropriations bills that will implement the FY2014 budget.  As the bill summary noted, the legislation includes $156.8 billion in discretionary federal spending for all these important areas combined. That is a big number, and comes to around $500 per person.  By comparison, Defense – which is often considered to be the other “big” area of discretionary spending – will get around $1500 per person. ...

It was good news when Congress recently agreed on a budget for the first time in forever.  It was the product of compromise, and everyone expected to give at least a little.  But when the details came out last week, it turned out that some had to give more than others.  And the ones who probably gave up the most were the people who have saved the greatest number of lives over the past century – the public health and prevention community. Last week, the House introduced the FY2014 Omnibus Labor, Health, Human Services, and Education bill – one of twelve appropriations bills that will implement the FY2014 budget.  As the bill summary noted, the legislation includes $156.8 billion in discretionary federal spending for all these important areas combined. That is a big number, and comes to around $500 per person.  By comparison, Defense – which is often considered to be the other “big” area of discretionary spending – will get around $1500 per person. ...

“I will keep them from harm and injustice.” “I will prevent disease whenever I can, for prevention is preferable to cure.” - Classic and modern versions of the Hippocratic Oath , from MedicineNet.Com Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma is a physician.  He’s familiar with the Hippocratic Oath, and has used it to explain his opposition to health care reform. Last November, Senator Coburn famously termed a $15 billion appropriation for public health and prevention a “slush fund.”  That’s because it was paying for community tobacco control programs, immunization activities, and addiction disorder prevention and treatment services around the country.  For information on sources, see note below “Prevention is about focusing on an individual patient,” he commented, apparently forgetting everything he learned about epidemiology at the University of Oklahoma’s College of Medicine and at least some of the words of the Hippocratic Oath. Public health is the ba...

“I will keep them from harm and injustice.” “I will prevent disease whenever I can, for prevention is preferable to cure.” - Classic and modern versions of the Hippocratic Oath , from MedicineNet.Com Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma is a physician.  He’s familiar with the Hippocratic Oath, and has used it to explain his opposition to health care reform. Last November, Senator Coburn famously termed a $15 billion appropriation for public health and prevention a “slush fund.”  That’s because it was paying for community tobacco control programs, immunization activities, and addiction disorder prevention and treatment services around the country.  For information on sources, see note below “Prevention is about focusing on an individual patient,” he commented, apparently forgetting everything he learned about epidemiology at the University of Oklahoma’s College of Medicine and at least some of the words of the Hippocratic Oath. Public health is the ba...