Loading [MathJax]/jax/output/HTML-CSS/fonts/TeX/fontdata.js
Skip to ContentGo to accessibility pageKeyboard shortcuts menu
OpenStax Logo

7.1 Factors Affecting Public Health Policy

Public health policy refers to the laws, regulations, programs, behaviors, and decisions implemented in a society to promote public health. There is a direct correlation from access to health care, the cost of health care, and the quality of health care to health outcomes. High health care costs impact an individual’s ability to access health care services. Different payment models and care delivery models affect the quality of care. When individuals cannot access health care services, health outcomes, including maintenance of chronic disease processes, are compromised.

7.2 Balancing Individual Rights and Public Health Interests

Although the U.S. Constitution does not include a right to health or health care, the federal government supports health care through Medicare, Medicaid, federal tax subsidies for employer-sponsored health care, and agencies such as the CDC and the HHS that work to improve the population’s health. Violations of health as a human right have serious consequences for individuals and populations. Discrimination in delivering health care services creates barriers to positive health outcomes, and underrepresented individuals tend to face higher rates of chronic diseases. Health policies can improve the systems through which health care services are provided and make it feasible for individuals with chronic health conditions to access necessary care. Public health nurses are integral to the APHA’s efforts to influence public policy. The tension between individual rights and public health continues to be salient in the United States; this was especially apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic.

7.3 Public Health Initiatives, Delivery Mechanisms, and Implications

Healthy People is a public health initiative that seeks to improve health outcomes in the United States. This 10-year HHS plan establishes public health priorities and data-driven objectives to improve public health and well-being over a decade. Healthy People 2030 includes 23 high-priority LHIs to improve health and well-being over the lifespan. Mechanisms for the delivery of public health policy interventions include fiscal policy, regulation, education, preventative treatment, and screening. The IHI Triple Aim is a framework to improve health care system performance on three levels (improving the client experience, improving population health, and reducing costs).

7.4 Policies Affecting Drug Approval, Supply, and Cost

The FDA has broad regulatory authority and is responsible for protecting public health by ensuring the safety and efficacy of the food supply and all medical drugs, products, and devices. The global drug manufacturing supply chain affects the supply and cost of pharmaceutical drugs. Pharmaceuticals are one of the fastest-growing components of health care spending in the United States. The increase in drug costs impacts underrepresented and marginalized populations the most.

Citation/Attribution

This book may not be used in the training of large language models or otherwise be ingested into large language models or generative AI offerings without OpenStax's permission.

Want to cite, share, or modify this book? This book uses the Creative Commons Attribution License and you must attribute OpenStax.

Attribution information
  • If you are redistributing all or part of this book in a print format, then you must include on every physical page the following attribution:
    Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/population-health/pages/1-introduction
  • If you are redistributing all or part of this book in a digital format, then you must include on every digital page view the following attribution:
    Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/population-health/pages/1-introduction
Citation information

© May 15, 2024 OpenStax. Textbook content produced by OpenStax is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License . The OpenStax name, OpenStax logo, OpenStax book covers, OpenStax CNX name, and OpenStax CNX logo are not subject to the Creative Commons license and may not be reproduced without the prior and express written consent of Rice University.