Bill Overview
Title: Centers for Public Health Preparedness and Response Reauthorization Act
Description: This bill revises eligibility criteria and other aspects of a program administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that supports a network of centers for public health preparedness. Specifically, the bill makes nonprofits and institutions of higher education other than schools of public health eligible to participate in the program, whereas current participation is generally limited to accredited schools of public health. Further, the bill shifts the program's focus from curricula development and training public health practitioners to other areas, such as (1) researching and disseminating evidence-based practices to inform preparedness and response activities, and (2) providing technical assistance and expertise to health departments during public health emergencies. The bill also repeals a demonstration program for improving the detection of pathogens likely to be used in bioterrorism attacks.
Sponsors: Sen. Marshall, Roger [R-KS]
Target Audience
Population: People worldwide whose public health could be impacted by improved preparedness and response capabilities
Estimated Size: 330000000
- The act impacts entities involved in public health preparedness, including nonprofit organizations and institutions of higher education that are not schools of public health.
- By expanding eligibility, the bill allows a wider range of institutions to contribute to and benefit from the public health preparedness program, thus enhancing national readiness.
- Public health workers who benefit from evidence-based practices and technical assistance in emergencies are indirectly affected.
- The general public's safety and health are indirectly impacted through improved public health preparedness and response capability.
Reasoning
- The Centers for Public Health Preparedness and Response Reauthorization Act primarily affects organizations involved in public health preparedness, shifting the focus to evidence-based research and technical assistance.
- The budget constraints of $15 billion over 10 years must be managed to maximize benefits to both institutions and the general public.
- The inclusion of a broader range of institutions allows for more diverse methods and practices in preparedness and response, potentially benefiting communities differently based on their needs.
- Some public health workers, particularly those in health departments, might see direct effects through increased technical assistance during emergencies.
- The policy's impact on the general public is indirect but significant due to improved preparedness across the country, which could enhance the U.S. population's readiness for public health emergencies.
- Nonprofits and higher education institutions might face initial adjustments to meet new eligibility criteria, but over time this can lead to increased innovation and research dissemination.
- The repeal of the demonstration program for bioterrorism detection may redirect focus to more imminent and broad-spectrum public health threats.
Simulated Interviews
Public Health Researcher (Boston, MA)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy allows us to expand our research projects into public health preparedness and disseminate findings more effectively.
- It could enhance our collaboration with local health departments during emergencies, providing crucial technical assistance.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
University Professor (Madison, WI)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The reauthorization allows our institution to participate in CDC programs, increasing our resources in public health research.
- I am concerned about the removal of the bioterrorism component, as it still represents a significant threat.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
Community Health Worker (Chicago, IL)
Age: 29 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having more organizations involved in preparedness initiatives could really help communities like mine.
- Improved public health training and resources increase our safety and readiness.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Director of a Nonprofit (Tulsa, OK)
Age: 53 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy expands access to programs we'd previously been excluded from, offering new funding and training opportunities.
- Our operational effectiveness could greatly improve through these evidence-based practices.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
Public Policy Analyst (New York, NY)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- A broader base for public health preparation strengthens overall societal resilience.
- The focus on evidence-based practices is a forward-thinking move, though we need to watch funding allocations closely.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Emergency Management Coordinator (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 47 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While we benefit from increased technical support during emergencies, the budget isn't sufficient for every emergency.
- The removal of the bioterrorism response program is worrying given certain threats haven't diminished.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Public Health Educator (Seattle, WA)
Age: 38 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Expanding program eligibility to community colleges like ours helps integrate public health preparedness into general education.
- It will take time for technical assistance improvements to be felt on the ground.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Health Department Official (Austin, TX)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Technical support from CDC will significantly improve our capacity during emergencies.
- Inter-agency communication protocols need updating, which this policy does not address directly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Biological Scientist (San Diego, CA)
Age: 44 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy potentially reduces repeated research on bioterrorism and reallocates it to more broadly applicable public health threats.
- The inclusion of more evidence-based methods is beneficial.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Retired Nurse (Miami, FL)
Age: 62 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Improved public health strategies will eventually trickle down to community level.
- I am unsure how long implementation will actually take to affect my community directly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $1500000000 (Low: $1200000000, High: $1800000000)
Year 2: $1500000000 (Low: $1200000000, High: $1800000000)
Year 3: $1500000000 (Low: $1200000000, High: $1800000000)
Year 5: $1500000000 (Low: $1200000000, High: $1800000000)
Year 10: $1500000000 (Low: $1200000000, High: $1800000000)
Year 100: $1500000000 (Low: $1200000000, High: $1800000000)
Key Considerations
- The expanded eligibility could strain the existing budget if not accompanied by additional funding.
- Shifting the program's focus to research may necessitate specialized personnel and infrastructure.
- Repealing the demonstration program could reduce costs but also potentially reduce bioterrorism detection capabilities.
- Public perception of increased safety may influence broader economic stability and investment confidence.