New CDC Funding Opportunity to Transform the Response to Public Health Emergencies

Underinvestment in public health has been a longstanding challenge in the United States, compounded by lack of coordinated infrastructure and information sharing between public health and the rest of the health care delivery system. Public health departments have historically been excluded from most clinical health information exchange, with public health data collection and reporting often occurring with antiquated and low-tech investments such as paper-based systems, faxes, and spreadsheets. This division propagates silos and leaves providers, public health departments, and health plans with insufficient individual and population health data to meaningfully inform care.The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed and amplified these long-standing deficiencies in our nation’s public health data and workforce infrastructure. Unable to easily collect and report standardized COVID case rates and vaccination information, localities, states, and the federal government have struggled to respond to the crisis rapidly and efficiently. Government programs were underfunded and operating without adequate information to stem the spread of the pandemic. Public health departments were forced to rely on highly manual and resource intensive processes to report and exchange basic information, increasing stress and burnout among already strained public health workers and officials, resulting in even greater attrition.

Better Late than Never

In response to the clear need for a more robust infrastructure, in September 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will begin awarding nearly $4 billion in grants over a five year period to state and local governments to support strengthening the public health infrastructure, workforce, and data systems. Eligible public health jurisdictions (states, territories, counties with populations over one million, and cities with populations exceeding 400,000) will receive between nearly $3 million and $161 million. This investment will provide significant flexibility to expand the public health workforce, modernize data systems, and transform the way that public health agencies operate.The infusion of new dollars presents an opportunity to break down silos. With thoughtful investment and coordination, jurisdictions can achieve improved health outcomes and address health equity and health disparities.As discussed in a paper we recently prepared for the California Health Care Foundation, electronic data exchange supported by an adequate technical and policy infrastructure, workforce, and interoperability are critical components of a high functioning health care delivery system, including public health. Therefore, the trifecta of a more robust and sustained workforce, improved foundational capabilities, and enhanced data infrastructure provided through this CDC grant gives our country a new opportunity to make meaningful change and be more prepared to both prevent and quickly respond to public health crises in the future.To learn more about this funding opportunity, see the Funding Opportunity Announcement.Eligible entities have until August 15, 2022 to submit their grant applications.

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Authors

Lauren Block [Vice President]