Hi, Atlanta!

This week, state representatives wrapped up a series of three meetings focused on the future of public health funding. The committee, made up of four House Republicans and one Democrat, has listened to presentations from a wide variety of public health experts on topics ranging from maternal health to opioid prescription monitoring to community health workers. 

This week, members heard about how other states have increased funding and modernized their public health systems. The example of Indiana jumped out at me — like Georgia, Republicans have controlled Indiana’s state Legislature and governorship for more than a decade. And as in Georgia, the building blocks of Indiana’s public health system are county health departments. 

In 2021, Indiana began a multi-year process to reform its public health system using a carrot-and-stick approach. The carrot was increased funding — 1500%, or $225 million in new funding. The stick was a requirement that counties kick in some additional funding and that county health departments agree to deliver 14 core public health services from food protection to lead poisoning management to maternal and child health. County health departments also had to agree to publicly report on public health outcomes twice a year.

Though the program, dubbed Health First Indiana, is voluntary for counties, by fiscal 2025, all 92 counties had joined. Researchers estimated $95 million in cost savings over the first eight months of 2024 for initial investments in three preliminary program areas: prenatal care, blood pressure screenings, and fall prevention, said Kelly Hughes of the National Conference of State Legislatures. A more comprehensive assessment of Health First Indiana is expected early next year. 

Of course, Indiana started its reform process prior to potentially large cuts to federal funding for state public health under President Donald Trump’s proposed fiscal 2026 budget. States, including Georgia, typically get about half of their public health funding from federal sources, Hughes said. 

“States are gonna have to be creative and innovate and how they think about funding public health moving forward,” she said. 

Upcoming Events

🎤 Tell us about your ‘Aha’ moments: Healthbeat is planning a live storytelling event featuring the voices of people working on issues related to community health in Atlanta. Epidemiologists, nurses, researchers, social workers, volunteers, or others in related work, here or abroad — you have stories that need to be heard. Submit your story by Wednesday to [email protected]. ⏳ 

We’ll publish the most powerful stories on Healthbeat and invite a select few of the authors to join us for a live evening of storytelling:

• 7 p.m. Nov. 3 at Manuel’s Tavern, 602 N. Highland Ave. NE, Atlanta

• Admission is free, but space is limited. Get your ticket now. 

Many thanks to the Georgia Health Initiative for sponsoring!

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