Agenda 04-01-2004 - Laserfiche WebLink

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PUBLIC HEALTH TASK FORCE 2004: PRELIMINARY RECOMMENDATIONS PUBLIC HEALTH IMPROVEMENT PLAN PART I: CORE INFRASTRUCTURE Finance Committee 16. Consider the following as possible sources of support for the core infrastructure needs of the public health system: Page 32 • Empower local health departments statutorily to charge fees commensurate with the local costs of conducting the food and lodging program activity. • Develop a Low Wealth Funding Formula to be used to distribute public health program and administrative funds to local health departments. • Seek private funding (philanthropic foundations, trusts and business partners) for the enhancement of public health through creative partnerships. • Secure state appropriations to implement the equipment replacement schedule for the State Laboratory of Public Health. • Assure that a significant percentage of any new health - related revenues as set by the General Assembly be directed to support public health infrastructure and services in keeping with a statewide Public Health Plan. • Two essential core infrastructure needs not addressed in other Committee recommendations are the following: => Dedicated, ongoing funding for replacement and ongoing maintenance of the Health Information System, including local and state interface; and, => Ongoing state funding to share more equitably the costs of environmental health services currently funded by local government. 17. The state should fund the local Medicaid share on a phased basis, and direct that a significant percentage of freed up local revenue be appropriated for local public health core infrastructure and service needs. The transition could begin by picking up any increase, and then phase down county share percentage on an annual basis until state assumes total amount. Page 39 N.