North Carolina`s chronically under-‐funded public health budget has

North Carolina’s chronically under-‐funded public health budget has resulted in dire consequences for the state’s fiscal health and the health of our communities and individual residents. At minimum, North Carolina needs to increase yearly investments in prevention to meet the national average of $90.00 per person annually. This is the morally and fiscally sound choice for our state. NC SOPHE Advocacy Priority #2 Why is prevention funding an important public health issue in North Carolina? •
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North Carolina ranks 47th in the nation in regard investment in the overall health of its residents, spending just $11.73 each year per resident on public health (Public Health ACTion Campaign, 2015). In 2015, no state funds were dedicated to tobacco prevention, a serious public health threat. Every $1 spent on prevention saves $5.60 in health spending (APHA, 2015). Spending on public health programs is only a small fraction of health spending yet research has shown us that the return on investment (ROI) is substantial (Richardson, 2012). 75% of health spending is on preventable chronic conditions, yet only 3 cents of every dollar spent on health goes toward public health (APHA, 2015). This is a major issue for North Carolina, which is 8th in the nation for the number of adults living with diabetes (Public Health ACTion Campaign, 2015). Funding cuts prevent health educators and others from implementing specific interventions that could save money and lives in North Carolina. An investment of just $10 per person per year in programs targeting improved nutrition, increased physical activity, and the prevention of tobacco use could save the nation $16 billion annually within 5 years (Mays & Smith, 2011). Investments in Public Health saves lives. $1 spent on childhood vaccines saves $16.50 in future health care costs and for each 10% increase in public health spending, cancer deaths decrease by 6.9%, diabetes deaths by 3.2%, cardiovascular deaths by 1.4%, and infant deaths by 1.1% (APHA, 2015). “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” ~Benjamin Franklin What you can do: •
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Educate legislators, health professionals and communities about the importance of public health funding, including the Prevention and Public Health Fund. Read more here: https://www.apha.org/~/media/files/pdf/advocacy/150219_pphf.ashx Contact and maintain communication with legislative offices, policy makers and key stakeholders. Stay informed on the legislative process, including budgetary decisions (http://www.ncleg.net/) and national trends in public health funding (http://www.apha.org/advocacy). Sign up for Action Alerts from national and state organizations and participate in advocacy campaigns such as those of NCSOPHE, the NC Alliance for Health and the North Carolina Public Health Association. *Please visit www.ncarolinasophe.org for more information on the North Carolina Society for Public Health Education

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