RALEIGH—A bill aimed at strengthening the public health infrastructure in North Carolina is moving through the legislature toward likely passage this year.
The measure calls for every county, through its public health agency, to develop local priorities that will serve as a basis for greater collaboration with the state.
Sponsored by Sen. Fletcher Hartsell, R-Cabarrus, it seeks to “improve public health outcomes and reduce health disparities by the development and implementation of a State Plan for Public Health Services.”
The bill, S672, passed the Senate overwhelmingly last week and is being debated in the House Rules Committee. It is not known whether the General Assembly, which may recess at any time, will send it to Gov. Mike Easley before the end of the legislative session. Hartsell said it is the product of long negotiation and enjoys widespread bipartisan support.
“We’re seeking to create a performance orientation as opposed to a program orientation. This is not designed to eliminate programming, but to streamline and make it more efficient,” Hartsell said. Under the legislation, reports from localities will serve as a basis for the development and implementation of a state plan. The goal is to identify the standards and opinions of health professionals from across the state and then take those priorities and set an agenda for closing the gap in quality.
The secretary of Health and Human Services will appoint a planning committee to assist in drawing up the plan. The committee will include representatives of the Divisions of Public Health, Medical Assistance, Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse. Also included are four members from the legislature, representatives of local health departments, and members from the boards of county commissioners.
Should the new guidelines take effect, by Jan. 1, 2005 all local public health agencies must be accredited based upon the agencyies’ capacities to provide essential services. A uniform accreditation program will be applied to all local health agencies by the state, which is obligated to provide technical assistance to the agencies.
At the request of a county, the state public health agency can provide technical assistance in developing the priorities required by the bill. Priorities counties will be required to develop include: a description of the demographics and health indicators of the population, the numbers and types of professionals in the local public health workforce and their training needs, a statement of how they are accountable to the public in ensuring essential services, identification of public- and private-sector partners, and a description of financial management.
Jones is an editorial intern at Carolina Journal.