#United States #Washington #Emergency Preparedness #public health readiness #Trust for America's Health

New Report Highlights States' Preparedness for Health Emergencies

A recent evaluation has shed light on how well states across the United States are prepared for public health emergencies. According to the report titled "Ready or Not 2025" by Trust for America's Health (TFAH), 29 states have been categorized into either middle or low-performance tiers when it comes to their emergency preparedness capabilities. This finding underscores a pressing need for states to bolster their readiness to handle crises ranging from infectious disease outbreaks to extreme weather events.

An Overview of Findings

Throughout 2024, numerous public health emergencies occurred nationwide—marking a critical juncture for health infrastructure and preparedness systems. As such, the report draws attention to how vital ongoing investments in public health are for ensuring both individual health and national security. The assessment utilizes ten performance indicators, which include healthcare system readiness, public health funding, availability of paid time off for employees, and the safety of community water systems.

This year’s findings indicate that only 21 states and the District of Columbia reached the high-performance tier, while 16 states fell into the middle tier and 13 into the low tier regarding their emergency preparedness. Among the high performers are states like Colorado, Florida, Virginia, and Washington, whereas states like Alaska, Michigan, and Mississippi rank lower on the preparedness scale.

Key Performance Indicators

The report emphasizes particular areas of strength and weakness in states’ emergency preparedness:

Strengths

• - Nurse Licensure Compact: As of January, 41 states have joined a compact that allows nurses to operate across state lines with a single multistate license, facilitating the mobilization of nursing resources during emergencies.
• - Public Health Accreditation: A majority of states have achieved accreditation through recognized bodies, which enhances their emergency readiness and establishes governance frameworks that foster continuous improvements.
• - Water Safety: The report indicates that the majority of U.S. households receive water from municipal systems that have no safety violations.

Areas for Improvement

Despite these strengths, the assessment pointed out significant challenges:

• - Avoidable Mortality: The report introduced an indicator measurement focusing on preventable or treatable deaths. There are stark disparities across the country, with regions like the Southeast facing higher rates of avoidable deaths.
• - Public Health Funding: A troubling trend has emerged, with 14 states reducing public health funding in fiscal year 2024—a situation compounded by the withdrawal of pandemic response funds.
• - Paid Time Off Accessibility: Access to paid sick leave remains limited, a vital component in controlling the spread of illness and promoting community health.
• - Vaccination Rates: In the most recent flu season, only 47% of the population was vaccinated against the flu, which is below the target established by the Healthy People 2030 initiative.

Recommendations for Improvement

The report concludes with several actionable recommendations aimed at enhancing public health capabilities:

• - Secure stable funding for public health initiatives, particularly those linked to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
• - Prioritize the reauthorization of the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act to better equip the nation against diverse health threats.
• - Address health disparities through improved data collection and targeted health investments, ensuring effective planning aids disadvantaged communities most affected by emergencies.
• - Support research to enhance vaccine development and stockpiling for quick deployment during health crises.

Conclusion

The findings of the "Ready or Not 2025" report paint a comprehensive picture of the current state of public health preparedness in the U.S. As recent public health crises have illustrated, a robust and well-funded public health infrastructure is not just desirable but essential for protecting the health of communities. Policymakers are urged to heed these insights, as proactive measures could significantly enhance the nation’s ability to respond to future health emergencies.

To read the full report, visit Trust for America's Health.