Role of Government and Health Flashcards
Where does the market exhibit problems in the US?
1) Inequities (unfairness)
2) Technical market failures
List 10 great public health achievements for the 20th century
1) Immunizations
2) Motor vehicle safety
3) Workplace safety
4) Control of infectious disease
5) Declines in deaths from heart disease and stroke
6) Safer and healthier foods
7) Healthier mothers and babies
8) Family planning
9) Fluoridation of drinking water
10) Tobacco as a health hazard
What do achievements in public health have in common?
Advances in science, medicine and technology. Most could not have been done without government
What are inequities in public health?
1) Lack of timely and high quality health care for indigent or uninsured
2) Policies or practices that discriminate by sex, race, sexual orientation, age, etc
What are some technical market failures
1) Inadequate information or knowledge
2) nonexistence of markets for some goods
3) Monopoly power
4) Externalities
5) A public good
Inadequate information or knowledge example
Doctors Dx and Tx
Nonexistence of markets for some goods example
Fixing medicare for future generations
Monopoly power meaning
Firms can charge prices higher than in competitive market
Monopoly power examples
1) Sole producer of essential drugs; patents
2) Only hospital in area
3) Only EMS
Externalities meaning
Cases in which consumption or production by one party imposes costs (or benefits) on other parties not involved in the consumption or production decision
Externalities example
1) Vaccination against communicable disease
2) Second hand smoke exposure
3) Drunk driving or texting while driving
4) Factory dumping waste materials in river or air
A public good meaning
Good or service that, if consumed by one person is consumed by all persons (in the relevant area)
A public good examples
1) Fluoridated water system
2) Traffic light
3) Air pollution control
4) Missile defense system
Legal rationale for government involvement
Both state and federal constitutions- the legal bases for the existence of those entities (ie the individual states and their confederation into a nation)-require the entities to take responsibility for the welfare of the public
Health in the US constitution
Not mentioned in the US constitution! “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution are reserved to the states
Health in state constitutions
States have authority for PH, require states to protect health and welfare of the public, assign responsibility to themselves
Conceptual hierarchy of government authority re PH in law
1) State governments
2) Federal governments
Hierarchy of government authority in PH
1) Federal government
2) State governments
3) Local governments
Why does actual hierarchy in PH differ from conceptual hierarchy?
1) Federal government has the ability to regulate commerce, taxation and spending
Police power:
Power to provide for the health, safety and welfare of the citizenry
Purposes of police power:
1) Prevent people from harming others
2) Defend interests of person incapable of fully informed rational decisions
3) Prevent person from harming him/herself
Examples of use of police power for PH
1) Requiring immunization prior to enrollment
2) Smoke free workplace laws
3) Regulating age, time, and place of alcohol use
4) Drivers license, speed limits, seat belt laws, helmet laws, DUI, driving while texting
5) Fluoridated water
6) Gun control laws
What are some mechanisms for implementing public health policies
1) Law/ordinance by legislative body
2) Regulation/rule setting by administrative agencies
3) Court mandate from review of court challenges to law or regulation
Components of the public health system include:
1) Formal governmental PH system
2) Other governmental agencies with PH responsibilities
3) Non- governmental entities with formal PH responsibilities
4) Non-governmental entities with voluntary involvement (ACS, AHA, ALA, American Red Cross)
