Public Health


Health Policy 101 is a comprehensive guide covering fundamental aspects of U.S. health policy and programs, including Medicare, Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act, employer-sponsored insurance, the uninsured population, health care costs and affordability, women's health issues, and health care politics. The Public Health chapter examines how public health is governed and delivered in the United States. It includes explanations of key public health frameworks, services, capabilities and characteristics, how the public health system works in state, local and territorial governments, and public health funding, workforce, and communication challenges in an era of declining trust.

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  • New Analysis Takes In-Depth Look at How States are Prioritizing Who Gets a COVID-19 Vaccine

    News Release

    A new KFF analysis examines the different approaches states are taking to manage the limited initial supply of COVID-19 vaccines and balance the desire to vaccinate those at greatest risk first with the need to ensure a fast and effective statewide vaccination effort. Based on a review of state vaccination plans, the analysis finds that states are increasingly departing from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendations as they move through the first three…

  • KFF COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor: In Their Own Words

    Poll Finding

    This report summarizes the public’s response to a series of open-ended questions aimed at better understanding people’s concerns around receiving a COVID-19 vaccine and the views of the messages and messengers that could affect their willingness to get one,

  • Brief Examines What’s Known About Children and Coronavirus Transmission as Schools Prepare for Fall

    News Release

    With schools nationwide preparing for fall and the federal government encouraging in-person classes, key concerns for school officials, teachers and parents include the risks that coronavirus poses to children and their role in transmission of the disease. A new KFF brief examines the latest available data and evidence about the issues around COVID-19 and children and what they suggest about the risks posed for reopening classrooms. The review concludes that while children are much less likely…

  • Dec. 3 Web Briefing: What Happens Once There is a COVID-19 Vaccine? Key Challenges to Vaccinating America

    Event Date:
    Event

    Encouraging reports about several COVID-19 vaccine candidates is raising hopes that there will soon be one or more vaccines proven safe and effective, starting a race to produce, distribute, and administer it to essential workers, people at high risk, and the public, including those who may start out with skepticism about the risks posed by COVID-19 and the safety and necessity of vaccination. KFF held an interactive web briefing on Thursday, December 3 to walk…

  • Poll: Most Americans Say President Trump is Intervening with the FDA’s and CDC’s Coronavirus Work, But Trust the Agencies at Least a Fair Amount to Do the Right Thing

    News Release

    As COVID-19 cases rise across much of the country, most Americans think that the president is intervening with the public health agencies working to address the pandemic, the latest KFF Health Tracking Poll finds. Similar majorities say both that President Trump is intervening with the Food and Drug Administration’s efforts to review and approve a coronavirus vaccine (55%) and that he is in intervening with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s efforts to issue coronavirus guidelines…

  • Poll: Americans are Leaving Home More Often Now Than in April as States Ease Social Distancing Restrictions, though Coronavirus Fears Remain

    News Release

    As states continue to ease social distancing restrictions, Americans are leaving their homes more often to shop, visit close family and friends and go to work than they did in April in spite of their concerns about contracting coronavirus, the latest KFF tracking poll finds. The poll finds 9 in 10 (89%) adults say they left their home to shop for food, medicine, or essential household items in the past week, including 61% who say…

  • Poll: Most Americans Positive About Ebola Response

    News Release

    In his latest column for The Wall Street Journal’s Think Tank, Drew Altman releases new Foundation polling data on the public’s confidence in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and local health authorities amid the response to Ebola in the U.S. Taken over the weekend, the latest poll finds a majority continues to express confidence in the CDC to handle the Ebola response, though it has fallen with criticism of the response and news about a…

  • Measles Outbreak and Vaccination Debate Capture Public’s Attention

    News Release

    Those Following Measles Story More Likely To Say They Worry About the DiseaseThe public paid more attention to news coverage of the measles outbreak in the U.S. and the resulting debate on whether vaccinations should be required for all kids than any other news story included in this month's Kaiser Health Policy News Index. A total of 70 percent of Americans say they closely followed the measles story, more than say the same about the…