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…

  • Nearly 6 in 10 Older Americans Don’t Know When or Where They Can Get a COVID-19 Vaccine; Black and Hispanic Adults among the Groups Least Likely to Have Enough Information

    News Release

    Despite Optimism about COVID-19 Vaccines in the Future, Half Say They are Frustrated with the Current Situation and Nearly a Quarter are Angry While older Americans are a high-priority group for getting a COVID-19 vaccine, the latest KFF COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor report finds that, among those who have not yet been vaccinated, most people ages 65 and older say they do not have enough information about when (58%) and where (59%) they will be able to get…

  • The Red/Blue Divide in COVID-19 Vaccination Rates Continues: An Update

    Policy Watch

    This analysis is an update to a previous analysis conducted in September 2021. Using county-level data, we analyzed trends in COVID-19 vaccination rates in counties that voted for President Trump in the 2020 election compared to counties that voted for President Biden. We find higher vaccination rates for counties that voted for Biden. However, rates among those fully vaccinated that have received a booster are similar between the two groups.

  • Mixed Prospects for Vaccinating Children

    From Drew Altman

    In this Axios column, Drew Altman examines the data about what parents say they will do once their children ages 5-11 become eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine, and why it will take some time and a concerted outreach effort to match adult vaccination rates.

  • Few Americans Expect a Widespread Ebola Outbreak Here, But Some Are Worried They or a Family Member May Become Infected, New Poll Finds

    News Release

    Democrats, Republicans and Independents All Support Major U.S. Role Fighting Ebola in West Africa, About Equally, to Protect Americans and to Save Lives As the nation grapples with its first cases of Ebola transmitted in the U.S., a new Kaiser Family Foundation Tracking Poll finds that personal worry about Ebola is reasonably high, with 45% of the public saying they are worried that they or a family member will contract the disease. But most Americans…

  • Navigating Recovery: Health Care Financing and Delivery Systems in Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands

    Issue Brief

    This brief identifies key issues and short and long-term options for recovery around the health care financing and delivery systems in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands following Hurricanes Irma and Maria, which caused significant physical damage to the territories. It draws on insights from a Nov. 30 roundtable discussion with leaders and experts representing a variety of perspectives on Medicaid policy, health insurance and care delivery systems, and disaster recovery.

  • Climate and Health in California: Challenges and Next Steps for the Golden State 

    Event Date:
    Event

    California has long been a leader in tackling climate change.  However, as recent events have shown, despite its progressive climate policies, the Golden State is still very vulnerable to the effects of climate change. One key effect of climate change is its impact on health.  From degraded air and water quality, to the mental health impact of climate emergencies like wildfires, to health complications from increased heat, to increases in vector-borne diseases like Lyme Disease,…