New Report Provides the Next Administration and Congress a Policy Roadmap for Improving the Nation's Health, Economy, and National Security WASHINGTON , Oct. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The public health system—responsible for protecting and promoting health in every community— needs sustained investment, policy support, and protection from political interference, according to a new report released today by Trust for America's Health. The report, Pathway to a Healthier America: A Blueprint for Strengthening Public Health for the Next Administration and Congress , identifies six priority areas and includes policy recommendations that, if adopted, will improve health outcomes and bolster the nation's economic and national security.
The report was authored after consultation with over 45 experts, practitioners, organizations, and community members, including a national convening of organizations and leaders from across the country. Americans are living longer, thanks in part to public health. Public health interventions, such as improved sanitation, enhanced vaccination access and stronger infectious disease control, improved nutrition, tobacco use prevention, and addressing preventable injury, were the largest contributing factors to life expectancy increases over the last century.
However, too many Americans are still suffering from preventable health problems. Over the last few decades, increasing rates of chronic diseases and alarming levels of substance use disorder and sui.