Subscribe to the RSS feed.Public Health Investment Fund: Enlightened Policy or “Slush Fund for Pork Barrel Projects”?
Right now, Congress is considering legislation that would allocate as much as $10 billion for a “prevention and public health investment fund,” which would be earmarked for infrastructure projects such as bike paths, sidewalks, farmers markets and other community interventions aimed at curbing chronic health conditions and obesity.
As reported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation News Digest and the Chicago Tribune, a preliminary House bill would annually provide as much as $8.8 billion for a public health investment fund, with up to $1.6 billion to support community grants that could fund infrastructure projects.
Advocates say such preventive efforts could improve health outcomes and reduce health care costs.
Senator Mike Enzi (R-Wyoming - pictured), on the other hand, calls the provisions “an $80 billion slush fund for additional pork-barrel projects,” adding that “it won’t bring down health care costs or make quality coverage more affordable.”
What do you think?
