Comments on: An Agency You’ve Never Heard of Is Helping Keep You Alive http://healthblog.ncpa.org/an-agency-you%e2%80%99ve-never-heard-of-is-helping-keep-you-alive/ Health Care Policy and Reform Insights | NCPA Wed, 16 May 2012 20:29:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Joe S. http://healthblog.ncpa.org/an-agency-you%e2%80%99ve-never-heard-of-is-helping-keep-you-alive/comment-page-1/#comment-59742 Joe S. Tue, 13 Apr 2010 01:07:30 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=9994#comment-59742 Maybe there really are some public goods in health care. Maybe there really are some public goods in health care.

]]> By: Virginia http://healthblog.ncpa.org/an-agency-you%e2%80%99ve-never-heard-of-is-helping-keep-you-alive/comment-page-1/#comment-59721 Virginia Mon, 12 Apr 2010 20:16:44 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=9994#comment-59721 Where were these guys during the Swine Flu craze? It seems like public officials had absolutely no influence on the spread of the virus. Where were these guys during the Swine Flu craze? It seems like public officials had absolutely no influence on the spread of the virus.

]]> By: Devon Herrick http://healthblog.ncpa.org/an-agency-you%e2%80%99ve-never-heard-of-is-helping-keep-you-alive/comment-page-1/#comment-59718 Devon Herrick Mon, 12 Apr 2010 20:06:20 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=9994#comment-59718 Too many people have lost sight of the fact that “public health” originally was designed to combat those diseases and conditions that were infectious or spread through the public system (e.g. sewer). This is also a prime example of the original mission of public health. In recent years there has been an attempt to include such conditions as obesity and heart disease under the umbrella of public health. For instance, the health reform bills provide funding for farmers’ markets, bike paths and jogging trails in an attempt to change behavior. Yet these conditions do not fit neatly into the model of diseases that are easily combated collectively. Too many people have lost sight of the fact that “public health” originally was designed to combat those diseases and conditions that were infectious or spread through the public system (e.g. sewer). This is also a prime example of the original mission of public health.

In recent years there has been an attempt to include such conditions as obesity and heart disease under the umbrella of public health. For instance, the health reform bills provide funding for farmers’ markets, bike paths and jogging trails in an attempt to change behavior. Yet these conditions do not fit neatly into the model of diseases that are easily combated collectively.

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