A recent report released by Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, gave Colorado the best ranking of high plains states for its ability to prevent and control infectious disease outbreaks.
States were scored using 10 indicators. They are:
- Increased or maintained level of funding for public health services from FY 2011-12 to FY 2012-13.
- Met the HHS goal of vaccinating at least 90 percent of 19- to 35-month-olds against whooping cough.
- Requires the HPV vaccine for teens — or funds HPV vaccination efforts or educates the public about the HPV vaccine.
- State vaccinated at least half of their population (ages 6 months and older) for the seasonal flu of fall 2012 to spring 2013.
- State has a complete climate change adaptation plan that include focusing on the impact of human health.
- State has a complete climate change adaptation plan that include focusing on the impact of human health.
- Public health lab reports having a plan and capability to handle a significant surge in testing over a six to eight week period in response to an outbreak that increases testing over 300%.
- Public health lab reports having the capacity in place to assure the timely transportation (pick-up and delivery) of samples 24/7/365 days to the appropriate public health LRN Reference Laboratory.
- Public health lab evaluated the functionality of COOP via a real event or exercise from July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013.
- State covers routine HIV screening under their Medicaid programs.
New Hampshire scored the best, with passing grades in eight out of the 10 indicators. Colorado- six out of 10; Oklahoma five out of 10; Kansas and Texas four out of 10; and Nebraska was at the bottom of the pile passing only 2 out of 10.
Trust for America’s Health is a nonpartisan public health advocacy organization.
More information about Kansas results can be found at the Kansas Health Institute.
The report can be viewed here.