Use of Law and Policy in Regional Approaches to Local Public Health Service Delivery

While regionalization is often proposed as an option to provide increased access to more comprehensive public health services, there is limited evidence to inform how regional approaches can be optimally structured and how they should be maintained through law and policy. The research presented here will describe an analysis of laws from 10 states and the Colorado Public Health Act of 2008, based on the impact of legal language on regionalization. In 2008, Colorado passed the Public Health Act of 2008, utilizing key portions of the Turning Point Model State Public Health Act. This significant public health legislation in Colorado reorganizes local public health agencies into one model, creates a list of core services and standards that should be provided to all residents of Colorado, and requires collaboration to create state and local public health improvement plans. This law has provided context for the discussion of regionalization and regional approaches among public health professionals and elected officials. However, the law had not been analyzed through the lens of its impact on the development and sustainablity of regional approaches. This presentation will provide detailed explanation of the aspects of the Act that encourage and discourage regional approaches through law and practice. As local public health agencies and states explore the potential of regional approaches, a formal examination of the impact of laws and policies is an important structural aspect to understand and consider to improve the success of such regional approaches. This presentation will further the conversation of regaionalization at the state and local level.