Wisconsin ranks 44th nationally in state per capita spending on public health, according to a new report by the Trust for America’s Health (TFAH):

• The $13.03 that Wisconsin spent per capita on public health in fiscal year 2013-14 is less than half (42%) of the national average of $31.06.
• Only six other states spent less per capita for public health.

The state-level figures do not include local spending for public health. However, that is little consolation at a time when local governments in Wisconsin are squeezed by frozen state aid and state restrictions on local property tax levies.

The report found that total public health spending nationally – at the federal, state and local level combined – was below pre-recession levels at $75.4 billion in 2013. Adjusted for inflation, that amounts to $218 per person, compared to $241 per person in 2009.

Wisconsin’s very low ranking in spending for public health doesn’t improve when one looks at federal funding.  According to the report:

• Our state ranks 49^th in per capita funds from the Health Resources and Services Administration – 37% below the national average.
• We rank 45^th  in per capita funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – 20% below the national average.

The TFAH report urges that core funding for public health be increased at the federal, state and local levels:

“Stable, sufficient, dedicated funding is needed to support public health emergencies and major disease outbreaks — so the country is not caught unprepared for threats ranging from Ebola to an act of bioterror — and is better equipped to reduce ongoing threats such as the flu, foodborne illnesses and measles.”

Further recommendations can be found in Section 3 of the report.

Jon Peacock