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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Jose Lacal, Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, University of Miami, 1116 Rialto Drive, APHA 2006, Boynton Beach, FL 33436, (954) 553-1984, j.lacal@umiami.edu

The health of populations is determined by a variety of factors, ranging from macrosocial factors (e.g., policies, assets) to individual behaviors (e.g., smoking). As our understanding of the interrelationship between the health of populations and the economic factors that both influence, and are influenced by, population health, improves, it is becoming readily apparent that innovative public health efforts need to be considered that can result in improved health of populations. Unfortunately, public health efforts in the economic arena are frequently stymied by concerns that such efforts go beyond the "traditional" role of public health. This paper introduces an innovative framework that might help public health practitioners interested in structural economic interventions. We propose a "public health future" funding mechanism similar to the existing commodities futures market as an economic framework to bring new actors to fund existing Public Health infrastructure. The proposed framework leverages well-known financing mechanisms widely used in both industrial and residential financial settings. This framework seeks to "securitize" the net present value of future population health improvements. The proposed concept of Public Health Futures is designed to empower new actors with an interest in the future earning and purchasing power of today's youth to actively fund public health activities that have a high probability of delivering healthy, productive citizens (and taxpayers) in the future. The strengths and limitations of this approach will be discussed.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Recognize the direct and measurable economic impact of public health investments in the economic well-being of a country.
• Articulate the negative economic impact that short-changing public health activities will have in the economic productivity of future US consumers.
• Describe the proposed Public Health Futures funding model and articulate its strengths and shortcomings.

Keywords: Financing, Economic Analysis

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? Yes

Organization	Clinical/Research Area	Type of Relationship
Motorola	Telecommunications	Employment (includes retainer), Other (please describe) and The company is paying for my MPH.

Any company-sponsored training?	Yes
Did the company pay your travel and lodging?	Yes
Were you provide you with slides as part of the training sessions?	No
Did you receive an honorarium or consulting fee for participating in the training?	No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?	No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Recorded presentation