TFAH Ready Or Not Report: 2010

 

 

# 5141

 

 

 

TFAH, or the Trust For America’s Health, is a non-profit organization that audits and reports on public health issues in the United States.   I’ve highlighted a number of their previous reports in the past 12 months, including here, here, and here.

 

Today they’ve released their 8th Annual Report on the readiness of the United States to deal with disease, disasters, and bioterrorism.

 

While many gains in preparedness have been recorded, according to TFAH the recession and recent budget cuts threaten this hard earned progress.

 

I’ve links to the full report, a press release, and the audio file of today’s telephone conference about the report’s release.

 

Complete Report (1.7MB pdf)

 

A recording of the National Press Briefing

 

Press Release: Report Finds States Achieve Highest Ever Scores for Public Health Preparedness, But Progress Threatened by Budget Cuts (December 13 2010)

 

 

How the states ranked.

 

 

Press Release

For Immediate Release: December 14, 2010

Ready or Not?

2010 Finds States Achieve Highest Ever Scores for Health Emergency Preparedness, But Progress Threatened by Budget Cuts

Washington, D.C., December 14, 2010 - In the eighth annual Ready or Not? Protecting the Public from Diseases, Disasters, and Bioterrorism report, 14 states scored nine or higher on 10 key indicators of public health preparedness.  Three states (Arkansas, North Dakota, and Washington State) scored 10 out of 10.  Another 25 states and Washington, D.C. scored in the 7 to 8 range.  No state scored lower than a five.

 

The scores reflect nearly ten years of progress to improve how the nation prevents, identifies, and contains new disease outbreaks and bioterrorism threats and responds to the aftermath of natural disasters in the wake of the September 11, 2001 and anthrax tragedies.  In addition, the real-world experience responding to the H1N1 flu pandemic - supported by emergency supplemental funding - also helped bring preparedness to the next level.

 

However, the Ready or Not? report, released today by the Trust for America's Health (TFAH) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, notes that the almost decade of gains is in real jeopardy due to severe budget cuts by federal, state, and local governments.  The economic recession has led to cuts in public health staffing and eroded the basic capabilities of state and local health departments, which are needed to successfully respond to crises.  Thirty-three states and Washington, D.C. cut public health funding from fiscal years (FY) 2008-09 to 2009-10, with 18 of these states cutting funding for the second year in a row.  The report also notes that just eight states raised funding for two or more consecutive years.  The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities has found that states have experienced overall budgetary shortfalls of $425 billion since FY 2009.

 

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A US Report Card On Bioterrorism Readiness

 

 

 

# 4293

 

 

In the wake of the 9/11 Commission report - Congress set up a Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism - which is chaired by former Florida Senator Bob Graham and former Missouri Senator Jim Talent.

 

Last year the commission produced their first major report, The World At Risk, where they warned that a bio-terrorism attack on the US was likely by 2013.

 

Today, we get a new report from the commission – a report card, really – on how the  US is responding to the terror threat.  

 

And in the view of this commission, the marks aren’t very good. In fact, in some areas, they give the US a failing grade.

 

Admittedly this report is geared primarily towards the prevention and/or containment of an intentional biological or radiological attack, not a pandemic or a disease outbreak. 

 

Regardless of how seriously you view the threat of an intentional biological release,  it can certainly be argued that many of the skills and resources needed to deal with that contingency would prove equally important in a serious pandemic.

 

Here then is the press release from the Commission.  You can download the full report here.

 

 

Report Card: Government Failing to Protect America from Grave Threats of WMD Proliferation and Terrorism

 

Washington, D.C.—Former Senator Bob Graham (D-FL) and former Senator Jim Talent (R-MO), chair and vice chair of the bipartisan Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism, today released a report card indicating that the U.S. government is not taking the necessary steps to protect the country from the threats posed by WMD and terrorism.

 

Of 17 grades, the report card includes three failing “F” grades on rapid and effective response to bioterrorism; Congressional oversight of homeland security and intelligence; and national security workforce recruitment.  Fortunately, all three grades could be substantially improved by committed leadership in Congress and the Administration.

 

“Nearly a decade after September 11, 2001, one year after our original report, and one month after the Christmas Day bombing attempt, the United States is failing to address several urgent threats, especially bioterrorism,” said Senator Graham.  “Each of the last three Administrations has been slow to recognize and respond to the biothreat. But we no longer have the luxury of a slow learning curve, when we know al Qaeda is interested in bioweapons.”

 

“We are also enormously frustrated about the failure of Congress to reform homeland security oversight,” said Senator Talent.  “The Department can’t do its job, if it is responding to more than 80 congressional committees and sub-committees.  This fragmentation guarantees that much of what Congress does is duplicative and disjointed.”

 

The Report Card also includes “A” grades for achieving specific actions related to a review of domestic programs to secure dangerous pathogens, for finalizing and approving an Interagency Bioforensics Strategy, and for conducting recommended reorganization inside the National Security Council.

 

In December 2008, the Commission released its World at Risk report with a unanimous threat assessment: Unless the world community acts decisively and with great urgency, it is more likely than not that a weapon of mass destruction will be used in a terrorist attack somewhere in the world by the end of 2013.  That weapon is more likely to be biological than nuclear.  The Commission identified a series of recommendations and specific actions that Congress and the Administration should take to change the trajectory of risk.  Today’s report card evaluates steps taken to implement these recommendations and to protect the United States from the threats of WMD proliferation and terrorism.

 

The threat assessment was based on multiple factors.  There is direct evidence that terrorists are trying to acquire weapons of mass destruction and acquiring WMD fits the tactical profile of terrorists. Terrorists also have global reach and the organizational sophistication to obtain and use WMD. Finally, the opportunity to acquire and use such weapons is growing exponentially because of the global proliferation of nuclear material and biological technologies.

 

TFAH: Ready Or Not 2009

# 4159

 

 

TFAH, or the Trust For America’s Health, is a non-profit organization that audits and reports on public health issues in the United States.   I’ve highlighted a number of their previous reports in the past (see TFAH Report: H1N1 Challenges Ahead).

 

Today they’ve released their 7th annual report on the readiness of the United States to deal with disease, disasters, and bioterrorism.  In it they find that the H1N1 pandemic outbreak of 2009 has revealed a number of shortcomings in our national public health preparedness plans.

 

A hat tip to Jimmy Jazz at the Break Glass Blog for calling this report to my attention.

 

Here is an excerpt from the press release, and a link to the actual report follows.

 

 

Press Release

For Immediate Release: December 15, 2009

New Report: H1N1 Reveals Gaps in Nation’s Emergency Health Preparedness Efforts; Twenty States Score Six or Less Out of Ten Key Indicators

WASHINGTON, DC - The seventh annual Ready or Not? Protecting the Public's Health from Diseases, Disasters, and Bioterrorism report, released today by the Trust for America's Health (TFAH) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), found that the H1N1 flu outbreak has exposed serious underlying gaps in the nation's ability to respond to public health emergencies and that the economic crisis is straining an already fragile public health system.

 

The report found that 20 states scored six or less out of 10 key indicators of public health emergency preparedness.  Nearly two-thirds of states scored seven or less.  Eight states tied for the highest score of nine out of 10: Arkansas, Delaware, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas, and Vermont.  Montana had the lowest score at three out of 10.  The preparedness indicators are developed in consultation with leading public health experts based on data from publicly available sources or information provided by public officials.

 

"The H1N1 outbreak has vividly revealed existing gaps in public health emergency preparedness," said Richard Hamburg, Deputy Director of TFAH.  "The Ready or Not? report shows that a band-aid approach to public health is inadequate.  As the second wave of H1N1 starts to dissipate, it doesn't mean we can let down our defenses.  In fact, it's time to double down and provide a sustained investment in the underlying infrastructure, so we will be prepared for the next emergency and the one after that."

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Complete Report (1.7MB pdf)

Press Release: New Report: H1N1 Reveals Gaps in Nation's Emergency Health Preparedness Efforts; Twenty States Score Six or Less Out of Ten Key Indicators (December 15, 2009)

 

Using the TFAH criteria, a many states have dropped in ranking since last year.  In 2008, 5 states scored a 10, while this year no state scored higher than 9.  

 

2009  Rankings.

 

2008  Rankings