PUBLIC-HEALTH POLICY - CREATING A HEALTHY FUTURE FOR THE AMERICAN PUBLIC

As the United States moves through health system reconfiguration and reform, the relationship between public health policy and the health of the American people becomes increasingly crucial. Of particular importance is the task of assuring the health of the public through effective public health policy. This article proposes a systematic approach to the development of comprehensive, intentional, and effective national health policy. This approach, which is based on a national health agenda, contains eight key elements and strategies to operationalize them.