SAPHE Act 2.0 would improve local and regional public health systems and address disparities

(BOSTON – 07/30/2022) The Massachusetts State Senate on Friday passed legislation to address disparities in local and regional public health systems. The bill, also known as the Statewide Accelerated Public Health for Every Community (SAPHE) Act 2.0, would encourage wider technical coordination among Massachusetts’ 351 separate boards of health, establish common standards among these boards, and ensure that these boards of health are funded equitably. This legislation implements the unanimous recommendations of the Special Commission on Local and Regional Public Health and was a key recommendation of the Joint Committee on COVID-19 and Emergency Preparedness and Management’s July 2022 report. This bill also follows the historic $200.1 million that the Legislature included in the December 2021 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) bill to support the state’s local and regional public health infrastructure.

“My constituents expect high-quality public health services regardless of where they live. The pandemic revealed disparities in different public health systems across the State. Thanks to my fellow Members and President Spilka for passing this bill ensuring that all communities in the Commonwealth are well prepared to respond to public health challenges,” responded Senator Michael D. Brady (D-Brockton).

Currently, Massachusetts does not have a public health framework to guide local boards of health. SAPHE 2.0 directs the Department of Public Health (DPH), in consultation with municipalities and other stakeholders, to develop a set of standards for local public health systems in accordance with national standards and the recommendations of the Special Commission on Local and Regional Public Health. Standards will be set for communicable disease control, public health nursing services, food and water protection, chronic disease and injury prevention, environmental public health, maternal, child and family health, and access to clinical care.

The bill also directs DPH and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to provide core public health educational and training opportunities and technical assistance to municipal and regional public health officials. This will help to prevent a situation from arising in which a board is unable to access health expertise from a credentialed member of the public health workforce.

To help ensure a sustainable state funding mechanism that addresses regional inequities and differing qualities of public health preparedness throughout the state, this legislation directs DPH to estimate annually, before the governor files a budget, the funds needed for local and regional health boards to meet the minimum standards set forth in the bill.

By enhancing and incentivizing cross-jurisdictional sharing, the bill will result in cost savings and more effective service delivery. The bill creates a uniform reporting system which includes metrics for inspections, code enforcement, communicable disease management, and local regulations, and will make this data available (excluding personally identifying information).

Authorized and paid for by the Brady Committee 2022