Utah ranks low in CDC funding

Utah's near the bottom in how much money it receives from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for public health programs to prevent injury and disease. But it's also one of the healthier states, according to a new report.

Utah receives $14.81 per person from the CDC for such programs, ranking 46. That's the lowest amount in the region and less than half of what Southern states receive, according to "Shortchanging America's Health 2008," by Trust for America's Health, which looks at how federal public health dollars are spent in each state.

The disparity is both disturbing and understandable, said Dr. David Sundwall, Utah Department of Health director.

"It's always a little disconcerting when you see a ranking of any kind and we're not at the top," he said. "I think we do a pretty good job." On the other hand, Utah doesn't have the same challenges of some states, either. Fewer Utahns smoke, the state has a lower cancer rate and childhood obesity, while concerning, is more rampant elsewhere.

"We have a lot to be be proud of. If I were passing out money, I might give it to states with worse issues. But that doesn't mean we aren't very concerned about competing for these funds," Sundwall said.

Utah health officials recently applied for a CDC exercise and obesity/fitness initiative grant, one Sundwall said they're anxious to get. It would also correct some of the imbalance.

The report, released today, focuses on improving public health, which includes chronic disease and infectious disease prevention, as well as disease, disaster and bioterrorism preparedness.

"Chronic diseases are the driver of health-care costs today," said Jeff Levi, executive director of the trust. "And there's worry about health-care costs doubling by 2012. Chronic diseases have an impact on both quality and length of life. ... We're not investing in prevention activities on a range of issues. If we don't pay now, we will pay dearly later."

The report criticizes the current focus on caring for sick people, while neglecting efforts to prevent disease through public health measures.

CDC funding for prevention varied from a per capita low of $13.61 in Kansas to a per capita high of $69.76 in Alaska. The national average is $17.23 per person.

The report also looks at a state's own public health funding, but warns that differences in state reporting make it hard to do an apples-apples comparison. The range was $3.46 in Nevada to $152.66 in Hawaii. Utah came in near the middle at $31.45 per person (No. 27).