In these days of preparing for a swine flu epidemic, do you remember always to cover your coughs and sneezes, wash your hands and stock up on hand sanitizer? Then the messages from Public Health officials have succeeded! The public awareness campaign during the swine flu outbreak has pointed the spotlight on the role of Public Health and reminded us how much we depend on this agency to protect our health and safety.

Public Health – Seattle and King County and the Board of Health have responsibility for helping each of us to live as many healthy years as possible. Public Health also prepares for pandemics, keeps us informed, and tells us what to do when danger strikes. It is reassuring to know that, even if we haven’t had a need to use them, Public Health’s community health clinics and public hospitals such as Harborview are there serving our neighbors and family who need them.

Most of the time, we don’t think or hear about Public Health. We take it for granted that the water flowing from the kitchen faucet is safe to drink, the food we purchase at the grocery store and in restaurants is safe to eat, and the air around us is safe to breathe. That means public health efforts are working efficiently behind the scenes and are ready to take center stage when a crisis arises.

Today’s economic challenges have created new concerns for Public Health. We know that as more people lose their jobs, many also lose their health care coverage. Those without coverage are less likely to see the doctor when they are ill because of the expense. When we are all dealing with a flu epidemic, however, it can be dangerous for the severely ill to go untreated.

At the same time, funding for Public Health to fulfill its regulatory and educational roles is in danger. One dedicated funding source for Public Health was the motor vehicle excise tax (MVET). The elimination of the MVET in 2001 left a large funding gap that has grown every year since then. Now, we have reached the crucial point where we must make some very tough decisions about how to maintain Public Health services, or how to determine what services get cut.

With these things in mind, the King County Board of Health has focused its work on supporting health care reform that will reduce costs and improve health. As we look for a solution, we will work with our state and federal partners to enact the health reform principles adopted by the board last year, which include:

Affordable, conveniently located services that are not limited by the ability to pay, pre-existing conditions, gender, or other external factors. The reduction of disparities so that every person has access to appropriate care in a timely manner.

Care that is safe, and doctors who are rewarded for better health outcomes for patients, not for the number of tests they conduct or deny. Emphasize preventive care and promotion of healthy habits.

Sufficient funding to cover health services for everyone over the long term.

Effective cost controls and incorporation of efficient payment and billing systems.

These priorities for a health plan aim to promote individual and community health by establishing a model of what good health care looks like. The Board of Health is reaching out to community groups, professional organizations and state and federal legislators to advocate for these health-reform principles.

The good news is that health-care reform is a high priority for action in Olympia and in Washington, D.C. The state is considering adopting one of five different health plans next year, ranging from a completely unregulated option to a single-payer plan. Health-care consumers and providers all can encourage lawmakers to incorporate these public health principles into health care plans.

Commitment to supporting our public health principles will help guide and fulfill the mission of Public Health to protect clean air and water and to encourage individuals to maintain a healthy lifestyle for as many years as possible. A healthy community enriches and improves our lives and provides the most productive and desirable place to live and work.

Kathy Lambert is the King County Councilmember for District 3 and serves as chair of the Law, Justice, Health and Human Services Committee and is a member of the Seattle/King County Board of Health.