Public Health Funding and Policy Committee defines what core public health services a local health entity should provide in a county or municipality; evaluates public health in the state and identifies initiatives for areas that need improvement; identifies funding sources available to local health entities; and establishes public health policy priorities.
Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 117 established the Public Health Funding and Policy Committee (PHFPC). This committee consists of nine public health professionals. The DSHS Commissioner appoints three local health entity directors, two local health authorities, two deans from schools of public health, and two DSHS Public Health Region medical directors to serve on the committee. DSHS also provides a staff member who supports the committee and coordinates communication between the agency and the committee. DSHS is charged with responding to recommendations made by PHFPC.
The committee shall:
- Define the core public health services a local health entity should provide in a county or municipality.
- Evaluate public health in this state and identify initiatives for areas that need improvement.
- Identify all funding sources available for use by local health entities to perform core public health functions.
- Establish public health policy priorities for this state; and
- At least annually, make formal recommendations to the department regarding:
- The use and allocation of funds available exclusively to local health entities to perform core public health functions.
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- Ways to improve the overall public health of citizens in this state.
- Methods for transitioning from a contractual relationship between the department and the local health entities to a cooperative-agreement relationship between the department and the local health entities; and
- Methods for fostering a continuous collaborative relationship between the department and the local health entities.
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