The CPH Foundation

July 9, 2012

We keep finding stories of how cuts to public health are backfiring. Given all the politics going on, this line of the Palm Beach Post story made me chuckle; “The CDC sent a $275,000 grant to help pay for the staff needed to contain [the TB outbreak].”

So, let me get this right… 

First, Florida’s elected officials drastically cut their state health department budget. That cut put a wrench in preventing this outbreak. They then justified not telling the Florida public about the worst TB outbreak in 20 years because the outbreak is just among the homeless and mentally ill. 

• We need to stop here to say we don’t recall any study that found TB checks your wallet before checking into your lungs, but for now we have to skip this. Instead, just help us wish the church groups, volunteers and staff at Florida’s shelters good health.

Anyway, the CDC funding bailout jumped out because on July 2, Florida’s Governor told Newsmax he won’t implement provisions of Obamacare because it will be “devastating” to Florida families and taxpayers. In the same article, he said Florida has, “a very good safety net for our citizens.”

If that is so, why is a guy like me - 680 miles from the Florida border - now paying for Florida’s TB response through my federal taxes?

Anyway, I’m sure Florida is going to pay back this federal money and reimburse any more federal support they utilize as they work to address the TB outbreak in their state, right? They don’t, after all, need any federal support of their state health care system.