The Size of the Pie

Thanks for the input on public health challenges-- tell us more!

By the way-- these challenges will likely have to be met by using existing resources more efficiently, or by creating new alliances and generating new revenue. Why? Because it looks like the size of the pie for governmental public health is not going to grow soon.

Jonathan Oberlander, who gave the Foard Lecture at UNC this spring (you can watch the webcast), warned the audience against "irrational exuberance" about the possibility that a new president might make dramatic changes in health care and population health. I heard similar forecasts from several healthcare executives this week. Folks in state and federal public health are expecting cutbacks, not big new expenditures. In many areas, the mortgage crisis is going to slowly deflate tax revenues.

So financial help is not on the way. If you want pie, it is time to start rolling out your own dough!