These field-tested resources translate health economics into practical tools for California's public health practitioners. Developed through extensive research and refined through real-world application across California, each tool addresses specific challenges faced by local health departments, Medi-Cal managed care plans, and community health organizations. Whether you're conducting a community health needs assessment, justifying program budgets to your Board of Supervisors, preparing for PHAB accreditation, writing grant applications, or evaluating CalAIM initiatives, these resources provide the economic evidence base your work requires—without requiring advanced statistical expertise or dedicated health economics staff.
Demonstrate the return on investment for your chronic disease prevention and management programs with this practical analysis tool designed specifically for public health practitioners. The calculator helps you evaluate the economic value of interventions by comparing program costs against healthcare cost savings, productivity gains, and quality-of-life improvements, with methodology validated through California Department of Public Health collaborations. Whether you're justifying existing programs to county leadership, supporting grant applications, or prioritizing among competing initiatives, this tool translates complex economic analysis into clear, stakeholder-friendly presentations that show how prevention saves money while improving community health.
Demonstrate the return on investment for your chronic disease prevention and management programs with this practical analysis tool designed specifically for public health practitioners. The calculator helps you evaluate the economic value of interventions by comparing program costs against healthcare cost savings, productivity gains, and quality-of-life improvements, with methodology validated through California Department of Public Health collaborations. Whether you're justifying existing programs to county leadership, supporting grant applications, or prioritizing among competing initiatives, this tool translates complex economic analysis into clear, stakeholder-friendly presentations that show how prevention saves money while improving community health.
Understand the true cost of delivering your public health programs with resource-based costing methodology that moves beyond simple budget line items to detailed activity-level analysis. This approach identifies all resources consumed (staff time, supplies, facilities, equipment) for specific program activities, enabling you to accurately calculate unit costs, compare efficiency across programs or jurisdictions, identify opportunities for cost savings, and provide transparent cost documentation for funders and stakeholders. Particularly valuable for CalAIM Enhanced Care Management, PHAB accreditation processes, and programs requiring detailed cost justification, resource-based costing provides the economic foundation for informed management decisions and strategic resource allocation
Navigate California's complex landscape of health data with this comprehensive guide to publicly available datasets, tools, and resources specifically curated for public health economic analysis. The guide provides direct links, access instructions, and practical application examples for essential sources including California hospital discharge data, emergency department data, vital statistics, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), census data, and county-specific health indicators. Developed through years of applied research across all 58 California counties, this resource helps you locate the data you need for cost estimation, burden of disease studies, program evaluation, and community health assessments—saving countless hours of searching and reducing the learning curve for economic analysis.
A Framework for Evidence-Based Healthcare Decision Making in California – Explore how systematic health technology assessment can strengthen decision-making in public health departments and Medi-Cal managed care plans through this detailed examination of HTA principles, methods, and applications. Based on analysis of California Department of Public Health practices and international best practices, the report provides practical guidance on evaluating clinical effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, budget impact, and ethical considerations for new programs, technologies, and policy initiatives—with specific recommendations for adapting HTA approaches to California's diverse public health landscape.
Applying Behavioral Insights to California Public Health Practice – This comprehensive report examines how behavioral economics principles can improve public health program effectiveness, drawing from extensive interviews with California Department of Public Health staff and analysis of current applications across multiple program areas. Learn how concepts like choice architecture, social norms, and loss aversion can enhance vaccination uptake, improve nutrition program participation, strengthen tobacco control efforts, and increase screening rates—with practical examples from California's public health programs and actionable recommendations for implementation in resource-constrained settings.
Examining the Priorities of Local Health Departments in California: A Mixed Methods Study (Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, 10-1097). This peer-reviewed publication presents a systematic approach to conducting community health needs assessments that satisfy PHAB accreditation requirements, IRS mandates for nonprofit hospitals, and grant application expectations while genuinely informing local health planning. Drawing from real-world implementation across California counties, the article demonstrates how to integrate economic analysis into needs assessment, prioritize health issues using transparent criteria, engage diverse stakeholders meaningfully, and translate assessment findings into actionable strategic plans and resource allocation decisions.
California Farmworker Health Study: Economic and Social Determinants of Health – Explore findings from the $1.35M California Farmworker Health Study examining health status, healthcare access, social determinants, and economic barriers among approximately 1,400 agricultural workers across California's diverse farming regions. This comprehensive report documents the complex relationships between immigration status, language barriers, occupational exposures, food security, mental health, substance use, and healthcare utilization, with particular attention to how trust in public health agencies varies across different health domains—providing essential evidence for designing effective, culturally appropriate programs serving California's agricultural workforce.
