State barriers to appropriating public health emergency response funds during the 2009 H1N1 response

V.A. Yeager, D. Hurst and N. Menachemi

American Journal of Public Health, 2015, vol. 105, S274-S279

Abstract: Objectives: We examined state-specific administrative barriers to allocating 2009 H1N1 influenza public health emergency response (PHER) funds. Methods: We conducted a qualitative review of PHER grants management reports to identify and code barriers reported by states in allocating funds. Using linear regression, we examined the relationship between the percentage of funds allocated and each individual barrier and, separately, the cumulative effect of multiple barriers. Results. States reported 6 barrier types, including regulatory issues (n = 14, or 28%), contracting issues (n = 14, or 28%), purchasing issues (n = 6, or 12%), legislative issues (n = 5, or 10%), staffing issues (n = 5, or 10%), and issues transferring funds between state and local health departments (n = 4, or 8%). In multivariate models, having experienced a purchasing barrier was associated with a significant decrease in PHER allocation (B =-26.4; P = .018). Separately, the cumulative effect of having 3 barriers was associated with a decrease in PHER allocation (B =-16.0; P = .079). Conclusions: Purchasing barriers were associated with delayed use of PHER funds. Moreover, the cumulative effect of any 3 barriers hampered the allocation of funds.Understanding barriers to using funds can inform future funding guidance for improved efficiency of response efforts.

Keywords: demography; economics; epidemic; financial management; human; Influenza virus A H1N1; Influenza, Human; organization and management; personnel management; public health service, Disease Outbreaks; Financial Management; Financing, Government; Humans; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype; Influenza, Human; Personnel Staffing and Scheduling; Public Health Administration; Residence Characteristics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2014.302378_0

DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2014.302378

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