PUBLIC-HEALTH POLICY - CREATING A HEALTHY FUTURE FOR THE AMERICAN PUBLIC

As the United States moves through health system reconfiguration and r eform, the relationship between public health policy and the health of the American people becomes increasingly crucial. Of particular impor tance is the task of assuring the health of the public through effecti ve public health policy. This article proposes a systematic approach t o the development of comprehensive, intentional, and effective nationa l health policy. This approach, which is based on a national health ag enda, contains eight key elements and strategies to operationalize the m.