BEYOND THE INSTITUTE-OF-MEDICINE REPORT - A CRITICAL ANALYSIS AND PUBLIC-HEALTH FORECAST

In this article future prospects for public health are considered. Aft er a brief discussion of the major recommendations in the Institute of Medicine's study on the future of public health, key factors that wil l influence the future of public health are described. These factors a re the outcomes of the debate on health care reform, the incorporation of medical care, the shift to capitation versus fee for service as a funding strategy for health care, and the role of values. The article ends with a discussion of possible futures for key aspects of public h ealth practice under various health care reform scenarios.