title: Revenue sources for essential services in Florida: findings and implications for organizing and funding public health.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Florida Public Health Practice-Based Research Network conducted the study of Florida county health departments (CHDs) to assess relationships between self-assessed performance on essential services (ESs) and sources of funding.
  
  
  METHODS
  Primary data were collected using an online survey based on Public Health Accreditation Board standards for ES. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to assess the relationship of sources and amounts of revenue obtained from the Florida Department of Health financial system to responses to the survey of CHD capacity for ESs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Self-assessed CHD performance for each ES varied extensively among the CHDs and across the 10 ESs, ranging from a high of 98% CHDs completely or almost completely meeting the standards for ES 2 (Investigating Problems and Hazards) to a low of 32% completely or almost completely meeting standards for ES 10 (Research/Evidence). Medicaid revenue and fees were positively correlated with some ESs. Per capita revenue support varied extensively among the CHDs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Revenue for ES is decreasing and is heavily reliant on noncategorical (discretionary) revenue. This study has important implications for continued reliance on ES as an organizing construct for public health.
authors: University of Florida College of Medicine-Jacksonville, Jacksonville, FL 32209, USA. william.livingood@jax.ufl.edu
authors: William C
authors: WC
authors: Livingood
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Morris
authors: Bonita
authors: B
authors: Sorensen
authors: Karen
authors: K
authors: Chapman
authors: Lillian
authors: L
authors: Rivera
authors: Les
authors: L
authors: Beitsch
authors: Phil
authors: P
authors: Street
authors: Susan
authors: S
authors: Coughlin
authors: Carmen
authors: C
authors: Smotherman
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Wood
mesh_terms: D005380:Financing, Government / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005431:Florida; D006077:Government Agencies / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D009111:Local Government; D011634:Public Health / Q000191:economics; D011635:Public Health Administration / Q000191:economics*; D013219:State Government