Public Health Portfolio

Important Publications

COVID-19 and Medical Debt in Tennessee

Medical debt hurt the credit history of an estimated 22% of Tennesseans with a credit report in 2018 – the 8th highest rate in the country.
The pandemic’s dual economic and public health crises could make medical debt even more common, which would likely hamper our economic recovery.
Despite state, local, and private actions aimed at covering COVID-19 test and treatment costs, some Tennesseans may still face bills they cannot afford even if they have health insurance.
The pandemic’s economic fallout may make non-COVID-19 medical costs harder to afford for Tennesseans who have lost their jobs or had their hours cut

Tennessee's Public Health Infrastructure

Public health is a broad field focused on supporting the health of entire populations and communities.
Spending upfront to prevent costly outbreaks and chronic diseases may save money in the end, but those savings can be hard to measure or take a long time to produce.
Our public health infrastructure includes distinct systems at the local, state, federal, and international levels, which often coordinate to halt the spread of infectious diseases.