Health Care and Homeland Security: Crossroads of Emergency Response

Publication Date: January 2008

Publisher: Heritage Foundation (Washington, D.C.)

Author(s):

Research Area: Health

Keywords: Homeland defense; emergency preparedness; disaster relief; emergency response

Type: Report

Coverage: United States

Abstract:

Health care reform is again being seriously discussed. Rapidly rising costs, problems with access to care and questions about quality of care have made this a major issue. At the same time, the post-9/11 and post-Hurricane Katrina world has focused significant attention on improving our medical preparedness and disaster response planning. All of health care reform has homeland security implications, but emergency capability and response, hospital capacity, and public health are especially significant for both.