Public health policies and systems seek to improve the health of populations. Our public health system in Maine assures that we have safe drinking water, are prepared to respond to disasters, and have community-based prevention programs to decrease injury, disease, and premature death. While the term public health is often misunderstood and linked with indigent care, the system encompasses far more and provides essential health improvement services.

This is one in a series of policy briefs written for the 2009 Policy Leaders Academy Health Care Forum.