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Health costs account for about one-third of state budgets, ranging from financing Medicaid, to paying for state employees and other populations, such as prisoners. State legislatures make thousands of health policy decisions each year, including improving access to appropriate care, determining who should be immunized, licensing health professionals and facilities, and supporting or rejecting initiatives to keep people healthy. NCSL provides health reports and updates covering 40-plus topics.

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State of the Tap: Policy Actions on Fluoride in Drinking Water

In recent years, states have enacted laws to mandate water fluoridation or repeal existing mandates, shifting decisions to local governments. This policy snapshot outlines five key considerations and highlights five recent state actions to inform policymakers.
Health

Social Workers

Social workers are professionals who help people overcome challenges in their everyday lives, prevent crises and provide counseling to individuals, families and communities. This brief highlights state strategies to address licensure and certification, scope of practice, reimbursement and billing, and recruitment and retention for social work professionals.  
Health
Map

State Public Health Legislation Database

This database covers topics related to public health including infectious disease prevention and treatment, public health reporting and workforce and vaccines. It includes all introduced legislation from 2021 to the present and is updated at least twice per month as legislation is identified by NCSL staff.
Health
Database
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