Public Health Policy

The MMA recognizes the close interrelationships between medicine, public health and individual health. The MMA works to preserve Maines’ position as a leader in public health through education of physicians and the public, policy development and advocacy.

Strategic Priorities

The MMA’s Committee on Public Health has established three areas of strategic priority:

Immunizations
Without vaccines, epidemics of many preventable diseases could return, resulting in increased – and unnecessary – illness, disability, and death. Maine’s immunization rates, a basic cornerstone of preventive health services, have fallen dramatically in recent years. Coming soonresources and educational tools for physicians/office use about the current status of the Maine Immunization Program, ACIP Recommendations, current public health policy strategies, and talking points to use with parents regarding their concerns with vaccines.

Healthy Weight
Few public health challenges are more important today than stopping the epidemic of overweight and obesity. Obesity is second only to smoking as a preventable cause of death in the United States. Click here for resources and educational tools for physicians/office use about the recognition and treatment of overweight/obesity.

Environmental Health
The societal and economic costs of chronic disease, neurodevelopment disorders, and other disabilities that are potentially linked to environmental chemical exposures are enormous and increasing. Rates of childhood illness with potential links to environmental contamination are on the rise. Click here for resources and educational tools for physicians/office use regarding pediatric environmental health.

Other Public Health Issues

• Flu
  
• Health Disparities
  
• Infectious Diseases
  
• Substance Abuse
  
• Tobacco
  
• Violence Prevention