Health care reform news has focused on hot topics such as insurance reform and Medicare, but how does reform help the overall quality of health care in the U.S.? Major provisions in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) and accompanying Reconciliation Act offer extensive measures for quality improvement, as well as benefits for the health care workforce. Here are some of the relevant provisions that are either now or soon to be in effect:

Public Health and Quality Improvement

--Community Health Centers: Funds will be provided to build new centers and expand existing ones. The funding will be effective fiscal year 2011 in the amount of $1 billion and progressing in years to come.

--Public Health Prevention Efforts: A National Prevention, Health Promotion and Public Health Council will be created. The council's duties include coordination with federal agencies on prevention, wellness and health promotion practices. The council will provide recommendations to the president and Congress about the most urgent health issues in the U.S., and what changes in policy may be necessary. The council will also consider models, policies and innovative approaches for prevention and integrative health on both individual and community levels. The president will also establish an Advisory Group on Prevention, Health Promotion, and Integrative and Public Health for the Council. The Advisory Group will be in the Department of Health and Human Services; it will develop prevention and integrative health care practices, policy and program recommendations for the Council.

--Prevention and Public Health Fund: this fund, run through HHS, will provide for expanded national investment in prevention and public health programs. The funding authorized for fiscal 2010 is $500 million and progressive in years to come. The funds will used for public health activities including prevention research, health screenings, and immunization programs.

--National Strategy on Public Health: The Council will develop a national prevention, health promotion and public health strategy. The strategy will set specific goals and objectives for improving U.S. health through federally supported programs. The strategy will include specific, measurable actions and timeliness, and make recommendations regarding federal efforts in public health. This strategy should be completed by 2011.

--Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute: This will be a private, non-profit institute to identify national priorities for research in public health care, and research comparative effectiveness in health treatment strategies. The institute will assist patients, clinicians and others in making informed decisions by advancing the quality and relevance of evidence concerning treatment and prevention.

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