Public Health Policy

At a glance

Public health policies play an important role in shaping the healthcare landscape. They influence the scope of practice for healthcare professionals, guide responses to public health emergencies, and enhance access to necessary services. Tracking state, jurisdiction and territorial policies over time can provide insight into their impact on health outcomes and support efforts to improve healthcare delivery nationwide.
A gavel sits atop a stack of legal documents on a wooden desk

We Track That

Public health policies determine what services and resources are available to communities, which directly impacts health outcomes. States and jurisdictions establish these policies and oversee their implementation. The Tracking Network brings together this information to support state and jurisdiction planning.

The Tracking Network provides data on Pharmacist Scope of Practice Laws, Community Health Worker (CHW) Policies, and COVID-19 Pandemic Orders. These state and jurisdiction level policies help expand access to care and empower healthcare professionals to offer essential services.

By organizing and presenting this information in a consistent format, the Tracking Network makes it easier to compare data across states and over time.

With these data, public health professionals can

  • Identify geographic patterns in healthcare access
  • Guide the development of community health initiatives
  • Support workforce development

Tracking these policies can enable communities to improve health outcomes and strengthen their capacity to address public health challenges.

Types of Data

The Tracking Network provides state and jurisdictional data for the following public health policy indicators.

Community Health Worker (CHW) Policies

This indicator provides information on the policies developed by states and jurisdictions governing community health workers across the 50 states and the District of Columbia. It tracks state and jurisdictional level regulations defining

  • CHW scope of practice
  • Inclusion of CHWs in healthcare models
  • CHW certification processes
  • How CHWs are supervised
  • How CHWs are reimbursed for services
  • Efforts to raise awareness of CHWs within the healthcare profession

Pharmacist Scope of Practice Law

This indicator outlines the legal authority granted to pharmacists in the United States to provide various healthcare services beyond dispensing medications. It highlights pharmacists' ability to perform services such as disease management, drug therapy management, vaccination administration, HIV prophylaxis, and more. Data are available for all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

COVID-19 Pandemic Orders

This indicator includes orders issued during the COVID-19 pandemic by states and territories. These documented state and territorial actions help provide context for understanding changes in exposure risk during the pandemic.

Access the Data

Use the Data Explorer to create custom maps, tables, and charts.

View data in simple Quick Reports.

Get machine-readable data from the Application Program Interface (API).

Data in Action

Public health professionals can use the Tracking Network's public health policy data in several ways.

  • Identifying the availability of care services in different regions
  • Understanding healthcare access and identifying service gaps
  • Assessing community capacity to manage diseases
  • Evaluating the impact of community health programs
  • Supporting the development of point-of-care testing and screening programs
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Content Source:
National Center for Environmental Health