The healthcare system’s continuum of care is often fractured, inefficient and cost prohibitive. To move closer to the Triple Aim (i.e., better care, better health outcomes and lower costs), public policies should develop care models that reward value, improve health outcomes and coordinate services across complimentary systems. Public policies should always be designed to benefit the person/patient/community being served, and should leverage both medical and non-medical resources in developing a true continuum of care. Policy concepts include support for mobile-integrated healthcare, health information exchanges, behavioral health integration and the integration of social determinants of health within healthcare.

Vitalyst Health Foundation supports policies that favor supportive and safe environments in homes, schools, and communities that ensure the best possible development of all children in Arizona. Public policy should lead to coordinated, systematic improvements in early childhood, middle childhood and adolescence that are based on the best available evidence supporting the cognitive, physical, and emotional development of children. Early childhood policy should advance quality, accessible and affordable early childhood services, including child care and education, to strengthen Arizona’s young children, families, and communities. Additionally, public policy should support the application and funding of child development strategies and services in ways that prepare adults to recognize and respond to signs of toxic stress in themselves, caregivers and children. Policy concepts include support for trauma-informed and resilient schools, childcare assistance and subsidies, family and community supports, school readiness and early literacy.

Vitalyst Health Foundation supports a system that ensures the best possible vision health for all children in Arizona. Public policy should lead to coordinated, systematic improvements in vision screening, examination, and treatment for all children in Arizona. We support policies that strive to create a system that ensures all children receive affordable, quality, age-appropriate vision screenings and care in accessible locations both within and outside of a primary care venue. Policy concepts include universal screening in schools.

Vitalyst Health Foundation believes all Arizonans should have an equitable opportunity to participate in democracy, and to be fairly counted and represented. Policies that afford such opportunities establish the basis of a healthy democracy and are fundamental to creating a healthy community. Health and civic engagement are interconnected, and as such, Vitalyst supports policies that enhance the ability of individuals and communities to constructively engage with each other and the political systems by which they are represented. Policy concepts include matters related to the Census, redistricting, and voter engagement and participation.

Vitalyst Health Foundation supports policies that assure continuous monitoring, protection and development of evidence-based public health practices which have been proven to advance public health and well-being. Well-established public health interventions (such as those identified in the CDC’s greatest public health achievements since 1900), as well as non-clinical, community-wide interventions (such as those highlighted in the CDC’s HI-5 initiative), should be championed through public policy. Vitalyst supports the advancement of the public health sector, and we recognize that the fundamental interventions which improved the public’s health over the last century must not be overlooked. Policy concepts include preventing tobacco use, support for maternal and child health, family planning, vaccination, Housing First programs, and expanded access to public transportation and healthy foods.

In many ways, health insurance coverage is the door to healthcare in United States. With coverage, Arizonans are more likely to have a usual source of care, afford healthcare services, and show improvement in overall health. Vitalyst Health Foundation supports policies that provide quality health insurance options to all Arizonans, as well as policies that increase the number of Arizonans with quality coverage. Policies should protect consumers from discrimination and burdensome out-of-pocket costs, and ensure that strong networks of healthcare providers are available to meet consumers’ needs. Policy concepts include supporting network adequacy, safeguarding consumer protections, and ensuring that all Arizonans have coverage.

Vitalyst Health Foundation supports public policies that attract and develop a healthcare workforce that is prepared to meet the current and future health needs of Arizonans. Policy solutions addressing Arizona’s shortages of physical and behavioral healthcare providers should take into account the state’s unique geographic and sociodemographic characteristics, and should create systems that build and distribute resources based on community need. This, in part, involves expanding the educational pipeline and adequately providing professional development opportunities for the healthcare workforce. Primary care, behavioral health and preventive services should be prioritized, and worker compensation should afford a quality standard of living. Policy concepts include support for graduate medical education, loan repayment programs, telehealth, and eliminating health professional shortage areas.

Vitalyst Health Foundation supports a healthy food environment for all Arizonans. Public policy should lead to systematic improvements in the food environment, acknowledge the complexity of the food environment and strive to create one that is healthy, equitable, sustainable, and thriving. Policy concepts include support for local agriculture that takes into account Arizona’s natural resources and distribution systems, client-focused subsidies and supports that expand access to healthy food, and Indigenous food sovereignty.

Vitalyst supports policies which create and protect clear boundaries between non-profit organizations and electoral politics. We are opposed to measures which expand the non-profit sector’s capacity to engage in electoral politics; and we urge lawmakers to safeguard policies which preserve the public’s trust in the non-profit sector. Policy concepts include support for the Johnson Amendment.

Vitalyst Health Foundation supports public policies that protect and improve housing choices, including the physical condition of housing, affordability and the surrounding neighborhood. We believe public policies should advance systems that lead to equitable housing opportunities, and such opportunities should be leveraged to improve health outcomes. Policy concepts include support for housing development and redevelopment that takes a holistic neighborhood planning approach, partners with existing residents and adheres to Fair Housing laws.

Vitalyst Health Foundation supports a future where transportation policy and investments result in options that improve safety, enable active transportation, and protect environmental quality. Transportation policy should center the needs and desires of individuals of all abilities, incomes and sociodemographics, ensuring they have the opportunity to travel to and from places in a manner that is safe, reliable and affordable. The design of transportation systems should also consider local community input and character, including aesthetics, geography and land use policy. Policy concepts include support for multimodal transportation, elimination of traffic fatalities and severe injuries, and the development of Complete Streets.