Academy Looking Ahead to Healthy People 2030

Efforts are well underway to plan for the 2030 iteration of Healthy People.  First set forth in 1979, the Healthy People initiative represents the federal government’s coordinated national agenda for disease prevention and health promotion.  Each decade, a set of measurable national health objectives is set forth to engage stakeholders in improving the health of the nation.  As you may recall, hearing health objectives were included among the 1200 objectives of Healthy People 2020.  Here is a list of the hearing health measures included in Healthy People 2020.

The Secretary’s Advisory Committee on National Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Objectives for 2030 has developed a proposed framework, vision, mission, foundational principles and a plan of action for implementing Healthy People 2030.  The Academy is closely monitoring this work and will comment on the overall structure of Healthy People 2030 when the comment period opens on June 27, 2017. Comments will be accepted on the Healthy People website until September 29, 2017.

In 2018, efforts will be focused on the specific goals and objectives to be included in Healthy People 2030.  This process will include additional opportunities for public comment and stakeholder engagement.  The Academy is aware of the intent to reduce the number of Healthy People objectives to a more manageable number that will have the most impact on improving the public health.   Based on member input, we plan to advocate for a set of meaningful hearing health objectives.  We will keep you updated as this process evolves.  In the meantime, we invite your comments and would like to know if this topic interests you.  Please contact Kate Thomas, senior director of advocacy and reimbursement, if you would like to be included in Academy discussions on this important initiative.