Governing States and Localities, Chapter 15

Public Health

Area of medicine that addresses the protection and improvement of citizen health and hygiene through the work of government agencies

Pandemic

An outbreak of a disease that spreads across a large geographical area and affects a high proportion of the population

Obesity

The medical condition of being excessively overweight; defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of more than 25

Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC)

The original federal assistance program for women and their children, started under Roosevelt's New Deal

Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)

The next-generation welfare program (passed in 1996) that provides federal assistance in the form of block grants to states, which have great flexibility in designing their programs

Abstinence

Refraining from sexual activity, usually intercourse

Medicare

The federal health insurance program for elderly citizens

Entitlement Program

A government-run program that guarantees unlimited assistance to those who meet its eligibility requirements, no matter how high the cost

Poverty Line, or Poverty Threshold

An annual income level, set by the federal government, below which families cannot afford basic necessities.

Managed Care

An arrangement for the provision of healthcare whereby an agency acts as an intermediary between consumers and healthcare providers

State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)

A joint federal-state program designed to expand healthcare coverage to children whose parents earned income above the poverty line but still were too poor to afford insurance.