Public health cuts smaller, but hit prevention

Budget cuts to public health programs in Massachusetts were not nearly as deep as some advocates had feared, but prevention programs will still suffer, a statewide group says.

Last month the Massachusetts Public Health Association warned that the state Department of Public Health would lose $32 million, or 9 percent of its non-hospital budget, to 9C budget cuts, named for the section of state law granting budget-cutting authority to the governor. But cuts made last week by Governor Patrick totaled $8 million. The spending changes are being made to help bring the state's budget into line with drastically lower revenues.

Some of the public health programs affected are smoking prevention and cessation services, teen pregnancy prevention programs, school health programs, and the sexual assault nurse examiner program.

"We are troubled that community-based prevention programs continue to be sacrificed," Valerie Bassett, executive director of the association, said in a statement. "These programs which prevent disease and injury in schools, community health centers, and out in the streets continue to be dismantled."