Cost-effectiveness analysis supports routine and prevention efforts in public health. In addition, economic analyses are needed to determine the value of the benefits associated with investments in large-scale testing, or the financial return-on-investment (ROI). Such analyses are helpful to government agencies that must optimize outcomes for public health given a set budget, and may assist with resource allocation during times of economic constraint. Economics and finance evaluate the results of a return-on-investment analysis that compares expenditures of the public health initiative to benefits in terms of illnesses averted and associated medical care costs.

For this Discussion, review the media, "Multi-Media PowerPoint on Capital Financing,"and the Learning Resources. Consider a public health initiative outside of your Scholar-Practitioner Project. Think about rate of return and any challenges this may pose to the public health initiative you are considering. Then, utilize the principles of rate of return as a means of justifying the use of finances for this initiative.

With these thoughts in mind:

Post 3-4 pages of description of a public health initiative. Describe at least two challenges of quantifying the rate of return for this public health initiative. Using the principles of rate of return, explain whether the financing this initiative is justified.