Perhaps to the dismay of budget holders, a new study published in Health Affairs indicates that more public spending reduces preventable deaths. Researchers looked at 3,000 local public health agencies and found that mortality rates fell between about 1 percent and 7 percent for each 10 percent increase in local public spending. "However, more money by itself is unlikely to generate significant and sustainable health gains; improvements in public health practices are needed as well," states the study. In related news, a study published this week revealed that more spending did not result in better Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) scores. Health Affairs study