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Public Health ROI Calculator

Calculate the mortality reduction and return on investment from county public health spending using peer-reviewed estimates.

Get instant ROI numbers for presentations or quick reference.

Get a County ROI Analysis

Upload spending data to receive a customized PDF report showing the return on investment for public health programs—including ROI calculations, peer benchmarks, and presentation-ready documentation.

What's included in the report?
  • Executive summary with key metrics
  • Mortality impact estimates and benefit-cost analysis
  • Peer county benchmarks for context
  • Full methodology documentation (Cholette, Patton, & Zarate-Gomez, 2026; extending Brown, 2016)

Submit multiple fiscal years in a single upload. Report delivered via email within 24 hours.

Report Details

Use a .gov, .edu, or official county email address

What this calculator estimates

  • Annual lives saved from public health spending
  • Return on investment using federal Value of Statistical Life
  • Cost per life saved vs. federal benchmarks

Using California county data (2003-2023): each $10 per capita in public health spending is estimated to reduce mortality by 9.16 deaths per 100,000.

Based on Cholette, Patton, & Zarate-Gomez (2026), extending Brown (2016). Learn more →

ROI Analysis for

Based on in public health spending

Estimated Lives Saved ? Annual deaths prevented based on mortality reduction from public health spending, scaled to county population.
per year
Total Social Value ? Monetary value of lives saved using the HHS Value of Statistical Life ($13.6M per life). Represents the economic benefit to society.
benefit-cost ratio:
Cost per life saved: (vs. $13.6M federal VSL)
Methodology: Based on Cholette, Patton, & Zarate-Gomez (2026), extending Brown (2014, 2016). The model uses Lewbel IV estimation on California county data (2003–2023): each $10 per capita in public health spending reduces mortality by 9.16 deaths per 100,000. Social value uses the HHS Value of Statistical Life ($13.6M, 2025). Full methodology →

About This Calculator

The CAPHE Public Health ROI Calculator is a free, peer-reviewed tool that estimates the mortality reduction and return on investment from county public health spending in California. Based on Lewbel IV estimation of California county longitudinal data (2003-2023), the calculator applies the finding that each $10 per capita increase in public health spending reduces mortality by approximately 9.16 deaths per 100,000 population (Cholette, Patton, & Zarate-Gomez, 2026, extending Brown 2014, 2016).

Frequently Asked Questions

What data does the calculator use?

The calculator uses Lewbel IV estimates from California county longitudinal data spanning 2003-2023, extending the methodology of Brown (2014, 2016). The core finding: each $10 per capita increase in local public health spending is associated with a mortality reduction of approximately 9.16 deaths per 100,000 population.

How is the economic value of lives saved calculated?

Lives saved are valued using the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Value of Statistical Life (VSL) of $13.6 million (2025 figure). This is the standard federal methodology used across regulatory agencies for cost-benefit analysis of health interventions.

Which California counties can use this calculator?

The calculator serves all 57 California counties. Quick estimates are available instantly. Detailed reports with peer county benchmarks are delivered within 24 hours and require a government or educational email address.

Is the calculator free?

Yes. The quick estimate tool is free and publicly available. Detailed PDF reports with peer county benchmarks are also free, provided as part of CAPHE's mission to support evidence-based public health decision-making.

Who developed this tool?

The calculator was developed by the California Association of Public Health Economists (CAPHE) based on research by Cholette, Patton, and Zarate-Gomez (2026), which extends Brown's foundational work on public health spending and mortality outcomes.

Last updated: February 2026