Health Impact Note

Check out NOMHE's health impact note template for a simple tool that helps identify how policy may affect community wellbeing. 

A health impact note is a concise, impartial document designed to explain how proposed legislation may influence community health and wellness. These notes support more informed and community-centered policymaking by highlighting how policy decisions shape the conditions that affect well‑being. Considering health and wellness early in the policy development process is essential, as policy determines the resources and environments that directly impact a community’s quality of life. This health impact note template was created to guide users in reviewing legislation by identifying key elements of a bill, examining potential wellness impacts through a systems-thinking lens, and noting positions that support or oppose the policy. By using this tool, individuals can better understand a policy’s intent, recognize leverage points for improving health outcomes, and evaluate opportunities to make legislation more wellness oriented.