The National Impact of the U.S. Poison Centers

The Poison Center Network provides $3.1 billion in healthcare savings and benefits. 

The report “Poison Prevention, Treatment, and Detection as Public Health Investments,” is a result of an independent assessment by RAND to analyze the monetary and societal value of the Poison Center Network. Overall, the report confirms the essential role Poison Centers play in 1) strengthening the nation’s response to poisons and toxic emergencies, 2) providing accessible, expert toxicology guidance across the U.S. and its territories, 3) providing real-time public health surveillance, and 4) offering critical prevention and education services to save lives. To learn more, visit: https://poisoncenters.org/national-impact-study, or read the full report RAND 2026 National Impact Study (PDF)

The Benefits Provided by U.S. Poison Centers

•Every $1 spent by Poison Centers on services generates an estimated $16.77 in benefits. The most widely recognized cost-saving benefits include avoidable medical utilization, reduced length of hospital stay, mortality risk reduction, and enhanced national public health surveillance.

• America’s Poison Centers estimates that federally appropriated funds to Poison Centers save $450 million annually in health care costs, yet over the last decade federal and some state funding have been cut or not adjusted for inflation.

• Poison Centers also provide other more difficult to measure benefits such as prevention, enhanced emergency preparedness, trusted expertise, and supporting peace of mind for the public.

The Expanding Role of Poison Centers

• Poison Centers have significantly modernized over the last decade, with many now offering live text and online chat to better meet the changing needs of the public.

• Many Poison Centers have expanded their services to include managing a hotline for specialized areas (e.g., rabies or COVID-19 hotline), or product surveillance.

• Poison Centers have also been asked to take on a more critical role in emergency preparedness and disaster response.

“The report reinforces that Poison Centers are a pillar of the nation’s healthcare system, serving and protecting our communities every day. The report also highlights the significant role that Poison Centers have in detecting and responding to the growing number of public health threats and disasters, providing life-saving coordination and response.”

— Alvin Bronstein, MD, FACEP
President, America’s Poison Centers Board of Directors