Purpose.

The purpose of the statewide health improvement program is to:

(1) address the deleted text begin top three deleted text end leading preventable causes of illness and death deleted text begin : tobacco use and exposure, poor diet, and lack of regular physical activity deleted text end new text begin such as tobacco use or exposure, poor diet, and lack of regular physical activity, and other issues as determined by the commissioner through the statewide health assessment new text end ;

(2) promote the development, availability, and use of evidence-based, community level, comprehensive strategies to create healthy communities; and

(3) measure the impact of the evidence-based, community health improvement practices which over time work to contain health care costs and reduce chronic diseases.