Report: Community health programs would reduce costs
Monday, July 21, 2008 at 2:57PMBuilding a stronger public health system in the United States was the agenda today for the Trust America’s Health report that came out today. In the report recommends investment in more nutrition for America’s children. According to the report this would cost a total of $16 billion over a period of five years.
The Trust for America’s Health stated today that American’s spend on average of 2.2 trillion on health care a year, citing 2007 statistics. The organization cited community prevention programs as a way to reduce health care costs and added that a greater emphasis should be focused on preventative health care. Recommendations included everything from safe places for people to walk including trails, sidewalks and streets as well exercise programs that motivate people to walk two thousand steps more per day.
Former Senator Nancy Kassebaum Baker who spoke on behalf of the report said “if there is one thing that you take away from this is, is the importance of this issue now and the money it can save in the long run for health care costs. But more importantly as has been stated is the quality of life in the future.” Kassebaum Baker agreed with the reports findings and stated that the report will encourage public health suggestions.
Community-Based Programs Help Prevent Chronic Disease
A number of community-led programs that provide healthier choices for local populations in West Michigan or upstate New York are increasing the efficiency of the chronic disease prevention, according to statements made by experts at a briefing conducted by the Trust for America’s Health.
“Collectively, these innovative programs emphasize that prevention saves lives, improves the health of the population, improves health equity, and saves money for government, business, healthcare, families and individuals,” said Frances D. Butterfoss, founding President of Coalitions Work in Virginia.
Chronic diseases have been a crucial factor in the health care of many American people. They account for seven of every ten U.S. deaths, affecting half of the country’s population, and is responsible for more than 75 percent of the $2 trillion spent annually on medical care.
“Their preventability resides in our community programs,” said Janet Collins director of the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Collins said that easy access to fast-food restaurants prevent the local population in making healthy choices. Communities need “to surround the individual with healthy choices” such as local grocery stores and the possibility to buy fresh vegetables and fruits said Collins.
The funding of local programs could increase physical activity, improve nutrition, and prevent smoking use inside the community.
“Community prevention has a direct impact on health outcomes” and results can be seen “in relatively short-time frames,” said Jeff Levi executive director at the Trust for America’s Health.
His organization recently released a report concluding that an investment of $10 per person per year in community-based programs would save the country more than $16 billion annually within five years. “That is a return of $5.60 for every $1 spent,” said Levi.
The speakers at the briefing asked Congress to support $75 million in funding for Healthy Communities Program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the fiscal year 2010 Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill. This funding would help continue the community-based programs.