When It Comes to Policymaking...

Spending on health services should be split equally between prevention and direct medical services or at the very least, there should be more money allocated for preventive services. What many don’t realize is that there are numerous underlying factors that determine illness/injury. Many believe that access to services is a necessary component of health care and is the reason for such poor health outcomes. Policymakers should really look into other factors that attribute to health disparities such as education, housing, income security, nutrition, and environment. A shift in the focus on health care services from restorative to preventive medicine would not only save patients and health care providers more money, but it would save millions of lives. The downside is that results are not immediate. Studies show there are 5 simple preventive services that would save more than 100,000 lives each year in the United States.

LOW USE OF PREVENTIVE CARE COSTS LIVES

Utilization rates remain low for preventive services that are very cost effective and have been recommended for years.
· Daily aspirin therapy to prevent heart disease.
· Smoking cessation: An additional 42,000 lives would be saved each year by increasing to 90% the portion of smokers who are advised by a health care professional to quit and are offered assistance. Currently, only 28% of smokers receive such services.
· Colorectal cancer screening: Another 14,000 additional lives would be saved each year by increasing to 90% the portion of adults aged 50 and older who currently receive any recommended screening for colorectal cancer. Today, fewer than 50% of adults receive these services.
· Flu vaccination: An additional 12,000 lives would be saved each year by increasing the portion of adults aged 50 and older who get an annual flu vaccination to 90%. Only 37% of adults currently get an annual flu vaccination.
· Breast cancer screening: An additional 3,700 lives would be saved each year by increasing to 90% the portion of women ages 40 and older who have been screened for breast cancer in the past 2 years. Today, 67% of women have been screened in the past 2 years.