When It Comes to Policymaking...

There are many health issues that tend to go ignored and unaddressed in society today. They start off as small issues that could easily be prevented with the right tools and education. However, if the health issues go undetected and untreated, they usually turn into serious and costly health problems. It is unfortunate that only 5% of U.S. health spending goes toward prevention when prevention can significantly reduce future spending on direct medical services. Since the benefits of prevention are long-term, results usually aren't seen immediately. I can see how it might be difficult for policymakers to make that initial investment and allocate more money for prevention. However many of the problems with our health care system are due to the current unbalanced allocation of prevention and medical services. The current 5% is nothing compared to the profound influence preventative medicine could have on the health of Americans if the spending were increased.

In order to decrease health disparities, policymakers need to realize that quality health care in the U.S. is extremely expensive and for much of the population, this is a main barrier. Furthermore, cultural competence is important as well. Many people don't know of the various health services available or don't have the educational tools to access them. In this aspect, prevention plays a huge role in reducing barriers to receiving quality health care.