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Without a doubt, our nation needs a cultural transformation—a comprehensive move from a "sick care" system to a true health care system. First and foremost, this means investing in prevention.
Individuals can prevent disease by taking relatively small steps every day, including eating healthy foods in healthy portions, eliminating tobacco, and being physically active. We must motivate them to do so. As a society, prevention means managing chronic diseases to prevent catastrophic illnesses, changing our nation's reimbursement system to incentivize patients and health professionals to practice preventive care, and involving employers in improving their employees' health and wellness.
The strength of our great nation is in the good health of its people. We see this in the workplace, where prevention has been proven to significantly reduce absenteeism as well as people trying to work when they’re sick, which together account for more than $1 trillion in lost workplace productivity nationwide each year.
Prevention has also been shown to save money in community health programs. A recent study by Trust for America’s Health found that if we spent $10 per person per year on proven prevention strategies, the United States could save $16 billion annually within five years. I ask, Mr. President, that you add that $10 per person prevention plan to the federal budget. Improving the health and well being of the American people is always a good investment.
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