Prevention: Just Do It!!

By: Heather Pitre, WHF Health Reform Project Coordinator

It’s time to reform the health system.  And health reform without prevention, won’t reform health.  Our current health care delivery system is based on fixing disease rather than preventing it.  A mind-shift is necessary, and although it sounds so easy, and makes so much sense, it’s hard to achieve.  Behavior change takes years, sometimes generations.  Until we start looking at health care as a right rather than a privilege, we will remain stuck.  Until we include prevention in the plan, it won’t work the way it should. 

Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) is a strong advocate for prevention. He has consistently emphasized prevention as a necessary part of any health reform legislation.  Harkin states, “The fact is, we currently do not have a health care system in the United States; we have a sick care system.  If you’re sick, you get care, whether through insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, SCHIP, community health centers, emergency rooms, or charity.  The problem is that this is all about patching things up after people develop serious illnesses and chronic conditions.”

The U.S. spends a staggering $2.3 trillion annually on health care – 16.5 percent of our GDP and far more than any other country spends on health care – yet the World Health Organization ranks U.S. health care only 37th among nations, on par with Serbia. 

The time is now.  The challenge is before us.  Together we can continue to work toward making Washington the Healthiest State in the Nation, and if we make our voices heard, we can encourage Congress to pass health reform that includes prevention.

Comments

[Beverly Castillo]

I am also a strong believer in prevention. There is a lot we can do ourselves to remain healthy and prevent chronic disease.

[Gertie Plone]

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