Health Care Savings of Prevention Higher Than Estimated

When Productivity Taken Into Account 
 
U.S. Preventive Medicine commends the Trust for America’s Health for recently pointing out that the United States could save billions of dollars annually by pushing prevention, but at the same time stating that the numbers dovetail when compared to multiple other studies which show that the savings are higher.  

“We applaud Trust for America’s Health for issuing this report and bringing attention to the power of prevention,” said CEO Christopher Fey.  “The report confirms what many in health care have known for a long time – that we will save money -- but the cost savings are actually higher.”

The savings estimates in the report only represent medical cost savings and focus on disease prevention programs that target communities or at-risk segments of the population. Actual savings numbers are higher when other things, such as productivity and enhanced quality of life, are taken into account.

“To get a better appreciation of the cost savings from prevention, the Milken Institute study from last year puts things into perspective very well,” said Fey.

According to the 2007 Milken Institute Report, An Unhealthy America: The Economic Burden of Chronic Disease, the implementation of a national effort focused on prevention, early detection and chronic disease management could save the country hundreds of billions of dollars annually, with savings surpassing a trillion dollars annually in about 15 years.  

Seven chronic diseases alone – cancer, diabetes, hypertension, stroke, heart disease, lung conditions and mental illness – have a total impact on the economy of $1.3 trillion annually according to the Milken report. Of this amount, $1.1 trillion represents the cost of lost productivity.  The report further estimates that the annual economic impact on the U.S. economy of the most common chronic diseases will balloon to nearly $6 trillion by the middle of the century.

“Six trillion is a very large number.  If the savings from lost productivity can be $1.1 trillion right now, it’s not hard to figure out how essential preventing these diseases will be for our future.  Unfortunately, America is losing its competitive edge in the business world due to the heavy health care burden faced by employers.  We are outsourcing too many jobs as a result and if we don’t ensure the health of our citizens, we may very well fall far behind,” said Fey.