5 FACT SHEETS (pdf files)

• Chronic diseases (i.e., diabetes, heart disease, and cancer), now, cost more than 75% of the $2.2 trillion spent on health care in the US each year --- equal to 2.5 times the economic “bailout” package.

• Chronic diseases are among the most prevalent, costly, and preventable of all health problems.

• Invest in proven non-medical population-based health program that reduce risk behaviors that cause health care costs, decrease chronic disease health costs and save dollars.

• Investing $10 per person on already proven preventive cost-effective interventions could save the country over $16 billion annually.

US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention & Health Promotion

Preventing Chronic Disease is Critical to Controlling Health Care Costs

• For every $1 invested on:

  • water fluoridation saves $38 in dental restorative treatment.

  • preconception care for women with diabetes, reduces health costs by up to $5.19.

  • arthritis self-help programs saves $4.10 on physician visits.

  • Pap tests for low-income women saves $5.90 on medical care costs.

• An investment of $10 per person per year in known proven community-based programs increases physical activity, improve nutrition, and prevents smoking and could save the US over $16 billion annually. A return on investment (ROI) of $5.60 for every $1 invested.

• A 1% reduction in cancer deaths would be worth nearly $500 billion.

Healthy Schools, Healthy Youth

Improve the Health of Children and Remove Barriers to Students’ Academic Success

 

CDC’s Division of Adolescent School Health (DASH) is a catalyst for collaboration between state education and health agencies to improve students’ health and academic performance.

For every $1 invested on:

• alcohol, tobacco and drug prevention and family life education $14 to $20 in health costs will be saved.

• proven school health education prevents 2% of female students from becoming overweight.

Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH)

Invest in Proven Evidence-Based Community Programs to Eliminate Health Disparities

 

REACH strategies are proven. Persons in REACH communities cost-effectively reduce their health risks 10% to over 25%. The public supports an investment in eliminating health disparities.

 

FUNCTION 550 – Public Health Service

Investing in America’s Health and Safety is Vital to our Economic Recovery.

 

Function 550 saves and safeguards American dollars and lives. The Public Health Service includes the National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Health Resources & Services Administration and other agencies dedicated to cost-effectively preventing disease, advancing medical knowledge, delivering key health care services, ensuring food safety, and training a diverse health workforce.