Fact Sheets
Preventive Benefits Go Hand in Hand with Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit
Disease prevention is of paramount importance for public health in the United States because of the increasing prevalence of and spending on conditions such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. According to the 2003 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) report Prevention Makes Common “Cents,” “Expenditures for health care in the United States continue to rise. …Much of these costs can be attributed to the diagnosis and treatment of chronic diseases and conditions such as diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease and asthma.”2 The report continues by stating that “A much smaller amount is spent on preventing these conditions. There is accumulating evidence that much of the morbidity and mortality associated with these chronic diseases may be preventable.”
Download the Full Report:
Focus on Health Policy: Medicare Beneficiaries (114.93 KB)
Disease prevention is of paramount importance for public health in the United States because of the increasing prevalence of and spending on conditions such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. According to the 2003 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) report Prevention Makes Common “Cents,” “Expenditures for health care in the United States continue to rise. …Much of these costs can be attributed to the diagnosis and treatment of chronic diseases and conditions such as diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease and asthma.”2 The report continues by stating that “A much smaller amount is spent on preventing these conditions. There is accumulating evidence that much of the morbidity and mortality associated with these chronic diseases may be preventable.”Download the Full Report:
Focus on Health Policy: Medicare Beneficiaries (114.93 KB)