PharmacoEconomics & Outcomes News 558 - 26 Jul 2008 Small investment now could reap big rewards A small investment in disease prevention strategies could result in a significant saving in US healthcare costs, according to a report entitled Prevention for a Healthier America: Investments in Disease Prevention Yield Significant Savings, Stronger Communities. The report, released by the Trust for America’s Health (TFAH), determined that an investment of $US10 per person per year in programmes proven to improve nutrition, increase physical activity and prevent smoking/tobacco use could result in an annual saving of more than $US16 billion within 5 years, a return of $US5.60 for every $US1 spent. Of the $US16 billion saved, Medicare could stand to save more than $US5 billion, Medicaid more than $US1.9 billion, and private payers more than $US9 billion. The estimated savings include only medical cost savings and do not take into account the significant savings that could be made in enhanced QOL and worker productivity. The findings of the report are based on a model developed by the Urban Institute, and by a literature review performed by the New York Academy of Medicine. Many effective, community-based programmes cost less than $US10 per person, and have resulted in: • reducing the rate of type 2 diabetes and high BP by 5% within 2 years • reducing the rate of heart disease, renal disease and stroke by 5% within 5 years • and reducing the rate of arthritis, COPD and some forms of cancer by 2.5% within 10–20 years. "Health care costs are crippling the US economy. Keeping Americans healthier is one of the most important, but overlooked ways we could reduce these costs", commented Jeff Levi, executive director of TFAH. "This study shows that with a strategic investment in effective, evidence-based disease prevention programs, we could see tremendous returns in less than five years – sparing millions of people from serious diseases and saving billions of dollars". Trust for America’s Health. New Report: Investment in Disease Prevention Could Save America More than $16 Billion in Five Years. Media Release : 17 Jul 2008. Available from: URL: http://www.healthyamericans.org 809091108 1 PharmacoEconomics & Outcomes News 26 Jul 2008 No. 558 1173-5503/10/0558-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved

Small investment now could reap big rewards

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PharmacoEconomics & Outcomes News 558 - 26 Jul 2008

Small investment now could reapbig rewards

A small investment in disease prevention strategiescould result in a significant saving in US healthcarecosts, according to a report entitled Prevention for aHealthier America: Investments in Disease PreventionYield Significant Savings, Stronger Communities.

The report, released by the Trust for America’s Health(TFAH), determined that an investment of $US10 perperson per year in programmes proven to improvenutrition, increase physical activity and preventsmoking/tobacco use could result in an annual saving ofmore than $US16 billion within 5 years, a return of$US5.60 for every $US1 spent. Of the $US16 billionsaved, Medicare could stand to save more than$US5 billion, Medicaid more than $US1.9 billion, andprivate payers more than $US9 billion. The estimatedsavings include only medical cost savings and do nottake into account the significant savings that could bemade in enhanced QOL and worker productivity.

The findings of the report are based on a modeldeveloped by the Urban Institute, and by a literaturereview performed by the New York Academy ofMedicine. Many effective, community-basedprogrammes cost less than $US10 per person, and haveresulted in:• reducing the rate of type 2 diabetes and high BP by

5% within 2 years• reducing the rate of heart disease, renal disease and

stroke by 5% within 5 years• and reducing the rate of arthritis, COPD and some

forms of cancer by 2.5% within 10–20 years."Health care costs are crippling the US economy.

Keeping Americans healthier is one of the mostimportant, but overlooked ways we could reduce thesecosts", commented Jeff Levi, executive director of TFAH."This study shows that with a strategic investment ineffective, evidence-based disease prevention programs,we could see tremendous returns in less than five years– sparing millions of people from serious diseases andsaving billions of dollars".Trust for America’s Health. New Report: Investment in Disease Prevention CouldSave America More than $16 Billion in Five Years. Media Release : 17 Jul 2008.Available from: URL: http://www.healthyamericans.org 809091108