The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease Applauds National Prevention Strategy

Washington, D.C. (June 16, 2011) – The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) strongly supports today’s announcement of a National Prevention Strategy by the National Prevention, Health Promotion, and Public Health Council. The National Prevention Strategy was called for under the Affordable Care Act and created with the goal of making a difference in the overall health of Americans by expanding the focus of our health care system from being mainly on treatment to also encompass prevention measures.

One in every two Americans struggles with a chronic disease such as heart disease, asthma, cancer or diabetes. Accounting for 75 percent of spending, chronic disease is the biggest cost driver in the U.S. health care system. These diseases are often preventable through early detection, improved diet, and exercise.

In an effort to maximize exposure and ensure success, a broad spectrum of government agencies and supporting organizations have come together to play key roles in making a measurable impact on the health of Americans by encouraging health and wellness at every stage of life. The National Prevention Council, comprised of 17 Federal agencies and chaired by the Surgeon General, developed the National Prevention Strategy with input from stakeholders, the public, and the Advisory Group on Prevention, Health Promotion, and Integrative and Public Health. The strategy’s four goals include: Healthy and Safe Community Environments; Clinical and Community Preventive Services; Empowered People; and Elimination of Health Disparities.

“Prevention must be a top priority in health care reform if we hope to truly make a difference in the overall health of Americans and to reduce the incidence of and spending on chronic disease,” said Ken Thorpe, executive director of the PFCD. “The magnitude of our health care issues has long deserved a harder look, and this acknowledgment of the value of prevention, and more importantly, its collaborative implementation, are two critical steps in the direction of improving our ailing health care system and encouraging change when it comes to health choices.”

More information on the National Prevention Strategy and the National Prevention Council can be found at: www.healthcare.gov/center/councils/nphpphc/strategy/index.html.

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About the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease
The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) is a national coalition of patients, providers, community organizations, business and labor groups, and health policy experts committed to raising awareness of the number one cause of death, disability, and rising health care costs in the U.S.: chronic disease. For more information, log-on to www.fightchronicdisease.orgor follow the PFCD on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ThePFCD) and Twitter (@PFCD, @KennethThorpe).