March 5, 2012

The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) continues to fight the good fight and to convene leaders in health care and health policy in an effort to advance comprehensive solutions and to promote prevention. In The Hill last week, along with Representative Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Representative Allyson Schwartz (D-PA), PFCD’s Ken Thorpe highlighted the Fundamental Shift Needed in Our Approach to Tackling Health Care Spending and the Deficit. This strong bi-partisan statement addresses some of the challenges plaguing our health care system and highlights priorities and solutions that can make a marked difference in health care cost reduction. By rallying our elected officials in the fight against chronic disease, PFCD aims to bring both sides of the aisle to the table in order to develop new and support existing programs and policies that are effective and sustainable. 

Also last week, PFCD partner, Healthways announced the 2011 Gallup-Healthways U.S. Well-Being Index rankings which reveal an encouraging decline in obesity for the third year in a row, and that obesity rates did not increase in any of the 50 states in 2011. These are good steps in the right direction but because obesity contributes so heavily to other chronic diseases it is important that Americans not let up. By continuing to make better choices and lifestyle changes that can improve overall health outcomes, Americans can also help to reverse the annual incremental cost of health care per person due to obesity, which is $1,429 according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Staying educated about the issues and committed to making a difference are two critical aspects of change, and PFCD and all of our partners are working hard in 2012 to be catalysts of change for health, health care and health policy.