Arlington, Va. – The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) today joined the Healthcare Leadership Council and other stakeholders in a letter to Congress supporting the anticipated reintroduction of the Preventive Health Savings Act in the 115th Congress. The legislation would keep an ongoing focus on wellness and disease prevention, leading to the improved health of Americans, while reducing healthcare costs and overall spending.
“This legislation would help to bring about this innovation by allowing projected savings to be taken into consideration when legislation is considered.”
The letter states that “the way in which the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) currently ‘scores’ legislation severely constrains the ability of policymakers to accurately assess legislation that would prevent chronic disease and promote behavioral health across the life-course.” During a time when healthcare costs are a primary concern, this legislation would be a step in the right direction toward containing costs and improving health outcomes.
“To improve Americans’ health and wellness and to improve the affordability of care, we need innovative strategies that will address chronic conditions like heart disease, diabetes, cancer and other conditions. This legislation would help to bring about this innovation by allowing projected savings to be taken into consideration when legislation is considered,” said NACDS President and CEO Steven C. Anderson, IOM, CAE.
Quantifying the long-term damage of unchecked chronic disease, the letter notes that those illnesses are responsible for seven out of 10 deaths among Americans each year, and they account for more than 80 percent of the $2.7 trillion our nation spends annually on medical care—statistics that will only worsen as the population ages.
The letter notes that “as the chronic disease epidemic continues to worsen,” there is an increased need for “legislation that will properly allow Congress to see the full savings of enacting prevention-focused measures.” The allied organizations lauded Congress’ continued efforts to support this kind of proactive healthcare legislation, and underscored a shared commitment to working collaboratively with Congress on public health efforts to achieve wellness and improved health among Americans.
