Tennessee could save nearly six dollars in health care costs for every dollar spent on prevention according to a new study by the Trust for American Health. The study is based on spending $10 per person per year on preventative measures.
The return on investment (ROI) for the program says the state would save about $1.07 per dollar spent in the first two years and that would grow to $5.98 in five years. The ROI would be $6.67 per dollar spent over 10 to 20 years or an estimated $392 million in net savings.
“Health care costs are crippling the U.S. economy. Keeping Americans healthier is one of the most important, but overlooked ways we could reduce these costs,” said Jeff Levi, PhD,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.”
The $10 would be invested in proven community-based programs to increase physical activity, improve nutrition, and prevent smoking and other tobacco use could save the country more than $16 billion annually within five years. This is a return of $5.60 nationally for every $1.
The study proves what most of us intuitively know -- it's better to avoid sickness than fix it. It works for our houses and our cars and it should work for our bodies, too.
Yet our health care system seems more focused on short term goals rather than long term benefits.
There's something here for everyone -- we save money and give people better lives. What's not to love?
If only we could get the politicians to ignore the special interests who benefit from the business generated by sick people and act in the best interests of the public -- the people who really own the government.
-- Jim Grinstead
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