HWN Suggests

Will preventive medicine save money? Think again

It seems like a no-brainer. Since about 75 percent of health care spending in the United States is for largely preventable chronic illnesses such as Type 2 diabetes and heart disease, providing more preventive care should cut costs.

If only. In a report released on Tuesday, the non-profit Trust for America's Health outlined a plan "to move from sick care to health care" by putting more resources into preventing chronic disease rather than treating it, as the current system does. There is a strong humanitarian justification for prevention, argued Trust Executive Director Jeffrey Levi in an interview, since it reduces human suffering.

But the report also makes an economic…

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Featured

 Preventative medicine: the argument for and against

Preventative medicine has long used drugs to prevent the onset of disease. Those with symptoms such as high blood sugar or pressure are often diagnosed with the “pre-condition”, such as prediabetes or prehypertension, if their symptoms haven’t yet reached the levels which define the disease. It is estimated that around 7m people in the UK alone have prediabetes and have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. But diagnosis of this pre-condition allows pharmaceutical drugs to be prescribed, which could delay or prevent the onset of the disease. However, there are arguments which support and condemn pre-treatment in this way.

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Resources

LongeCity

Welcome to LongeCity the premier forum about extending the human lifespan

Prevent Disease

We strongly believe that all diseases are preventable and "Prevention is better than cure"

American Board of Preventive Medicine

The American Board of Preventive Medicine was established to promote the health and safety of the American people through our high standards in the certification and maintenance of certification in the profession of preventive health.

Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine

Founded in 1985, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) is a nonprofit organization that promotes preventive medicine, conducts clinical research, and encourages higher standards for ethics and effectiveness in research.

U.S. Preventive Medicine

U.S. Preventive Medicine has developed a suite of prevention, early detection and chronic condition management products and services that improve health outcomes while reducing health care costs.

MedPage Today

Preventive Care Information Center.