Disease prevention moves could save USA $16B pa within five years

A small strategic investment in disease prevention could result in significant savings in US health care costs, according to a report from the Trust for America's Health, titled Prevention for a Healthier America: Investments in Disease Prevention Yield Significant Savings, Stronger Communities. In this, the TFAH finds that an investment of $10 per person a year in proven community-based programs to increase physical activity, improve nutrition and prevent smoking and other tobacco use could save the country more than $16.0 billion annually within five years. This is a return of $5.60 for every $1.

"Health care costs are crippling the US economy. Keeping Americans healthier is one of the most important, but overlooked ways we could reduce these costs," said Jeff Levi, executive director of the 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," he added. Out of the $16.0 billion, Medicare could save more than $5.0 billion, Medicaid over $1.9 billion and private payers in excess of $9.0 billion.