The American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) and the American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM) urged the adoption of stronger national policies to encourage preventive medicine - including in the workplace -- during a special Congressional briefing Tuesday, July 9 in Washington, D.C. The briefing, titled "Estimating the Budget Implications of Prevention Policy Proposals," was jointly sponsored by the two organizations.
ACOEM President Ron Loeppke, MD, MPH, and President Elect Kathryn Mueller, MD, MPH, were among the participants on a special panel discussion on national prevention policy that included federal officials, academics and health industry representatives. Opening remarks were given by U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX), who will soon introduce legislation that would amend the Congressional Budget Act, making it possible for policy makers to formally estimate the cost benefits of proposed preventive health strategies included in federal legislation.
Other speakers during the event included Linda Bilheimer, PhD, Assistant Director of the Congressional Budget Office, and ACPM representative Ron Joines, MD, MPH, Medical Director of Glaxo SmithKline. Dr. Mueller served as moderator.
During a special presentation, Dr. Loeppke highlighted converging trends demonstrating that the U.S. health care cost-crisis has been driven largely by a growing epidemic of chronic illnesses, such as diabetes and heart disease. "A commitment to preventive medicine would help reduce the burden of illness and its associated economic burden to our entire society, unleash financial and clinical resources through the enhanced capacity of physicians and hospitals, improve the health and productivity of our nation's workforce and, ultimately, enhance the vitality of our nation's economy," he said.
As an example of the serious impact of poor health on the workforce, Dr. Loeppke highlighted studies that show the cost of obesity among full-time workers now exceeds $73 billion a year. "That's the equivalent of hiring 1.8 million new workers at annual salaries of $42,000," he said.
One of the greatest threats of poor health among workers is its impact on entitlement programs, such as Medicare and Social Security, Dr. Loeppke said. An estimated 10,000 Baby Boomers turn 65 every day, and by 2015, one in every five workers will be a Baby Boomer. Keeping these workers healthy and productive as long as possible will help reduce pressure on future Medicare and Social Security costs as they begin to utilize these programs, he said.
According to Dr. Loeppke, occupational health (OH) and preventive medicine (PM) specialists can play an important role in helping steer the workplace toward improved health, thus contributing to the sustainability of Medicare and Social Security.
OH and PM specialists, who are trained in identifying and reducing individual and population health risks in order improve long-term health, are a critical link to the nation's workers and their dependents, according to Dr. Loeppke. "Through workplace health and wellness initiatives, just one OH or PM physician can impact tens of thousands of employees and their families on an ongoing basis throughout the year," he said.
"The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has estimated that 80 percent of heart disease and Type II Diabetes Prevention, and 40 percent of cancer, are preventable, if people just stopped smoking, ate healthy and exercised," Dr. Loeppke said. "Chronic Illness is destructive and debilitating to individuals as well as nations. The only sustainable pathway to reduce the burden of illness and its personal and financial burden is through prevention."
"Promoting health in the workplace should be considered a fundamental part of an overall national health strategy based in preventive medicine," said Dr. Joines. "Through events such as our Congressional briefing, designed to raise awareness of the impact of preventive medicine, we hope our national leaders will continue to move in this important policy direction."
Dr. Loeppke summarized by saying: "We are all in a battle for better health and we have a responsibility to help transform our medical care system beyond being a reactive and illness-oriented 'sick-care' system to becoming more of a proactive and wellness-oriented true health system built upon the pillars of prevention."
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