White paper stresses the need for healthy living and prevention to be included in healthcare reform

www.myvillagegreen.comSep 2 2009

Healthy living and pharmacy Expert and Commentator Marc Isaacson, CEO of Village Green Apothecary, the leading integrative pharmacy in the United States, announced today the release of their white paper, which provides a statistical analysis that explains why healthy living and prevention should be included, if not the focus of Healthcare Reform.

The white paper, titled “The Missing Link in Healthcare Reform, Why Healthy Living & Prevention Aren’t Part of the Plan ... But Need to Be,” demonstrates that according to the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion in 2009, “healthcare costs related to lifestyle practices account for approximately 75% of the total costs.” The currently proposed Healthcare Reform does not address one of the root causes of the Healthcare crisis – Chronic Disease, such as: Cancer, Diabetes, Heart Disease, and Hypertension. According to the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, “the total impact of these diseases on the economy is more than $2 trillion annually and growing,” suggesting that if there was a greater emphasis on healthy living practices, the number of people with Chronic Diseases would decrease as well as the rising cost of healthcare.

“The current healthcare system is focused on treating symptoms and prescribing drugs instead of addressing the root cause of health problems,” says Mr. Isaacson. “Healthcare reformers are overlooking the importance of prevention and healthy living. We must look at a different model that emphasizes an individualized, holistic and preventative approach, which can save us billions of dollars.”

The white paper includes statistical information regarding:

• How we got to where we are today, why prevention has been left out of the new Healthcare Reform plan and the impact this may have in the long term.
• The five keys to preventative healthcare and the impact this can have in the long term if included in the focus of Healthcare Reform.
• The Seven Action Steps for True Healthcare Reform.

The white paper concludes that a new healthcare model focused around healthy living will be the true and long term solution to the healthcare crisis. It will ease the enormous economic burden of chronic disease and enhance the quality of life and a healthier nation. “The Missing Link in Healthcare Reform, Why Healthy Living & Prevention Aren’t Part of the Plan ... But Need to Be,” white paper can be found in its entirety at: http://www.myvillagegreen.com/images/document/Healthcare-Reform.pdf.