Yes We Can: A Simple Solution to Health Care Reform

Our current health care system is based on responding to acute problems and immediate, life threatening illnesses. Emphasis on testing, diagnosing and treatment of these disorders forms the basis of our contemporary health care system and its expenditures. While these functions are appropriate for acute and episodic medical conditions, this model of care is inadequate when applied to the treatment of chronic diseases which represent our greatest health care burden.

Chronic conditions are projected to be the leading cause of disability throughout the world by the year 2020; if not successfully prevented and managed, they will become the most expensive problems faced by our health care system. In this respect, chronic conditions pose a threat to our country from both health and economic standpoints. Consider these sobering statistics: the U.S. is projected to spend over $2.2 trillion annually on health care in 2008, up from $300 billion in 1980. Health care accounts for 16.2% of our current GDP and the CMS projects that by 2016 health care spending will be over $4.1 trillion and 20% of our GDP. Health care spending is 4.3 times the amount spent on national defense. Health insurance expenses are the fastest growing cost component for most businesses, and unless something changes dramatically, health insurance costs may soon overtake profits in many business sectors.

Policymakers and government officials recognize that health care costs must be controlled, but there is disagreement on the best ways to address the rapidly escalations in health care spending. Some in Washington favor price controls by imposing regulatory constraints on health care spending, while others believe free market competition is the best way to lower health care expenditures. There appears to be no consensus on a solution to health care's high price tag. But a simple analysis of this problem, including an awareness of the primary reason for our escalated health care costs, may provide a more simple and cost effective solution to our current health care crisis.

Most health care cost expenditures are directed at common and preventable chronic diseases. The most costly and disabling conditions - cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes - account for the largest percentage of annual health care costs. For instance, the cost of heart disease and stroke in the US is projected to be over $400 billion in 2008. People with diabetes generate health care costs that are double or triple those without this condition. Nationally, diabetes has increased nearly 50 % in the past 10 years alone. The prevalence of diabetes is 20.8 million people according to CDC estimates, and is expected to double by 2020. The CDC faults a higher rate of obesity, which is one of the major risk factors for diabetes, as the main cause for this increased trend. Cancer treatment accounts for over $70 billion per year, and account for approximately 5% of U.S. spending of all medical treatments.

The Cure for a sick health care system is prevention. Most chronic diseases are preventable, yet our health care system does not make the best use of its available resources to address this problem and its solution. Preventive health care is inherently different from a health care system which targets acute problems, and in this regard the current emphasis of our health care system is completely misdirected. Heart disease is among the most widespread and costly health problem facing our nation today, yet is also among the most preventable. Cancer and diabetes are also largely preventable diseases.

Diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancer are linked by common preventable risk factors which include our dietary habits. Epidemiological data supports the notion that ongoing nutritional trends characterized by increased consumption of high saturated fat and foods with a high glycemic index, factors which lead to a condition known as insulin resistance, has significantly contributed to the rising burden of heart disease, stroke, obesity and diabetes. Conversely, simple changes in our dietary patterns, including the avoidance of simple sugars and processed foods, and an increased consumption of whole grains, vegetables, fruits and healthful oils found in nuts and cold water fish will lead to a decreased risk of developing these conditions. Public health strategies and policies that promote these healthy dietary practices is one of the keys to improving our public's health, lowering health care costs and saving lives. It is quite evident that if all Americans adopted these simple healthy lifestyle changes, health care costs would decrease and people would people require less medical care

Most recently, in April of 2008, the Japanese government has undergone macro strategy to combat obesity and diabetes. By law, according to Norimitsu Onishi of the New York Times, all Japanese people between the ages of 40 and 74 will have their waistlines measured at their annual checkups in order to decrease obesity in the general population. Companies will be held responsible, and have strict goals: 10% of overweight people need to decrease their size in the next four years, and 25% will need to lose weight in the next seven years. Will the U.S. government take such prophylactic measures to decrease our healthcare budget, and more importantly increase the quality of life for our citizens?