Save the Prevention and Public Health Fund!
- von: The GW Colonials for Health
- empfänger: Members of Congress
The Prevention and Public Health Fund is our nation’s single largest investment in disease prevention and health promotion; it aims to help millions of Americans prevent disease before it happens. But now it needs YOUR help...so why is it important for you to take action?
Are you worried about Ebola? There's a Fund for that! The Fund helps state labs build capacity to stop the spread of infectious disease and build a strong public health workforce for responding to emergency health threats. But in addition, it also funds local and state programs that help people quit smoking, eat healthier, exercise, get necessary vaccinations, and more. The problem is, there is low support in Congress, so the Fund is at risk of being reduced or eliminated. Do you think Congress should eliminate the Fund?
We are a concerned group of public health students who believe that shifting resources from the PPHF is not a viable long-term solution to preventing chronic conditions that are crippling our economy, and even more importantly, the American people. Help us save this important source of funding for prevention programs by signing our petition to members of Congress!
Protect the Fund. Prevent Disease. Promote Health.
Thank you,
The GW Colonials for Health
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Dear Member of Congress,
Preventable chronic disease is a huge burden in the United States, on both the economic and personal level. Chronic disease accounts for 70 percent of all deaths and 75 percent of all health care spending nationwide; by 2020, it is estimated that 157 million Americans will be living with chronic disease, with approximately half living with multiple chronic conditions. If current trends continue, by 2030 the United States could be spending an additional $66 billion per year on treating obesity-related conditions alone. While 7 in 10 deaths are due to these preventable chronic conditions, in 2011 only about 3% of health care funding was dedicated to prevention while 75% was spent on treatment. In contrast, every $1 spent through prevention programs to address physical activity, poor nutrition, and smoking cessation programs, the return on investment is $5.60. If we invest $10 per person in the U.S., we could save about $16 billion per year, not to mention improve the lives of countless Americans!
The Prevention and Public Health Fund, established in 2010 by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, is the only dedicated funding for prevention and public health programs. Since its establishment, the Fund has invested $3.25 billion to support evidence-based community prevention activities, including:
- Reduction of tobacco use
- Help controlling the obesity epidemic
- Response to disease outbreaks, such as Ebola
- Training the nation's public health and health care workforce
- Prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS
- Expand access to vaccines, and more.
The Fund will provide an additional $13.5 billion over the next 10 years for these prevention efforts. However, $332.5 million has already been diverted away from the Fund for non-prevention activities. Further cuts would be an enormous step backwards in our progress on cost-containment, public health modernization, and wellness promotion.
As concerned students, faculty, and members of the community as well as your constituency, we ask that you support the Prevention and Public Health Fund and ensure that allocated resources are maintained for prevention programs and not diverted to non-prevention activities. Congress needs to fully allocate the $1 billion available through the Fund to prevention and public health services. Shifting resources from the PPHF is not a viable long-term solution to preventing chronic conditions that are crippling our economy, and even more importantly, the American people.
Protect the Fund. Prevent Disease. Promote Health.
Sincerely,
The GW Colonials for Health
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