WASHINGTON, D.C. -- June 30, 2010 -- The National Prevention, Health Promotion and Public Health Council created by the Affordable Care Act issued its first status report today outlining the priorities for a National Prevention and Health Promotion Strategy that will help to repair the broken "sick care" system. Following is a statement from the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN):
"The report issued today is an important step toward the creation of a first-ever national prevention strategy that will help transform the current ‘sick care’ system, which focuses on treating those who are ill, into one that does a far better job of keeping people healthy. The National Prevention, Health Promotion and Public Health Council’s status report identifies the priorities and strategies that will begin to elevate the importance of prevention and wellness and help build a healthier and more productive population.
"The report emphasizes what people with cancer and their families strongly believe -- that eliminating cancer as a major health problem should be a top priority for our country. Sixty percent of cancer deaths could be prevented each year if all Americans were to stop smoking, get screened for cancer, eat healthy and exercise regularly. The report calls for greater investment in cancer prevention strategies that expand tobacco control efforts, improve nutrition and physical activity, combat obesity and increase utilization of high-value preventive services such as cancer screening tests.
"The development of a National Prevention and Health Promotion Strategy is just one part of a broader effort required by the Affordable Care Act to improve the health status of all Americans. In the past two weeks, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released a proposed rule to expand Medicare preventive services, and the Department of Health and Human Services announced the allocation of $500 million from the new Prevention and Public Health Fund to invest in preventive care activities and public health infrastructure. That funding includes critical investments in community-based prevention strategies that will help to improve public health and wellness and advance our progress in preventing cancer.
"As the leading voice of patients, ACS CAN strongly supported the emphasis on prevention and public health in the Affordable Care Act. The law's $15-billion investment over the next 10 years will help transform our 'sick care' system into one that focuses on disease prevention and management as well as improved wellness and quality of life."
ACS CAN, the leading voice of patients in the health care debate, is working to ensure that the Affordable Care Act is implemented as strongly as possible for cancer patients, survivors and caregivers. For more information, visit https://www.fightcancer.org/healthcare.
ACS CAN, the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, supports evidence-based policy and legislative solutions designed to eliminate cancer as a major health problem. ACS CAN works to encourage elected officials and candidates to make cancer a top national priority. ACS CAN gives ordinary people extraordinary power to fight cancer with the training and tools they need to make their voices heard. For more information, visit www.fightcancer.org.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Steven Weiss or Alissa Havens
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
202-661-5711 or 202-661-5772
[email protected] or [email protected]
