Prevention in Payment Reform
Prevention is the Key
to Improving Health Outcomes and Reducing Costs
Join Us In Calling for a Prevention and Cost Control Trust
in the Next Phase of Health Reform
Open Letter to Massachusetts Legislative Leaders
On September 12, MPHA and our partners released an open letter to legislative leaders urging them to include a robust system of community-based prevention, including dedicated funding, in the next phase of health reform. The letter - which continues to grow daily - now includes more than 300 signatures, of which 122 are Massachusetts organizations, municipalities, or businesses. It's not too late to add your name!
Click here for the letter and full list of signatures.
Click here to read the press release and summary of signers.
Click here to sign your organization or yourself on!
* * *
Massachusetts is about to embark on the next phase of health reform. The goal of "payment reform" is to change the way we pay for health care services in order to ensure better health outcomes and to reduce runaway health care costs. We know that community-based prevention is vital to improve health outcomes and address preventable and chronic health conditions. We also know that prevention is an essential strategy to reduce health care costs.
MPHA and our partners are partnering with Representative Jason Lewis and Senator Harriette Chandler to promote legislation that would create a Prevention and Cost Control Trust that would set up sustainable financing for community-based public health by linking it to the healthcare financing system. Join us to ensure that sustainable investment of resources is included in any payment reform legislation that advances this year!
This effort is being led jointly by MPHA, Health Care for All, Health Resources in Action, the Boston Public Health Commission, the Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action, and the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization.
LEARN MORE
Bill information
- Fact Sheet for Advocates/Community Members
- Fact Sheet for Legislators
- Fact Sheet: Prevention and Payment Reform - By the Numbers
- Overview of Public Health and Cost Control Trust - Power Point presentation
- Text of House Bill 1498
Research on prevention and cost savings
-
Return on Investments in Public Health: A Summary of Groundbreaking Research Studies. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Policy Highlight Brief, October 2011.
- Modeling Potential Massachusetts Savings from Prevention.
Presentation Slides from the Urban Institute, 2011.
- Annual Savings in Massachusetts After a 5% Reduction in Preventable Medical Conditions. Data from Ormand, et al. American Journal of Public Health, 2011.
- High Cost of Doing Nothing to Prevent Disease: Treatment Expenditures for Heart Disease in Massachusetts, with and without Moderate Changes Toward Prevention.
Data from Milken Institute, An Unhealthy American: The Economic Burden of Chronic Disease, 2007.
- Prevention for a Healthier America: Investments in Disease Prevention Yield Significant Savings, Stronger Communities. Trust for America's Health, 2009.
- Potential National and State Medical Care Savings from Primary Disease Prevention. Ormond, et al. American Journal of Public Health, January 2011.
-
Why Behavioral And Environmental Interventions Are Needed To Improve Health At Lower Cost. Milstein, et al. Health Affairs, 2011.
-
Economic Benefits of Preventing Disease – excerpt from National Prevention Strategy. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Surgeon General, 2011.
- An Unhealthy America: The Economic Burden of Chronic Disease. Charting a New Course to Save Lives and Increase Productivity and Economic Growth. Milken Institute, 2007.
-
Community-Based Prevention: Sample Interventions. Compiled by MPHA from Trust for America's Health and The Prevention Institute.
- Evidence Links Increases in Public Health Spending to Declines in Preventable Deaths. Mays, et al. American Journal of Public Health, 2011.
Coalition Materials
- Statement on Endorsement by Legislature's Public Health Committee
- Pictures from the May 3rd press conference and hearing.
- May 3rd Press Release: "Coalition Calls for Community-Based Prevention Dollars as Part of Health Care Cost Reform."
- Bios of Press Conference speakers
- Press conference and hearing - invitation and flyer
GET INVOLVED
We need your help! Here's what you can do:
- Sign on Letter - Join our sign on letter to urge that prevention is a key element in payment reform.
- Contact your Rep. and Senator - Call or write to let your Representative and Senator know that payment reform won't succeed unless we invest in prevention. If you don't know who your Rep. and Senator are, click here.