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Community Preventive Services Should be an Integral Part of Health Financing Reform. |
COMMUNITY-WIDE CAMPAIGNS TO PROMOTE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
Most Americans are sedentary and do not engage in regular physical activity that would improve their health. Strong evidence exists, however, that community-wide campaigns are effective in increasing the number of people who are physically active. These community-wide campaigns, which may involve use of television, radio, newspaper, and mailings, are an example of an underutilized, but scientifically proven, community preventive service. |
- Congress should enact policies that create healthy environments and encourage healthy behaviors – Health professionals and policy makers have identified a wide range of policies that will lead to healthier diets, higher levels of physical activity, reduced tobacco use, and lower levels of inappropriate use of alcohol. Partnership has previously recommended, for example, that Congress give the Federal Trade Commission the authority to regulate advertising of “junk food” to children and give the Food and Drug Administration the authority to regulate tobacco. In addition, though, Congress should look beyond traditional public health programs and consider legislative changes in such areas as agriculture, transportation, advertising, and education, all of which influence behaviors that affect health. One important strategy is to give communities incentives to ensure the built environment (e.g., the availability of parks, walking trails, and safe neighborhoods) promotes healthy lifestyles. The goal should be to make healthy choices the easy choices for all Americans.
- Financing mechanisms should offer incentives to organizations that influence the health of populations to deliver community preventive services – Forward-looking health reforms should create incentives for public health departments, as well as for other institutions such as school districts and parks and recreation departments, to deliver evidence-based community preventive services to bring about public health and environmental changes that promote good health. One approach is to reward health departments that meet strict performance standards with higher levels of Federal funding.
- Americans need to give greater attention to prevention in their own lives, using preventive services and taking steps to prevent obesity and other high-risk conditions – Government and the private sector can help by fostering healthy habits and by reversing incentives that encourage unhealthy lifestyles. They can also educate people about the real risks to their health and the preventive services that are recommended for individuals of their age, gender, and risk factors.
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