The National Changing Diabetes((R) )Program (NCDP), a program of Novo Nordisk, commends Representative Donna M. Christensen, M.D. (D-VI) and Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX) for sponsoring legislation that will lead to a more accurate assessment of the cost and benefits of preventive health, including preventing complications and delaying progression of chronic diseases such as diabetes.
The bipartisan Preventive Health Savings Act of 2009 (HR 3148), introduced Thursday, July 9, 2009, calls on the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to weigh clinical or observational studies when modeling projected costs and savings related to preventive health, and in certain circumstances, look beyond the traditional 10-year budget window. These concepts, supported by researchers at the University of Chicago in a paper published today in Health Affairs, can inform the health care reform debate that will be taken up by Congress this fall.
Currently, the CBO, which provides Congress with impartial analyses of the costs of federal programs, uses traditional economic and actuarial approaches to assess the financial impact or "scores'' of health programs across a 10-year window of time. But in many cases, for chronic, progressive diseases such as diabetes, the true value of prevention and improved treatment outcomes become apparent only when assessed over a longer time period.
"Health care reform represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for creating a system which values prevention, but this promise will not be fully realized without modernizing the way Congress scores preventive health legislation," Congresswoman Christensen said. "The Preventive Health Savings Act requires CBO to conduct an initial analysis to determine whether the preventive health measure would result in substantial savings outside the scoring window, and if those savings exist, CBO must include an estimate and description of those future-year savings in its budget projections."
"As a doctor, I know an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Preventive measures can save money in the long-term,'' said Representative Burgess. "Today the federal budget scoring process inadvertently skews Congressional decision-making to the short term. This bill calls on the CBO to adjust their metrics and provide Congress accurate 'scoring' of both the long term costs and benefits of preventive health."
Science has pointed toward promising interventions that improve the lives of people living with diabetes. Large studies have shown that early, intensive treatment to reduce blood glucose levels can delay or prevent debilitating and costly complications of diabetes, such as heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney failure and amputation.
"It is essential for Congress to realistically consider the financial benefits of prevention. Research has shown that prevention measures ranging from early screening to having the tools to successfully manage diabetes are the cost-effective actions we need to take to stem the tide of the diabetes epidemic," said Janel Wright, Chair of the American Diabetes Association's Advocacy Committee.
"By including epidemiological data - the results of clinical trials and other studies that show the impact of prevention programs and good disease management - and better modeling in making its projections, the CBO can provide more accurate information to Congress," said Bob Doherty, Senior Vice President, Governmental Affairs and Public Policy, American College of Physicians.
Chronic diseases are the leading cause of death and disability in the United States, and treatment of these diseases accounts for 75% of national health care spending. Diabetes alone already affects nearly 24 million Americans and is expected to rise to 50 million by 2025.
"Vision benefits are often seen as non-core health care, but a recent study demonstrated early detection of chronic diseases through eye exams translated into significant cost savings for companies," said Rob Lynch, President and CEO, VSP Vision Care. "Results suggest that large employers such as the U.S. Federal Government, which includes over 8 million employees, dependents and retirees, could save an estimated $423 million annually in potential cost avoidance due to early detection through eye exams."