Discussion

Discussion Order Description Despite evidence suggestin" rel="nofollow">ing that disease prevention produces major improvements in" rel="nofollow">in longevity and quality of life, the role of prevention efforts in" rel="nofollow">in the United States health system is far from outstandin" rel="nofollow">ing. Less than 5% of the nation's health care expenditures are for prevention of disease and in" rel="nofollow">injury in" rel="nofollow">in contrast to the nearly 80% of the nation's health care expenditures bein" rel="nofollow">ing devoted to treatin" rel="nofollow">ing people with chronic diseases. Tobacco use alone is responsible for billions of dollars in" rel="nofollow">in health care costs, as is obesity, in" rel="nofollow">includin" rel="nofollow">ing costs for the loss of productivity among those with obesity. Many in" rel="nofollow">in health care would suggest that prevention is a very cost effective solution to savin" rel="nofollow">ing lives. If this is such a great concept, it would seem then, that people would embrace and practice prevention efforts more often in" rel="nofollow">in and effort to stay healthy. What do you thin" rel="nofollow">ink are some of the barriers and, more importantly, the "enablers" to prevention programs in" rel="nofollow">in managed health care plans and how do you thin" rel="nofollow">ink those barriers could be elimin" rel="nofollow">inated?