Solve today's crises and avoid tomorrow's by protecting and investing in health
Health reform means taking the opportunity to re-envision optimal ways to advance health and equity. Despite having by far the highest per capita health expenditures in the world, the United States lags behind many industrialized nations in health outcomes. Part of the reason is that the health care delivery system is in shambles-costs are soaring, an unsustainable percentage of health care spending goes to administrative costs, people of color and low-income people have unequal access to quality care, and millions of people have little or no coverage at all. But the other reason is that health outcomes have more to do with social, cultural, economic, and environmental factors than with health care services. Reforming the health system to truly promote health requires investing in community prevention in tandem with providing high quality medical care that is universally accessible and culturally competent. A comprehensive health reform strategy that emphasizes prevention, equity, and transforming community environments can significantly alleviate the social and financial burden associated with treating illness and injury.
In partnership with leading national organizations, Prevention Institute has long been mobilizing advocates around the country to articulate and advance the value of community prevention, which encompasses what happens before and after the doctor's visit-reducing the need for such appointments by nurturing wellness in the first place. This work includes analysis of major health impacting policies, building the evidence base for the return on investments in primary prevention, monitoring and responding to media coverage of health and prevention, guiding advocacy, and publishing briefs outlining comprehensive reforms to health.