The program will set national health targets and monitor progress toward them, with the overall goal of the program being the reduction of preventable diseases. Chronic diseases, such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes, are responsible for seven out of every 10 deaths among Americans each year and account for 75 percent of the nation’s health spending. Yet, many of the risk factors that contribute to the development of these diseases are preventable.
Healthy People 2020 expands the topic areas included in the Healthy People initiative. New topics include adolescent health, LGBT health, genomics, dementia and sleep health, among others.
“Too many people are not reaching their full potential for health because of preventable conditions,” Assistant Secretary for Health Howard K. Koh, MD, MPH, said in the release. “Healthy People is the nation’s roadmap and compass for better health, providing our society a vision for improving both the quantity and quality of life for all Americans.”
The renewed focus on prevention aligns well with the White House’s healthcare reform package, which begins several programs that incentive providers to better manage or prevent chronic disease.
Read the release on Healthy People 2010.
