WASHINGTON, D.C. — The American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM) commends the U.S. House of Representatives for passing the Dr. Michael C. Burgess Preventive Health Savings Act (H.R. 766), a pivotal step toward extending the scoring window of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) when evaluating legislation that affects the use of preventive health and preventive health services. This landmark bipartisan legislation appropriately acknowledges the promise and value of preventive health and the role of prevention in strengthening the health and well-being of Americans. The passage of this bill will facilitate a vital shift from a sick-care system to one that promotes wellness, with prevention as a core priority.
As the leading professional society for board-certified Preventive Medicine physicians, ACPM recognizes the importance of upstream interventions and the need to align resources to promote prevention in the long-term. The passage of the Preventive Health Savings Act will enable more accurate economic measures that prioritize prevention when making key healthcare decisions.
"Prevention must be viewed as a national priority if we want to improve our current health system to ensure it is comprehensive and accessible to all," said Donna Grande, MGA, Chief Executive Officer of ACPM. "We applaud the House of Representatives for taking this important step toward extending the scoring window for preventive health-related legislation. This will enable policymakers to better evaluate the long-term impact of preventive measures on public health and healthcare costs."
ACPM urges lawmakers to prioritize prevention and policies that recognize the health and economic value of public health funding to promote investment in vital capabilities. "Prevention is the cornerstone of a sustainable and effective healthcare system," added Grande. "By prioritizing prevention, we can reduce the burden of chronic diseases, improve health outcomes, and ultimately lower healthcare costs. The passage of the Dr. Michael C. Burgess Preventive Health Savings Act is a significant step in achieving this goal."
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The American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM) is a professional medical society representing more than 2,000 physicians, dedicated to the practice of preventive medicine; improving the health and quality of life of individuals, families, communities, and populations through disease prevention and health promotion. For more information, visit www.acpm.org.