AmeliaTek Medication Compliance

The State of Aging and Health in America 2007

A report out of the Centers for Disease Control “The State of Aging and Health in America 2007” says that the aging of America is getting more expensive for America.

The cost of caring for aging Americans will add 25 percent to the nation’s health care bill by 2030 unless people act now to stay healthy, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday (MSNBC http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17518459/).

From the Executive Summary of The State of Aging and Health in America 2007:

The United States population is rapidly aging. By 2030, the number of Americans aged 65 and older will more than double to 71 million older Americans, comprising roughly 20 percent of the U.S. population. In some states, fully a quarter of the population will be aged 65 and older. An enhanced focus on promoting and preserving the health of older adults is essential if we are to effectively address the health and economic challenges of an aging society. The cost of providing health care for an older American is three to five times greater than the cost for someone younger than 65. By 2030, the nation’s health care spending is projected to increase by 25% due to demographic shifts unless improving and preserving the health of older adults is more actively addressed.

The State of Aging and Health in America 2007 report presents the most current national data available on 15 key health indicators for older adults related to health status, health behaviors, preventive care and screening, and injuries. The “State-by-State Report Card” provides similar information for each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia, and enables states to see where they are on each indicator as well as in relation to other states.

According to MSNBC coverage, an advisor to the CDC on this report confirms that “prevention is the key” to controlling healthcare costs:

“We are going to see an increase in health care costs, but the goal has to be to restrain the rate of increase. Prevention is the key to that,” said Bill Benson, a health care benefits and policy analyst who advised the CDC on the report.

If prevention is the key, then shouldn’t we see prevention as a priority for government spending and legislation? Well, some states are already acting on this. According to TwinCities.com:

Minnesota employers accepted a challenge from the nation’s top health care executive Thursday to drive down costs by giving workers better information so they can make wiser medical choices.
The pledge occurred the same day state lawmakers announced a sweeping health reform proposal that includes a mandate that all Minnesotans have health insurance.

The common thread is the idea that individuals can control the runaway costs of the nation’s health care system if they are well-informed consumers who have access to medical care through insurance. “Competition works. It works in health care”, said Michael Leavitt, secretary of U.S. Health and Human Services, during his visit to Minneapolis. “When people have information about quality and cost, it drives quality up and costs down.”

Empower the health consumer and increase access to information. What about patient adherence and medication compliance specifically?

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