Healthcare policy should focus on socioeconomic, lifestyle factors, not just care

Neil Versel | | Health Exec | Policy & Regulations

By some estimates, healthcare is only responsible for 10 percent of the factors related to longevity; the rest is dependent on genetics, socioeconomic circumstances and healthy habits. That means care alone is inadequate, and public policy should change to reflect that reality, says an editorial in the new edition of Population Health Matters, a quarterly publication of the Jefferson School of Population Health in Philadelphia.

"When it comes to taking control of our health we tend to focus on the wrong things," wrote Drew Harris, DPM, MPH, program director for health policy at the Jefferson School of Population Health. "Policy interventions that improve health are not just a moral imperative. Poor health outcomes result in higher premiums, lost worker productivity and increasing taxes."

 

Reflections and Projections: Prevention, Policy and Health

Neil Versel

Neil Versel joined TriMed in 2015 as the digital editor of Clinical Innovation + Technology, after 11 years as a freelancer specializing in health IT, healthcare quality, hospital/physician practice management and healthcare finance.

Related Content

Mangione now faces federal charges, death penalty in murder of UHC CEO
FDA issues Class I recall on counterfeit infusion pump batteries
FDA issues alert on PCNL sheath safety after patient death
DOJ sues CVS over unlawful opioid prescriptions and reimbursement
FDA says years-long tirzepatide shortage is resolved, will give limited leeway to compounders
Advancing AI for vascular surgery will require a commitment to data integrity

Around the web

Cardiovascular Business
FDA says years-long tirzepatide shortage is resolved, will give limited leeway to compounders

The tirzepatide shortage that first began in 2022 has been resolved. Drug companies distributing compounded versions of the popular drug now have two to three more months to distribute their remaining supply.

AI in Healthcare
From Capitol Hill to a hospital near you? 5 federal recommendations for healthcare AI policy

The 24 members of the House Task Force on AI—12 reps from each party—have posted a 253-page report detailing their bipartisan vision for encouraging innovation while minimizing risks. 

Cardiovascular Business
Merck spends up to $2B to license new weight loss drug with potential heart benefits

Merck sent Hansoh Pharma, a Chinese biopharmaceutical company, an upfront payment of $112 million to license a new investigational GLP-1 receptor agonist. There could be many more payments to come if certain milestones are met.