Tom Harkin: “the Healthy Lifestyles and Prevention America Act, also known as the HeLP America Act, will improve the health of…”

“the Healthy Lifestyles and Prevention America Act, also known as the HeLP America Act, will improve the health of Americans and reduce health care costs by emphasizing prevention, wellness, and health promotion in our communities, workplaces and schools. We made a significant investment in prevention and wellness as part of the passing of the historic Affordable Care Act into law. The robust array of provisions contained in the HeLP America Act continue to build off the investments made by the Affordable Care Act and together, they will significantly transform our current sick care system into a true health care system. Make no mistake about it; these combined efforts will continue our transformation into a genuine wellness society by keeping people from developing chronic diseases and from costly hospitalizations in the first place. Currently, the United States spends more than $2 trillion on health care each year but historically we invest just four cents out of every dollar in prevention and public health--let me repeat that--just four cents out of every dollar is invested in prevention and public health. This is pennies despite all the research that shows that prevention and public health can effectively reduce health care spending. This is why I fought for the Prevention and Public Health Fund that is included in the health reform law.”