Community-based prevention programs improve health and lower costs, according to a new report contradicting the Congressional Budget Office, which last month said prevention programs can drive up costs. The report, by the New York Academy of Medicine and Trust for America's Health, highlighted 84 community-based disease-management and -prevention programs that have saved money and improved the health of local residents.
Study cites benefits of community-based programs
Jeff Levi
Examples included walking groups that lowered hypertension; heart-disease awareness programs that reduced incidence of the disease; and nutrition and transportation projects that lowered childhood obesity rates.
“There is clear, strong evidence that community prevention works,” said Jeff Levi, executive director of Trust for America's Health.
The CBO said in August that prevention and wellness programs could drive up costs because of increased utilization and potential duplication of efforts.
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