Vaccinations Worthwhile
Routine childhood vaccinations result in $50 billion saved annually in direct and indirect costs.
Source: Milken Institute
Child Abuse and Neglect
Child abuse and neglect is a serious and preventable public health problem in the U.S., affecting more than 3 million children in reported cases and 1,780 deaths in 2008. The lifetime costs for each surviving victim of child maltreatment is estimated at more than $200,000, which is comparable to other costly health conditions such as stroke and type 2 diabetes.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Immunization Rates Below Federal Targets
Adult immunizations remained low in 2010 for most routinely recommended vaccines. Compared to 2009 data, immunizations increased slightly for Tdap, zoster, and HPV, but they represented only limited improvements among adults in the U.S. Tdap coverage increased 1.6% to 8.2% overall. Hepatitis A and B, pneumonia, and tetanus vaccine coverages remained nearly stagnant from the previous year. Substantial increases are needed to reduce the occurrence of vaccine-preventable diseases among adults.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Cancer Screening Rates too Low
Americans are getting screened for three major cancers at rates below national standards. The breast cancer screening rate was 72.4% in 2010, below the federal health target of 81.1%. Meanwhile, cervical cancer screening rates were 83%, below the 93% goal, and colorectal cancer screening rates were 58.6%, below the 70.5% goal. The screening rates of all three cancers were significantly lower among Asians and Hispanics, as well as those without health insurance or no usual source of health care.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Prevention of Diabetes
A national community-based prevention program for diabetes could prevent or delay 885,000 cases of type 2 diabetes in the United States over the next 25 years and produce savings of $5.7 billion. The greatest health and economic gains would be for a program directed at people under age 65.
Source: Health Affairs
Binge Alcohol Consumption High for Young People
Binge drinking accounts for more than 1/2 the alcohol consumption by adults in the United States, and 15 percent of the population reported doing so in 2009. Binge drinking is defined as consuming four or more alcoholic drinks on one or more occasion for women and five or more for men. Men had the higher rate, with 20 percent reporting binge drinking with an average of 4.6 episodes. Young people ages 18-24 were the highest rated age group with 25.6 percent reporting binge drinking in 4 episodes.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Federal Grants for Tobacco Prevention
Federal grants have helped to cushion the impact of state funding cuts, but some of that funding is temporary and will run out this year. In fiscal year 2012, the federal government is providing $91.2 million in state and community grants to reduce tobacco use. States have also received $196.4 million in stimulus funds for tobacco prevention, some of which will be spent this year.
Source: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Tobacco Marketing
Tobacco companies spend $23 to market tobacco products for every $1 the states spend to fight tobacco use. According to the latest data from the Federal Trade Commission, tobacco companies spend $10.5 billion a year on marketing.
Source: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
State Funding and CDC-Recommended Levels
Four states (Connecticut, Nevada, New Hampshire and Ohio) and DC have budgeted zero state funds for tobacco prevention.
Only four states provide even half the recommended funding, while 33 states and Washington, DC, provide less than a quarter.
Counting both state funds and federal grants, only Alaska and North Dakota currently fund tobacco prevention programs at CDC-recommended levels.
Most states are falling far short of recommended funding levels for tobacco prevention programs set by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The $456.7 million the states have budgeted is just 12 percent of the $3.7 billion the CDC recommends for all the states combined.
Source: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
States and Funding
States have cut funding for tobacco prevention and cessation programs by $61.2 million (12 percent) in the past year and by $260.5 million (36 percent) in the past four years.
Source: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Tobacco Revenues Can Fund Tobacco Prevention
It would take less than 15 percent of total state tobacco revenues to fully fund tobacco prevention programs in every state.
Source: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Prevention and Public Health Fund
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) creates a new Prevention and Public Health Fund to assist state and community efforts to prevent illness and promote health. The Fund represents an unprecedented investment - $15 billion over 10 years - that will help prevent disease, detect it early, and manage conditions before they become severe.
Source: HealthCare.Gov
Walking Programs and Heart Disease
If one tenth of Americans began a regular walking program, $5.6 billion could be saved in the treatment of heart disease.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Chronic Conditions and Spending
In 2001, people with chronic conditions accounted for 83 percent of all health care spending
Source: Johns Hopkins University
Staffing Capacity for Disease Outbreak
Only three states and D.C. report not having enough staffing capacity to work extended hours in response to an infectious disease outbreak, such as novel influenza like H1N1.
Source: Trust for America's Health
State Public Health Funding is Inconsistent
In fiscal year 2009-2010, state public health funding per capita ranged from a low of $3.40 per person in Nevada to a high of $171.30 per person in Hawaii.
Source: Trust for America's Health
State Public Health Funding is Low
The median amount of state public health funding in fiscal years 2009-2010 was $30.61 per person.
Source: Trust for America's Health