Safeway emphasis on preventive care a model for nation | The Hill

Our nation offers the best healthcare in the world. As a Maryland senator, I take pride that my state is the home to some of the world’s most renowned medical facilities, including Johns Hopkins University Hospital, the University of Maryland Medical Center and the National Institutes of Health. Although we have done a remarkable job of treating illness, we have not done enough to prevent disease and promote wellness. {mosads}Today, more than half of all Americans live with at least one chronic condition, accounting for 75 percent of all healthcare spending each year. Specifically, five chronic diseases — heart disease, cancer, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and diabetes — are responsible for more than two-thirds of all deaths in the United States. All of these conditions can either be prevented or better managed if patients stop smoking, lose excess weight and increase their level of physical activity. A study by the Trust for America’s Health found that by investing $1

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• Derrick Li