Heart disease and stroke significantly contribute to the rising cost of healthcare
The Effects of Heart Disease
The Triple Solution for a Healthier America is a three-part approach to tackle chronic diseases, promote a healthier life, and lower healthcare costs by focusing on Prevention, Intervention, and Innovation.

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The Triple Solution for a Healthier America: Using Prevention to reduce chronic disease, promote a healthier life, and lower healthcare costs of diabetes and other chronic diseases The Triple Solution for a Healthier America: Using Intervention to better manage chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes, promote a healthier life, and lower healthcare costs. The Triple Solution for a Healthier America: Using Innovation to reduce chronic disease and lower healthcare costs. Learn what you can do to reduce chronic disease, lower healthcare costs, and live a healthier life through personal, professional, and political involvement with the Triple Solution for a Healthier America.

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The crisis of heart disease is powerful. It’s enough to make anyone fear a heart attack:

  • Heart disease is the leading cause of death. This human toll is not necessary.1
  • More than 4 million people per year are hospitalized due to heart disease. The average length of stay of 4.6 days.1
  • Heart disease and stroke add significantly to the rising cost of healthcare. The price tag is $432 billion per year.2

People who suffer from serious chronic diseases like these face huge health challenges:

  • For various reasons, many patients decide to cut back on their medication use.
  • As a result, their risk of heart attack and stroke grows. This leads to expensive hospital visits.
  • Disease management is ignored. Or, treatments focus on addressing acute events such as heart attacks.

The most stunning fact is that prescription drugs account for as little as 10 cents of every $1 spent on healthcare.3 Something must be done to change reimbursement for preventive services. Otherwise the problem is bound to get worse. Heart disease, stroke, and other chronic diseases will prevail.

The Triple Solution—Intervention

Learn how small efforts can create big results. For example, reducing cholesterol levels by 10% could cut the incidence of heart disease by as much as 30%. This could save America $42.75 billion each year4 and have significant impact on the quality of life for millions.

References:

  1. National Center for Health Statistics. Fast Stats, Heart Disease. National Center for Health Statistics Web site. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/heart.htm. Accessed September 20, 2007.
  2. Mensah G, Brown D. An overview of cardiovascular disease burden in the United States. Health Aff 2007; 26:38-48.
  3. Public Policy Review. Changing the Debate on Healthcare Costs in the US: The Triple Solution for Lower Cost, Better Quality Healthcare. Available at http://us.gsk.com/docs-pdf/media-news/changing-the-debate-triple-solution.pdf. Accessed July 24, 2007.
  4. National Governors Association. NGA Report on Healthy Living. Investing in America’s Health. Washington, DC: NGA, 2007. Available at http://www.subnet.nga.org/healthy/facts/National.pdf. Accessed September 20, 2007.