Policy & Regulation News

Chronic disease prevention programs get $212M from HHS

By Elizabeth Snell

- The Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) announced yesterday approximately $212 million in grant awards to chronic disease prevention programs nationwide. All 50 states and the District of Columbia will receive awards to strengthen state and local programs that prevent diseases such as heart disease, stroke and diabetes.

“These grants will empower our partners to provide the tools that Americans need to help prevent chronic diseases like heart disease, stroke, and diabetes,” HHS Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell said in a statement. “Today’s news is important progress in our work to transition from a health care system focused on treating the sick to one that also helps keep people well throughout their lives.”

The grants will be administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. HHS said that a total of 193 awards will be given out and are partially funded by the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

According to the HHS the grant’s goals are to reduce rates of death and disability due to tobacco use, reduce obesity prevalence, as well as reduce rates of death and disability from diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

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  • Many chronic diseases, including high blood pressure and obesity, are the leading preventable causes of death in the US, according to CDC Director Tom Frieden, M.D., M.P.H.

    “These grants will enable state and local health departments, national and community organizations, and other partners from all sectors of society to help us prevent heart disease, cancer, stroke, and other leading chronic diseases, and help Americans to live longer, healthier, and more productive lives,” Frieden said.

    Chronic diseases are responsible for seven of 10 deaths among Americans each year, HHS said. Moreover, they account for more than 80 percent of the $2.7 trillion the US spends annually on medical care. Since the ACA was enacted, 76 million Americans in private health insurance have gained access to preventive care services without cost-sharing, HHS explained.

    These most recent awards add to what HHS has done in September, with the organization granting funds earlier this month to help improve primary care.

    Specifically, HHS awarded $295 million in ACA funding to 1,195 health centers to expand primary care services. The awards were given to every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands and the Pacific Basin. Those funds were designed to assist health centers increase access to comprehensive primary health care services by hiring an estimated 4,750 new staff, including new health care providers. The money will also help organizations stay open longer and expand care to include new services such as oral health, behavioral health, pharmacy and vision services, HHS said.