Tobacco Documents Online

0 DAVID PRtOA AA[ANSS CwAtlIMAN JO..N GLENN 0-10 pLL ~~AOLE• NEW JERSE+ J /ENNETT JONNSTON IONISIANA JO.N $ aRfAU. :OUISIANA 4CNANO SNfLly ALA"MA +A*A REro NEVADA tOo GNANAM r~OMOA ..f.6 .0.•l MnSCONSIN RuSSEL. 0 -E-NGOLO WISCONSIN nOGENT aRUEGER 'Ea.1 W4lIAM S CO.'fN MAINE .ARw MESSLEA SOUTw DACOTA C•AeIES I GRASSIEr IOWA A:AN [ SIMPSON WYOMING J.MES M JEEEOAOSAIj~EIIMON- JOwN MCCAIN AONA DAVE OUAE.NEAGER M/NNESOTA LAN/I. CFIMG IOANO CONRAO OUANS MONTANA ARLIN PECTEN PfNNSrIVANu ro1TIA "Tf" MTELMAN ST.Ei DMECTOR C.AISTOMfR C JENNwGS OfruT. STAa. DuIECTOe MA/IY SEANY GERWiN MINONrtv STAtf DINfCTOM.CNIfC COUNSEI United ~5tates ~5enate SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON AGING WASHINGTON. DC 20510-6400 PREVENTIVE HEALTH: AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION SAVES A POUND OF CURE SENATE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON AGING OPENING STATEMENT OF SENATOR DAVID PRYOR, CHAIRMAN May 6, 1993 Welcome to the Special Committee on Aging. It has been a tremendous honor for this Committee to have hosted Mrs. Hillary Rodham Clinton for breakfast this morning, where we discussed issues of concern to older Americans -- including the issue before the Aging Committee today -- preventive health. Hillary Clinton clearly understands that prevention can achieve huge savings for our health care system -- and for each of us. This hearing is entitled: "Preventive Health: An Ounce of Prevention Saves a Pound of Cure." The Aging Committee today continues its mission of cutting Federal costs, while promoting the health of older Americans. The best way to do both is to prevent costly diseases and disabilities. America spent $880 billion last year on health care. Of that, less than four percent was spent on disease prevention and health promotion. Health care dollars in the U.S. are nearly all spent on treating illness, not preventing it. Our approach is like mopping up the floor without turning off the faucet. The most effective way to cut nursing home costs, for example, is to keep people from ever having to go to them in the first place. People who reach the age of 65 can now expect to live into their eighties. We should no longer accept that aging means growing frail. Americans should be able to live long and live well. Preventive health measures can make those later years more active, independent and free of pain. A growing body of evidence shows that many of the health problems that hit older persons are preventable. For example, immunizations against pneumonia are needed because for those over age 65, the disease is three times more common and is much more deadly. Still, less than one-third of seniors have received them. Flu immunizations are also needed because over 80 percent of all influenza-related deaths occur in people aged 65 and older. Yet only 30% of them receive vaccines each year.

-2- Clearly, the incentives in Medicare and in most private insurance favor aggressive treatment once serious illnesses set in, while neglecting any significant investment in prevention. At the same time, older persons can do more for their own health. Changing certain health behaviors, even in old age, can benefit health and quality of life. Cigarette smoking is one of these habits. Studies have shown that when older smokers quit, they increase their life expectancy, reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer, and improve respiratory function. A study commissioned by the Aging Committee from the Office of Technology Assessment reports that in 1990, cigarettes killed 417,000 Americans, at a cost to the health care system of $21 billion. Eating habits also play an important role in preventing and treating health problems. In fact, diet plays a major role in the top three leading causes of death -- heart disease, cancer, and stroke. Malnutrition also remains a problem among seniors. We will also hear today about the huge price paid by our health care system because of alcohol abuse. If alcohol were never used carelessly in our society, over 100,000 fewer people would die from unnecessary illness and injury. This problem cost our health care system $12 billion in 1990. The legendary actor Jack Palance recently testified before this Committee. He said, "So don't get old, don't allow it to happen." He was right. Hospitals and nursing homes in this country wouldn't be nearly as busy if more Americans received immunizations, quit smoking, ate better and used alcohol only in moderation. People can help themselves by making healthy choices -- and the government can help by establishing solid preventive health policies. This hearing will look at some of those options.