Why should I care?
While the U.S. spends the most money on health care, we still lag behind other high-income nations on a number of health outcomes. For example, in 2013, health care spending ate up more than 17 percent of the U.S. gross domestic product — that's about 50 percent more than many other industrialized nations.1 Yet we rank 28th out of 43 nations in terms of life expectancy.2 Also striking is the fact that only 3 percent of our health care spending is focused on prevention and public health, when 75 percent of our health care costs are related to preventable conditions. 3, 4
We can’t drive the change to create the healthiest nation unless we strengthen public health infrastructure and capacity. Strong and consistent funding levels are necessary for our public health system to respond to everyday health needs, sustain hard-fought health gains and prepare for unexpected health emergencies.
What can I do to help support our public health infrastructure?
Join Generation Public Health today and become part of the movement! We'll celebrate progress and highlight new challenges. We'll let you know about opportunities to influence policy decisions. We'll give advice and support for efforts in your community. We're in this together.
SIGN OUR PLEDGE to create the healthiest nation in one generation!
1 The Commonwealth Fund
2 Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Life Expectancy at Birth
3 National Health Expenditure Data. Baltimore, MD: U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, December 2014.
4 For the Public’s Health: Investing in a Healthier Future. Washington, D.C.: Institute of Medicine, April 2012.