PROVEN PROGRAMS

Experts in the health sector tell us that the pandemic was like an earthquake that will trigger a tsunami of chronic disease. Reduced physical activity, poor nutrition and increased stress led to substantial weight gain, and all of these factors increase the risk of developing many chronic diseases. Plus, many people delayed preventive care during the pandemic. Importantly, prevention works – in fact, if these major risk factors were successfully addressed, at least 80% of all heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes would be prevented, as would more than 40% of cancer cases.

This is what the YMCA does: we invest in proven programs to prevent and control chronic disease by supporting people with physical activity, improved nutrition and peer support. We can improve health outcomes, we can reduce health spending, and we can reduce health disparities among at-risk populations.

HEALTH COSTS TO BUSINESS AND STATE GOVERNMENT

The Business Group on Health Care Plan Design Annual Survey 2022 reported that 76% of large employers expect increased needs for chronic disease management in their health plans. The AJPM reports that high prevalence of chronic conditions has been a key driver of health care costs in the United States, and Medicaid beneficiaries tend to have higher rates of chronic diseases than people not on Medicaid. Our states will have to confront the increasing costs of these diseases in their Medicaid programs (AJPM-2017). For example: estimated total annual health care costs were $29,271 to $51,937 per Medicaid beneficiary with heart failure.