Preventative Health Policy in the US, March 2024

New Personalized Longevity Supplementation From Saints One  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ April 5th, 2024 | [Read Online]( Saints One is your longevity 360°. Personalized daily supplementation, DNA Age Testing, 24/7 AI via the Saints One app, and your own longevity concierge – all in one plan. Good Morning , In the rapidly evolving healthcare landscape of the 21st century, the United States stands at a critical juncture. As it grapples with the multifaceted challenges of escalating healthcare costs, declining life expectancy, and the underutilization of preventive care, the nation is compelled to reassess its approach to health and wellness. This pivotal moment demands a convergence of innovation, policy reform, and strategic investment, aimed at catalyzing a transformation in healthcare delivery and outcomes. The stark revelation of America's life expectancy crisis, as elucidated in Dan Diamond's incisive article, underscores a disconcerting reality — the nation's health metrics lag behind those of its peers, despite its unparalleled resources and technological advancements. This crisis is not merely a statistical anomaly; it is a clarion call for a systemic overhaul of the healthcare system, necessitating a shift from a reactive, disease-centered model to a proactive, wellness-focused paradigm. Preventive care, with its proven efficacy in curtailing the onset of chronic diseases and enhancing quality of life, remains woefully underutilized. The analysis presents a compelling case for reimagining the delivery of preventive care, highlighting innovative models that leverage retail health clinics, pharmacies, and technology-driven solutions. The legislative landscape, as explored in the third article, further accentuates the evolving dynamics of healthcare policy. The passage of the Dr. Michael C. Burgess Preventive Health Savings Act represents a seminal shift in the methodology for evaluating healthcare legislation, advocating for a long-term perspective on the fiscal impact of preventive health initiatives. This legislative innovation not only underscores the importance of preventive care in mitigating healthcare costs but also sets a precedent for future policy-making, emphasizing the need for a strategic, long-term approach to healthcare investment and reform. The convergence of innovative healthcare models, strategic policy reforms, and a renewed focus on preventive care heralds a new era in American healthcare, one that promises not only to extend life expectancy but also to enhance the quality of life for generations to come. Let’s dive in … FRIDAY SPOTLIGHT Healthspan vs. Lifespan America has a life expectancy crisis. But it’s not a political priority This life expectancy decline, a phenomenon not mirrored by its peer nations like Canada, Germany, or even global rivals such as China, underscores a deep-seated crisis within the American healthcare system and societal structure. Despite the technological and medical advancements that position the U.S. as a beacon of innovation, its life expectancy metrics tell a different, more concerning story. The article begins by highlighting an urgent message from Robert Califf, the commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, presented last winter. Califf's warning was clear and dire: American life expectancy is dwindling, marking the most significant two-year decline seen in a century. This revelation, though alarming, has sadly not translated into a priority on the political stage. President Biden, along with his Republican challengers and the broader political community, has largely ignored this issue in public discourses and political agendas. Diamond's investigation, which includes insights from over 100 public health experts, lawmakers, and senior health officials across the last three presidential administrations, outlines the multifaceted challenges impeding the reversal of the nation's declining life expectancy. The obstacles are numerous, ranging from the compartmentalization of health efforts, a healthcare payment system that poorly incentivizes preventive care, to the disruptive influence of political transitions on sustaining national health strategies. These structural barriers necessitate an enduring commitment that transcends political cycles, akin to the ambitious national projects of yesteryears like the moon landing or the creation of the national highway system. The gravity of the situation is such that experts and lawmakers alike call for a comprehensive, moonshot-like effort to enhance national life expectancy — a goal that requires not only immediate action but a steadfast commitment spanning decades. This existential crisis is exacerbated by a health care system that is fragmented and often counterproductive. Initiatives to extend life expectancy are hampered by the system's failure to prioritize preventive care and its ineffectiveness in addressing root causes like chronic disease, poor nutrition, and inadequate access to healthcare. Furthermore, the politicization of health issues and the short-term focus of political agendas leave little room for the long-term investments necessary to effect meaningful change in public health outcomes. [The Washington Post]( A reboot for preventive health care The critical importance of preventive care in the healthcare ecosystem cannot be overstated, especially in a landscape marked by escalating healthcare costs and a declining life expectancy. This piece not only underscores the underutilization of preventive care services among Americans but also charts a course for a more proactive, accessible, and integrated approach to healthcare. Preventive care, encompassing routine health screenings, vaccinations, and early intervention measures, stands as a bulwark against the onset of chronic diseases and other health complications. Despite its proven benefits, a mere 8% of Americans engage in routine health screenings, with vaccination rates also in a concerning decline. This stark underutilization of preventive services contributes significantly to the annual $55 billion in missed prevention opportunities, equating to roughly 30 cents on every healthcare dollar, as estimated by the National Academy of Medicine. The COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated these challenges, deterring patients from medical offices and contributing to delays in screenings for critical conditions like breast and colorectal cancers, potentially leading to almost 10,000 additional deaths over the next decade. Over the past decade, retail health sites have significantly expanded their capabilities in delivering preventive care, with the use of retail clinics growing by 200% over the last five years. The pandemic underscored the versatility and potential of pharmacies as vital nodes in the healthcare network. Beyond their traditional role in dispensing medications, pharmacies have emerged as critical access points for testing, vaccines, and even treatment. This expanded role, coupled with legislative changes allowing pharmacists to prescribe medications for conditions like HIV prevention and oral contraceptives, marks a significant step forward in enhancing the accessibility of preventive care. This model, emphasizing extended interactions between patients and providers, has shown promising results, including a 50% reduction in hospital admissions. Moreover, the advent of virtual care during the pandemic has introduced new dimensions to preventive healthcare, offering flexibility and convenience for patients. The integration of virtual care with traditional in-person visits and the expansion of home-based care services represent critical components of a more accessible and patient-centered healthcare system. [CVS]( House-passed bill for longer view when grading preventive health In the landscape of healthcare legislation and policy-making, a groundbreaking development promises to redefine the framework for evaluating and implementing preventive health care initiatives. The passage of the Preventive Health Savings Act by the House of Representatives, as reported in Dave Muoio's article "House-passed bill instructs Congressional Budget Office to take longer view when grading preventive health laws," marks a significant pivot towards acknowledging and leveraging the long-term benefits of preventive healthcare. This legislative milestone not only challenges the conventional short-term lens through which healthcare initiatives are often assessed but also opens the door to a more strategic and far-reaching approach to healthcare investment and policy-making. At the heart of this legislative innovation is a critical adjustment to the Congressional Budget Office's (CBO) methodology for evaluating the fiscal impact of healthcare legislation. Traditionally constrained to a 10-year scoring window, the CBO's projections have often failed to capture the full spectrum of long-term savings and benefits associated with preventive healthcare initiatives. The PHSA introduces the option for lawmakers to request budgetary savings estimates over a 30-year window for preventive healthcare legislation, a change that represents a profound shift in perspective towards recognizing the enduring value of preventive measures. Preventive healthcare, with its focus on early intervention, disease prevention, and health promotion, inherently operates on timelines that extend well beyond a decade. By allowing for a 30-year projection, the PHSA aligns legislative analysis with the reality of preventive care's long-term impact, facilitating a more accurate and comprehensive understanding of its potential to reduce chronic disease, improve public health outcomes, and achieve sustainable healthcare cost savings. The bipartisan support for the PHSA underscores a growing consensus on the critical role of preventive healthcare in addressing the myriad challenges facing the American healthcare system. Chronic diseases account for over 70% of healthcare spending, a staggering statistic that highlights the urgent need for a shift towards preventive measures. The significance of the PHSA extends beyond its immediate legislative implications. It symbolizes a critical step towards a healthcare system that is more sustainable, equitable, and responsive to the long-term health needs of the population. By fostering a legislative environment that supports and prioritizes preventive care, the PHSA contributes to a broader cultural and systemic shift towards valuing health and wellness as central components of societal well-being. [Fierce Healthcare]( As we reflect on the insights garnered from the in-depth analyses of America's healthcare landscape — marked by a pressing life expectancy crisis, the untapped potential of preventive care, and the pivotal role of legislative innovation — a compelling narrative emerges. The convergence of these elements underscores a period of transformative change, offering both challenges and opportunities for strategic investment. For investors, the current landscape reveals critical areas for allocation, each bearing the promise of not only financial return but also substantial societal impact. The underutilization of preventive healthcare services, juxtaposed against its proven efficacy in improving health outcomes and reducing long-term healthcare costs, highlights a significant area for investment. The move towards innovative models of care delivery, including retail health clinics and digital health platforms, presents a burgeoning market ripe for expansion. The passage of the Preventive Health Savings Act signals a paradigm shift in how the economic implications of healthcare initiatives are evaluated, emphasizing the value of long-term savings and benefits. This legislative milestone underscores the growing recognition of preventive healthcare's role in sustaining the healthcare system's financial viability. The stark reality of America's declining life expectancy serves as a catalyst for systemic healthcare reform, urging a departure from reactive, treatment-based models to proactive, health-preserving strategies. This crisis, while highlighting the urgent need for intervention, also opens avenues for innovation in chronic disease management, geriatric care, and health technologies aimed at extending healthy lifespans. The complexity of healthcare challenges necessitates a collaborative approach, bringing together public and private sectors, healthcare providers, technology firms, and investors. Until next time, The Longr Reads Team "Investing in health not only saves lives, it is a foundation for robust economies and a stable world." Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus Longr Reads' of the Week - Longevity Deep Dive ([Holon IQ]( - The Future of Longevity with Tony Robbins ([a16z - Youtube]( - Longevity: An Investor's Playbook ([Barron’s]( Longr is building access to longevity across: generative AI, therapeutics, wellness products, clinics, research, community, and marketplaces. 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