The Massachusetts Medical Society wishes to be recorded in
strong support for these identical bills that would continue to fund the
Prevention and Wellness Trust Fund (PWTF), a successful initiative administered
by the Department of Public Health (DPH) which has promoted evidence-based
community interventions that keep residents healthy and safe.
The PWTF was established in July 2012, to accomplish the
following community based goals:
- reduce rates of the most
prevalent and preventable health conditions;
- increase healthy
behaviors;
- increase the adoption of
workplace-based wellness or health management programs; and
- address health
disparities.
The PWTF helps support community based partnerships like municipalities,
healthcare systems, businesses, regional planning organizations, and schools.
The DPH has allocated funding to nine local grantee partnerships which focus on
four priority health conditions: pediatric asthma, hypertension, tobacco use,
and falls in older adults.
The success of the PWTF is well documented. It has increased access to preventive
services for nearly 1 million people across every region of the Commonwealth. Moreover, an independent evaluator found
promising results on health impacts, cost effectiveness, potential for cost
savings, and systems innovation – and concluded that the program warrants
further investment. The Prevention & Wellness Advisory Board—which includes representatives of consumers, insurers,
hospitals, municipalities, business, researchers, and others – also recommends
continued funding.
The MMS considers the PWTF an essential partner in bringing
about successful health care transformation.
PWTF brings evidence-based interventions to scale and evaluates their
impact, providing crucial lessons for MassHealth and Accountable Care
Organizations (ACO’s) as they seek to improve care at lower cost. PWTF tackles
major cost drivers like preventable health conditions that, nationally, consume
approximately 86% of national health care costs.
Passage of H.2480/S.643 will ensure the continued operation
of the PWTF through a small assessment on health insurers. Small investment =
Major impact!
The MMS urges the Public Health Committee to support
H.2480/S.643.
