NACDD Leader Participates in Hill Briefing Focused on Health Reform
Marcus Plescia, President of the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD), spoke on Capitol Hill today about the best way to begin reforming our broken health care system - by focusing on chronic disease prevention and care.
Washington, D. C. (PRWEB) February 27, 2009
Marcus Plescia, President of the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD), spoke on Capitol Hill today about the best way to begin reforming our broken health care system - by focusing on chronic disease prevention and care.
"When it comes to the current health reform debate, the good news that we are no longer are asking whether we must reduce chronic disease rates, but how we can do so," said Plescia during his remarks. "For two decades, NACDD's members -- nearly 1,500 public health officials from every state and U. S. territory -- have advocated the same message that the President delivered in his address to the nation this week: If we are going to make a significant impact on health outcomes and affordability, we must address our nation's high rates of chronic disease."
The briefing, "Making Progress on Health Reform: Where does Chronic Disease Fit In?" is the first in a series called Health Care University, being sponsored by the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD). As a PFCD partner, NACDD joins PFCD in supporting comprehensive health care reform that targets the number one driver of the cost of health care - preventable and manageable chronic diseases.
"We commend President Obama and Congress for their commitment to health care reform in the area of chronic disease," said Plescia. "We look forward to working with the Administration to ensure that Americans across the country are able to better prevent and manage chronic diseases in their schools, communities and workplaces."
NACDD is dedicated to raising awareness about the need to address chronic diseases, and also to providing policymakers with concrete solutions. Earlier this year, NACDD released a white paper outlining recommendations for the 111th Congress as it looks for meaningful ways to reform the health care system. Its recommendations focus on improving the public health infrastructure through investments in areas of chronic disease prevention.
Additionally, NACDD has developed a resource of state success stories for policymakers at the state and federal level that highlights more than 150 programs from across the country that are effectively reducing chronic diseases.
About the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD)
The National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD) is a national public health association for chronic disease program directors of each state and U. S. territory. The NACDD works to reduce the impact of chronic diseases on the American population by advocating for preventive policies and programs, encouraging sharing of knowledge and developing partnerships for health promotion. (www. chronicdisease. org).
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