SPECTRUM: Preventive healthcare, early intervention and Alaska’s budget

More than 1/3 of the way into the 90-day regular legislative session, we are deep into the budget subcommittee process and the ongoing challenge of closing the state’s deficit. One of the single largest cost drivers outside of education (K12 and University) is healthcare. If we are going to have a balanced and holistic approach to reducing the deficit and our overall state spending, healthcare costs must be a part of the equation.

As a member of the Health and Social Services budget subcommittee, I am dedicating much of my time to Alaska’s healthcare policy and how those policies impact our spending.

There are numerous issues driving healthcare cost increases in Alaska and some of those are systemic and will take significant time, effort and reform in order to fix. However, there are two approaches that are relatively easy and will produce measureable savings over time: preventive care and early intervention.

For instance, a 2012 report by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) indicated that the cost differential in breast cancer treatment between early intervention and treatment at a later stage was nearly $50,000.

In addition, a 2008 article by the New England Journal of Medicine stated, “Preventable causes of death, such as tobacco smoking, poor diet and physical inactivity, and misuse of alcohol have been estimated

to be responsible for 900,000 deaths annually — nearly 40% of total yearly mortality in the United States. Moreover, some of the measures identified by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, such as counseling adults to quit smoking, screening for colorectal cancer, and providing influenza vaccination, reduce mortality either at low cost or at a cost savings.”

These two examples also reflect the growing trend of employer provided wellness programs. These wellness programs tend to follow one of two models: 1) Lifestyle Management (preventive) and 2) Disease Management (early intervention).

Given that many of Alaska’s communities are long distances from our large population centers and often not accessible on the road system; providing some of the basic services associated with either

preventive care or early intervention is especially challenging in some of our most at risks communities. This is where community events, such as health fairs can fill gaps in our healthcare system.

One organization of note is Alaska Health Fair, Inc. (AHF), founded in 1980. AHF provides free health education, screenings and low-cost blood tests to some of the most far flung communities in Alaska. It is organizations and groups like AHF providing these no and low cost services that are meaningfully contributing to helping reduce Alaska’s healthcare costs.

I encourage all Alaskans to do your part! If you have access to an employer wellness program, join and participate. If your health insurance provides coverage for preventive screening, follow the recommended screening schedule. And if you have the opportunity to make it to one of the health fairs throughout Alaska, do so. Not only will you be helping Alaska reduce our healthcare costs and thus reducing our deficit; you’ll be ensuring that you’ll live longer and be here for your loved ones.

Preventive care and early intervention are key components to reducing Alaska’s healthcare costs.