as part of the affordable care act an advisory group on prevention – the national prevention council – was established. the group which is comprised the heads of 17 federal agencies has developed a national prevention strategy which was recently released by the department of health and human services (hhs). the strategy reinforces the notion that our health care system will only be improved if we learn how to keep americans healthy and address the causes of disease before it begins. the plan aims to expand our view of health care to include cleaner water access to healthier foods and safer streets that promote physical activity. specifically there are four areas that this new strategy recommends focusing on to improve the overall health of americans: creating community environments that promote health and safety expanding community preventive services helping people make healthy choices eliminating disparities in access to health care to initiate a wide range of programs aimed at keeping americans healthy the federal government will partner with state and local governments businesses health care education and community and faith-based organizations. each will be asked to do its part to make sure among other plans that kids have access to healthy foods sidewalks exist in communities so people can walk safely employees have access to wellness programs and public education programs aimed at helping people better understand how to stay healthy are put in place. meanwhile if you've got medicare here is a chart showing which preventive services are covered.
will the affordable care act focus on wellness and prevention programs?