The term "prevention" encompasses a wide range of activities,
from broad public anti-smoking campaigns to immunizing infants
and children against infectious diseases. The term "preventive
services" usually pertains to clinical services, such as those
typically provided in a health care setting. "Primary"
preventive services, such as vaccinations or prescribing
medications to help people quit smoking, are aimed at preventing
disease. "Secondary" preventive services are designed to catch
disease early so it can be treated; an example is a mammogram.
"Tertiary" prevention aims to slow progression of a disease once
someone already has it, and to enable him or her to function as
normally as possible; an example is lowering the "bad"
cholesterol of someone who's already suffered a heart attack.
Benefits and Costs: Preventive services have the potential to
help people live longer, avoid disease and disability, and be
healthier and more productive. However, these improvements may
have complex effects on costs. They c