Wellness Programs Vital To Health Care Reform

After the stimulus package passed with $1 billion allotted to prevention and wellness efforts, there was some chatter on blogs and op-ed pages about the likelihood that these funds will help end the recession. "Disease prevention is important, however, it is uncertain how it will help to stimulate the economy," said National Review's Rich Lowry on the conservative news magazine's blog.

At the Senate HELP committee's hearing on insurance market reform today, it was clear that these efforts remain important to legislators and industry leaders in initiating health care reform.

"We see a tremendous level of enthusiasm among the employer community to implement well thought out, appropriate programs. And I can tell you from our own experience with 36,000 employees, our medical cost went up 3% last year, and the reason it went up only 3% was because our employees engage in wellness and fitness ..."

— Ronald Williams, Aetna CEO

"I've been trying to get my head around how insurance is utilized more effectively in ... prevention and wellness. I saw a picture ... of a sink that was overflowing with water and yet people on the floor were mopping it up ... It seems to me insurance is paying for mopping up the floor, but not paying much to think about shutting off the sink ... What is the role of insurance engaging people in healthful lifestyles, for businesses to be involved?"

— Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA)

What do you think about the role of wellness and prevention programs in health care reform? Will they help, or just add to our deficit? Share your thoughts below.