Statement: NCOA Urges HHS to Continue Its Strong Leadership for Older Adults

Key Takeaways

• With more than 11,000 Americans turning 65 each day through 2027, it is critical that evidence-based programs for older adults and caregivers continue uninterrupted.
• Research shows these programs are cost-effective and save health care dollars, supporting the goals of Make America Healthy Again.
• Older adults, caregivers, and their families depend on these programs to stay healthy and independent.

, /PRNewswire/ -- The following is a statement from Ramsey Alwin, President and CEO of the National Council on Aging (NCOA), on the announced restructuring of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS):

"As more than 11,000 Americans turn 65 each year through 2027, it is imperative that cost-effective government programs that keep older adults healthy continue without interruption.

Older adults and their families depend on key HHS programs to manage their chronic conditions, prevent falls, and afford prescription medications. We urge leaders to ensure these programs remain intact as HHS is restructured.

These programs are evidence-based, and they directly support Make America Healthy Again goals to boost prevention, cut costs, and reduce the negative impacts of chronic disease. They include:

Chronic Disease Management: Originally developed by Stanford University, the Chronic Disease Self-Management Education Program has been shown to save participants an estimated $714 in annual health care costs by averting emergency room visits and hospitalizations. The program has been documented as providing potential savings of $3.3 billion in health care costs by reaching just 5% of adults with one or more chronic conditions.

Falls Prevention: Evidence-based falls prevention programs such as Otago and Tai Chi have been proven to save up to $530 per person in reduced falls and associated health costs. Researchers estimate that implementing a single intervention could prevent up to 45,000 medically treated falls and avert up to $442 million in direct medical costs annually.

Access to Medicare: Connecting eligible older adults to programs such as Medicare Part D enables them to afford their prescription medications. Researchers at the National Bureau of Economic Research found that obtaining prescription drug insurance through Medicare Part D was associated with an 8% decrease in the number of hospital admissions, a 7% decrease in Medicare expenditures, and a 12% decrease in total resource use.  

For 75 years, NCOA has worked side-by-side with our federal partners to improve the health and economic well-being of older Americans. Throughout this transition, we stand ready to work with HHS to ensure that every person has access to critical programs that enable them to stay healthy and independent."

About NCOA
The National Council on Aging (NCOA) is the national voice for every person's right to age well. We believe that how we age should not be determined by gender, color, sexuality, income, or ZIP code. Working with thousands of national and local partners, we provide resources, tools, best practices, and advocacy to ensure every person can age with health and financial security. Founded in 1950, we are the oldest national organization focused on older adults. Learn more at www.ncoa.org and @NCOAging.

SOURCE National Council on Aging