Monday, November 3, 2008

While Amy Goldstein did a good job of laying out major parts of the candidates' health-care plans and their benefits to the public, she left out one area that both candidates include and that has major implications for Americans' health: preventive care ["How They Would Change Health Care," front-page, Oct. 29].

Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama both have talked about reforming the health-care system to better cover and support prevention of chronic illnesses. How does this benefit Americans? Chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer and heart disease, and their underlying causes such as obesity and tobacco use, account for 75 percent of U.S. health-care spending, or $1.5 trillion annually. Prevention has been proven to reduce the incidence of chronic disease.

We often focus on the differences in campaigns, but when the election is over and it's time to govern, what will be important is what the new president can get done. One of the most promising places to start in health-care reform is where there is consensus between the two parties. For the first time, prevention is a core element of both the Republican and Democratic platforms and is at the heart of both candidates' plans to control costs.

We can no longer abide failure in Washington. To make progress in health care, we must focus on "the art of the possible."

JOHN CLYMER

President

Partnership for Prevention

Washington