Preventive care is key to a healthier America, stressed First Lady Michelle Obama in remarks at GW’s Medical Faculty Associates earlier today.
The first lady, who was joined by Jill Biden and HHS secretary Kathleen Sebelius, outlined new preventive care provisions made possible through the Affordable Health Care Act.
“The challenge is to remove obstacles from Americans getting the preventive health care we need,” said Ms. Sebelius, who highlighted a $15 billion prevention and public health fund stipulated by the new law.
The HHS secretary thanked GW “for setting a great example when it comes to preventive care,” citing the Medical Center’s Mammovan and free HIV screenings. “We really appreciate the leadership here,” she said.
In brief remarks, Nancy Freeborne-Brinton drew upon her 25 years as a physician assistant at GW to stress the importance of preventive care and the hurdles, especially financial, that patients face in getting it. “Often their choice is preventive care or their groceries or a Metro card.”
Dr. Biden shared her experience watching friends suffer from breast cancer and urged women to get mammograms. “We know prevention, screening and early detection can save lives,” she said.
Maggie Roberts, whose son’s life was saved when his cancer was detected and treated as an infant, introduced the first lady and emphasized the importance of early detection.
“Today, Maggie’s son is living a healthy and happy life, but too many families in this country aren’t so lucky,” said Mrs. Obama. “Too many people aren’t getting the checkups and screenings they need to catch a disease like cancer in the early stages so it can be treated.”
Mrs. Obama said the new legislation will give families control over their health care.
“We know that the best way to keep our families healthy and cut health care costs is to keep people from getting sick in the first place,” she said.
The Affordable Care Act requires all new private health insurance plans to cover mammograms, colonoscopies, cervical screenings, treatment of high blood pressure, childhood immunizations and body-mass index measures without deductibles, copayments or coinsurance, she said.
“We know that services like these will go a long way in preventing chronic illnesses like diabetes, heart disease and high-blood pressure that consume over 75 percent of the health care spending in our country,” Mrs. Obama said.
Effective preventative care could also help fight the “epidemic” of childhood obesity, a problem for a third of the children in the United States, according to the first lady. “A third of them will suffer from diabetes at some point in their lifetime,” she said. “In the Hispanic and African American communities that number goes up to half.”
But no matter how much doctors recommend tests, it remains parents’ obligation to help their children get healthy, she warned.
“That’s why I want to send a message to every mom and dad out there – these prenatal screenings, these BMI measurements, these things are included in your health care plan, they’re incredibly important,” she said.
Mrs. Obama thanked George Washington for hosting the event, calling the university “our trusted neighbor and partner.”
Mrs. Obama also spoke at a Veterans Day ceremony in GW’s Lisner Auditorium last November and at the university’s Commencement on the National Mall in May.