IV 

110TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. CON. RES. 406 

Expressing the sense of Congress that any effort to reengineer the health 

care system in the United States should incorporate sustainable wellness 

programs that address the underlying causal factors associated with 

chronic disease. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JULY 31, 2008 

Mr. LANGEVIN submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 

referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of Congress that any effort to reengineer the health care system in the United States should 

incorporate sustainable wellness programs that address 

the underlying causal factors associated with chronic disease. 

Whereas increases in costs related to providing health care 

for an aging population and the increasing number of 

people with chronic disease create a crisis for the 

healthcare system in the United States; 

Whereas 23,600,000 individuals in the United States have 

been diagnosed with diabetes and 57,000,000 have been 

diagnosed with prediabetes; 


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•HCON 406 IH 

Whereas 70,000,000 individuals in the United States have 

some form of cardiovascular disease, which is responsible 

for nearly 40 percent of all deaths in this country; 

Whereas 64 percent of all individuals in the United States 

are overweight and more than 30 percent are obese; 

Whereas overweight and obese individuals are at increased 

risk for developing many diseases, including cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes; 

Whereas individuals in the United States are increasingly 

using lifestyle changes, including diet, exercise, smoking 

cessation, and stress reduction, to decrease their risk of 

developing serious healthcare problems and to restore 

health; 

Whereas low-income families face an increased risk of developing chronic disease and do not have the resources necessary to avoid developing serious health problems related 

to such chronic disease; 

Whereas there is a growing body of evidence that wellness 

programs that promote lifestyle changes can diminish the 

incidence and severity of chronic disease, provide a substantial return on investment, and reduce reliance on the 

conventional medical care system; and 

Whereas the Federal Government has a responsibility to reengineer the Nation’s healthcare system to allow for the 

provision of adequate healthcare for future generations: 

Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 

2 concurring), that Congress should ensure that any re3 engineering of the healthcare system in the United 

4 States— 


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•HCON 406 IH 

1 (1) incorporates sustainable wellness programs 

2 that address the underlying causal factors associated 

3 with chronic disease; 

4 (2) ensures that the public has access to strate5 gies for improving individual health through lifestyle 

6 change, including strategies relating to diet, exercise, 

7 smoking cessation, and stress reduction; 

8 (3) provides patient-centered care— 

9 (A) that addresses personal health needs; 

10 and 

11 (B) that uses a multidimensional approach 

12 to encourage patients to improve their own 

13 wellness through lifestyle changes and the use 

14 of scientifically-based therapies that facilitate 

15 the inherent ability of the human body to main16 tain and restore optimal health; and 

17 (4) utilizes clearly defined standards to deter18 mine when the implementation of wellness and 

19 health promotion activities will be useful for each 

20 patient based on the diet, exercise habits, individual 

21 health history, and family health history of the pa22 tient. 

Æ 


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