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[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 406 Introduced in House (IH)]

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;
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
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
that Congress should ensure that any reengineering of the healthcare 
system in the United States--
            (1) incorporates sustainable wellness programs that address 
        the underlying causal factors associated with chronic disease;
            (2) ensures that the public has access to strategies for 
        improving individual health through lifestyle change, including 
        strategies relating to diet, exercise, smoking cessation, and 
        stress reduction;
            (3) provides patient-centered care--
                    (A) that addresses personal health needs; and
                    (B) that uses a multidimensional approach to 
                encourage patients to improve their own wellness 
                through lifestyle changes and the use of 
                scientifically-based therapies that facilitate the 
                inherent ability of the human body to maintain and 
                restore optimal health; and
            (4) utilizes clearly defined standards to determine when 
        the implementation of wellness and health promotion activities 
        will be useful for each patient based on the diet, exercise 
        habits, individual health history, and family health history of 
        the patient.
                                 <all>
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