September 18, 2024, the House Ways & Means Health Subcommittee held a hearing entitled, Investing in a Healthier America: Chronic Disease Prevention and Treatment. In this hearing, members of Congress and witnesses discussed the growing healthcare challenges posed by poor nutrition, obesity, and the prevalence of chronic disease. Witness represented various medical specialties, Medicare Advantage (MA) plans, and academia.
Members emphasized the critical role of nutrition and healthy lifestyles in addressing the nation's rising healthcare costs and reducing the prevalence of chronic disease. There was consensus that healthcare costs are being driven by preventable diseases related to poor diet and lifestyle choices. Members highlighted the need for greater education on the benefits of proper nutrition for medical providers and the general public. Additionally, Members discussed the need for Congressional action including reforms to food assistance programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and incentives for healthcare providers and payers to promote prevention and screening rather than treatment alone. Witnesses echoed these concerns and stressed that structural barriers‒including economic, geographic, and educational factors‒limit access to both adequate healthcare and nutritious foods. They called for policy changes, including reforms to food subsidies, stricter regulations on ultra-processed foods, and incentives for food companies to create healthier products.
Witnesses present included:
- Senator Bill Frist, Former United States Senate Majority Leader, Chairman of the Executives Council, Cressey & Company;
- Dr. Mark Hyman, M.D., Founder, Institute for Functional Health;
- Dr. Anne Peters, M.D., Senior Scholar, USC Schaeffer Institute;
- Dr. Francesca Rinaldo, M.D., Chief Clinical Innovation Officer, Senior Care Action Network (SCAN) Health Plan; and,
- Dr. Ashley Gearhardt, Professor of Psychology, Food and Addiction Science and Treatment, University of Michigan.