A new poll conducted by the Monmouth University Polling Institute released this past Monday shows that chronic disease is a top issue for most individuals in New Jersey. Some of the highlights of the study are as follows:
- A large majority (58%) of New Jersey voters feel that chronic disease treatment is a major factor in the overall cost of our health system and a similar majority (57%) favor government action in this area.
- After being informed that chronic disease accounts for three-quarters of all health care spending, including about $39 billion a year in New Jersey, 66% say that these costs could lead to a new economic crisis in the nation.
- To reduce chronic disease treatment costs, 87% favor promoting healthier lifestyles in the education curriculum, 78% favor tax incentives for businesses that offer wellness and prevention programs, and 72% favor requiring that people receiving publicly-funded health care enroll [in] wellness and prevention programs.
- Four-in-ten voters say they would be more likely to vote for a candidate who advocates for chronic disease prevention policies.
This poll shows how the voters are really looking for leadership from the government, to take a proactive role in channeling resources to preventive measures when it comes to chronic diseases. I feel that there is a realization that we simply cannot leave this for the market to address, especially in a declining economy. It is no coincidence that several prominent candidates are making health care one of the central messages for their campaigns. The public seems to be asking for action that will result in what the business community believes is the next economic crisis. The current economic crisis, if anything, is a warning in what is to come given the parallels in the short-term versus long-term interests of the involved parties in this issue.
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