Applying Research Is Key to Improving States’ Health Indicators
WASHINGTON—November 17, 2009—Mary Woolley, president and CEO of Research!America, called policy makers' attention to the 2009 America's Health RankingsTM report released today by the United Health Foundation, American Public Health Association and Partnership for Prevention:
"The 2009 Health Rankings report holds up a state-by-state mirror of our most important and meaningful health indicators-and the news isn't what it should be. While a number of states have improved, the prevalence of obesity, diabetes and tobacco use remains unacceptably high in too many states and continues to grow nationwide.
"Research is key to a national strategy to address these challenges. Policy makers and health care professionals must take the answers that research provides and put them to work now, for healthier individuals, families and workers. Learning from the healthier states, we can improve health measures in states that rank lower in this important study.
"In addition, we must continue to invest in research for the future of our health. The American public understands the common-sense value and urgency of investing in research. According to recent Research!America polls, 68% of Americans believe we are not making enough progress in medical research, 73% think research should be a priority in health reform and 71% see research as a solution to rising health care costs. Yet it's not always clear that policymakers are listening to the public when it comes to research."
Research!America's online constituent education initiative Your Congress-Your Health, which will feature the 2009 Health Rankings, asks all members of Congress to share their views on research funding, health reform and related topics so Americans will know where their members of Congress stand. Anyone can use tools on the site to send a message to their representative and senators reminding them how important research is to improving the health of their state.
Research!America is the nation's largest not-for-profit public education and advocacy alliance working to make research to improve health a higher national priority. Visit www.researchamerica.org.
###