Senior Physical Activity Program may Lower Health Care Costs
EnhanceFitness, a senior physical activity program developed by the University of Washington Prevention Research Center (PRC), may help lower health care costs, according to a recent report to Congress.
The University of Washington PRC’s EnhanceFitness program was one of nine programs analyzed in a recent report to Congress by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The report’s findings concluded that EnhanceFitness, a community-based physical activity program for older adults, may help lower health care costs.
According to the 2013 State of Aging and Health in America, chronic illnesses account for 95% of health care costs for older Americans. CDC maintains that one of the four main causes of chronic illness is the lack of physical activity. EnhanceFitness encourages older adults to become more active through group classes that focus on cardiovascular health-enhancing physical activity, strength training, balance, and flexibility. The CMS report showed an estimated total medical cost savings of $945 among participants who enrolled in the program. The report also showed a decrease in unplanned hospitalizations and a cost savings of $545. A copy of the full report can be found here.
Learn more about the EnhanceFitness program:
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