Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. released a brief on the expansion of preventive health services under the national health care reform law.  The brief notes that some preventive services can actually do more harm than good when provided to populations at low-risk for developing particular diseases.  The authors examine the evidence of the benefits and cost-effectiveness of preventive health services, and highlight opportunties available in the reform law to improve access to preventive care.

From the report: Efforts that combine targeted access to preventive services with more comprehensive programs to improve community health may yield significant cost savings. For example, by one estimate, investing in well designed, community-based disease prevention programs throughout the country could yield a national rate of return of at least 500 percent over five years.

Full report: Encouraging Appropriate Use of Preventive Health Services (PDF | 794.3 KB)  

Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.  (2010).  Encouraging appropriate use of preventive health services.  Bernstein, J., Chollet, D. and Peterson, G.