To Our Colleagues,
Nearly a fifth of all spending in the United States is currently devoted to health care, and the return on that investment is low. Despite spending more per capita on health care than any other nation, we rank poorly even on the most basic measures of good health such as disability and life expectancy.
The health of the citizenry affects every aspect of American life and prosperity. Improving the nation’s health must be a national imperative, and it cannot be viewed simply as the responsibility of the health care system. It is a job that requires innovation, collaboration, and leadership from all sectors.
The CEO Council on Health and Innovation came together to lead the U.S. business community in this work. Together, CEO Council companies employ nearly one million individuals in this country and provide insurance coverage for more than 150 million individuals. But our commitment extends beyond our own workforce and the members we serve. We are strongly committed to improving the health and wellness of the nation as a whole and to promoting higher-quality, cost-effective, patient-centered care.
This report outlines the many ways in which our companies are working to improve health and well-being as well as the quality, cost, and patient experience of care. Many of us plan to engage in pilots that will enable us to gauge the scalability of strategies shown to be effective in our individual companies. From the range and variety of initiatives, it is clear there is no single, one-size-fits-all solution. Rather, our efforts show that there are many routes to our destination.
America’s business community has always been an effective driver of change and progress. We feel certain that the private sector can make a significant and lasting positive impact on the nation’s health and health care by working together and taking action. We urge you to join us in this critically important work.
