Free preventive care should help the US curb the rapid proliferation of chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease and catch cancer sooner. I’ve been told over the years by numerous clients that the majority of costs associated with chronic diseases are incurred toward the end of life. It is ideal if these diseases can be identified and treated in early stages.

Catching disease earlier should prevent the health care system from incurring astronomical costs down the road. However, the timing couldn’t be more ironic. A few months ago, many stakeholders were vocal in the press that diagnostic imaging is over prescribed and driving up the cost of health care. The problem is not the tests. Physicians are paid per procedure and patients ask for tests. As long as physician incentives are corrected, these necessary and potentially lifesaving tests shouldn’t be over prescribed. We should all try to be good patients and not ask for additional scans we don’t need.

For more on this issue, read this interesting article from Reuters’ Jon Lentz.