WASHINGTON – A new poll by the Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation indicates 71 percent of Americans favor increased investment in disease prevention andd that disease prevention is an integral part of healthcare reform.

According to the poll, 44 percent strongly favor investing more in prevention. 

Conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Roser Research and Public Opinion Strategies, disease prevention investment is supported by 85 percent of Democrats, 59 percent of Republicans and 68 percent of Independents. That trend continues across the country, with 72 percent support in the Northeast, 73 percent in the South, 71 percent in the West and 69 percent in the Midwest.

"Prevention is clearly one of the most popular parts of health reform," said Al Quinlan, Greenberg's president. "Americans see a real payoff for investing in disease prevention in terms of lowering disease rates and reducing healthcare costs."

According to the poll, even with a $34 billion price tag (out the total $900 billion proposed health reform bill) people support prevention by a magrgin of almost 3-to-1 (70 percent to 24 percent) and feel confident it will save the system money.

"Support for an increased investment in prevention is both robust and broad," said Bill McInturff, partner and co-founder of Public Opinion Strategies. "There is nearly a 4-to-1 margin of people who feel strongly that we should invest more in prevention vs. those who are strongly against it. Even when people learn the price tag in the context of health reform, Americans are supportive of increasing the nation's investment in prevention and believe it will have a positive impact on improving health and lowering health costs down the road."

According to the poll, prevention is the second highest proposal tested, after prohibiting insurance companies from denying coverage because of age, medical history or pre-existing conditions. Other proposals tested included providing tax credits to small businesses and requiring all businesses to provide healthcare for their employees or contribute to a fund to help pay for their coverage.

"This poll shows that Americans strongly favor specific proposals that focus on keeping Americans healthier in the first place instead of only treating them after they've become sick," said Jeff Levi, executive director of Trust for America's Health.

"Investing in proven prevention programs and policy changes that make it easier for all Americans to make healthier choices is essential for building a healthier America," said Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, MD, president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. "Prevention happens where we live, learn, work and play. Prevention happens when restaurants and workplaces are smoke-free and when our neighborhoods have fresh, healthy foods and safe places to be active."

According to the poll:

• 82 percent favor a proposal that involves better training for public health, up-to-date laboratories and appropriate communication capabilities to deal with health threats.
• 73 percent favor legislation to provide for education loan repayment to make sure there are enough public health professionals to combat shortages in health departments.
• 72 percent favor a public health investment fund that would invest in improving nutrition and physical activity in schools and communities, immunizations and other ways to stay healthy.
• 58 percent favor a national prevention and wellness strategy to asses the nation's health, establish priorities and set health goals.
• 58 percent favor an independent preventive services task force that would review scientific evidence and cost-effectiveness of prevention programs, with responsibilities to improve prevention programs and provide local community health services.

The poll includes responses from 1,008 registered voters and was conducted from Nov. 2-5.