Healthy People 2030 represents the fifth stage of the Healthy People program, which leverages previous experience to tackle current public health concerns. The initiative, started by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, sets national goals and targets for the nation over the next decade. According to the program, as noted in research by Pronk and Ochiai (2020), key health domains include quality healthcare, education access, and economic stability. It aims to improve healthcare quality for all individuals by guaranteeing access to necessary healthcare services, eradicating healthcare disparities, and promoting health literacy (Healthy people 2030, n.d.).
Furthermore, social determinants of health play a substantial role in determining an individual’s well-being and quality of life, making it imperative to eliminate them. Healthy People 2030 is a comprehensive public health initiative aimed at decreasing health disparities, addressing the socioeconomic determinants of health, promoting healthy behaviors, creating safe and healthy environments, and expanding insurance coverage.
One of Healthy People 2030’s intervention strategies emphasizes the relevance of socioeconomic determinants of health in affecting individual and community health outcomes. According to Alderwick and Gottlieb (2019), socioeconomic determinants of health are the different social and economic elements influencing a person’s health. These determinants include, among other things, income, education, employment, housing, and access to healthcare (Alderwick & Gottlieb, 2019).
These factors greatly influence an individual’s health outcomes, with people living in poverty and facing social disadvantage more likely to have poor health outcomes and experience health disparities. Therefore, Healthy People 2030 acknowledges the significance of tackling the core causes of health inequities, such as poverty, in order to improve health outcomes for the population as a whole (Healthy people 2030, n.d.). The program, for instance, is working to improve healthcare access and delivery for underserved populations. This entails enhancing healthcare providers’ cultural and linguistic competence and increasing access to preventive and primary care services.
Another Healthy People 2030 intervention strategy is to encourage healthy habits. According to the initiative, people’s behaviors influence health outcomes. As a result, it seeks to encourage people to engage in health-promoting activities such as regular physical exercise, good eating habits, and abstaining from tobacco use (Healthy people 2030, n.d.). Physical exercise and a nutritious diet are important components of general health and well-being. This is because, according to Pronk and Ochiai, (2020), regular physical exercise may help avoid chronic illnesses like heart disease, enhance mental health, and lower the risk of depression and anxiety.
A diet high in fruits, whole grains, proteins, and vegetables, and low in sugar, salt, and harmful fats may assist in avoiding chronic illnesses and enhance general health (Pronk & Ochiai, 2020). Thus, Healthy People 2030 works to enhance access to safe and accessible areas for physical exercises such as parks and recreational facilities (Healthy people 2030, n.d.). Furthermore, the initiative is boosting access to inexpensive and nutritious food, particularly in regions with limited access to good food alternatives, as well as educating people on the necessity of a balanced diet.
Furthermore, Healthy People 2030 seeks to eradicate health inequalities and increase health equality for all Americans, irrespective of race, ethnicity, income, or geographic location. These inequities may lead to uneven access to effective healthcare, healthy dietary alternatives, and safe areas for physical exercise (Healthy people 2030, n.d.). As a consequence, those who are impoverished or socially disadvantaged are more likely to have poor health outcomes and encounter health disparities. Health People 2030 attempts to eradicate health inequities by encouraging policies and initiatives that enhance access to excellent healthcare, healthy food, and safe spaces to engage in physical activity (Healthy people 2030, n.d.).
These policies, according to Healthy People 2030 include measures to improve community health center financing, extend Medicaid coverage, and encourage the use of telemedicine services. It is also expanding data collection and research on health disparities to understand the underlying causes of these gaps better and create effective methods to overcome them (Healthy people 2030, n.d.). In order to organize communities and generate support for initiatives to enhance health equality, the program aims to raise public education and understanding about health inequalities and the significance of health equity.
The initiative also aims to create safe and healthy environments by limiting exposure to environmental risks such as lead and air pollution. Environmental dangers, such as lead and air pollution, may have serious consequences for health, especially for vulnerable groups such as children and low-income areas (Kumar et al., 2020). Lead poisoning is a public health concern since it may cause severe health problems like developmental delays, behavioral issues, and lower IQ (Kumar et al., 2020). Similarly, air pollution may induce respiratory, cardiovascular, and cancer illnesses. To address the problems mentioned above, the program is working to promote public education and understanding of the hazards of lead exposure. Furthermore, Healthy People 2030 strives to put laws and initiatives in place to minimize air pollution, such as encouraging sustainable energy sources (Healthy people 2030, n.d.). It also aims to promote safe and healthy surroundings by expanding access to green areas such as parks and recreational facilities and limiting exposure to environmental dangers. These activities aid in the improvement of persons’ physical and mental health by providing safe and accessible venues for physical exercise and entertainment, as well as limiting exposure to air pollution.
Finally, expanding insurance coverage is another strategy Healthy People 2030 uses to improve healthcare quality. Access to proper health care that is affordable, efficient, and equitable is critical for sustaining and improving health care across all healthcare cohorts. The National Hospital Insurance Fund, Medicaid, and Medicare services are examples of regularly accessible insurance coverage (Healthy people 2030, n.d.). When patients cannot get the treatment they need, insurance services may cover a portion of the expenditures while the patient bears half the burden. This cost-cutting strategy helps everyone since it keeps people financially secure while they invest in their health. It is critical to keep a person’s functioning capacities with the available insurance, enabling them to pursue a wide variety of options that society provides at all times. The Social Security Act and the Affordable Care Act can increase fair access to health care and protect individuals from the financial risks and costs of illnesses.
In conclusion, Healthy People 2030 provides a comprehensive approach to enhancing the health and well-being of all Americans. Its intervention strategies aim to increase access to health care services, promote healthy behaviors, create safe and healthy environments, improve mental health and well-being, eliminate health disparities, and improve health equity. The initiative is a collaborative effort between government, private sector, and non-profit organizations to achieve its goals and is essential to improving the quality of life of the American people.
References
Alderwick, H., & Gottlieb, L. M. (2019). Meanings and misunderstandings: A social determinants of health lexicon for health care systems. The Milbank Quarterly, 97(2), 407. Web.
Healthy people 2030. (n.d.). Web.
Kumar, A., Kumar, A., M.M.S, C., Chaturvedi, A. K., Shabnam, A. A., Subrahmanyam, G., Mondai, R., Gupta, D.K., Malyan, S.K., Kumar, S.S., & Yadav, K. K. (2020). Lead toxicity: Health hazards, influence on food chain, and sustainable remediation approaches. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(7), 2179. Web.
Pronk, N. P., & Ochiai, E. (2020). Healthy people 2030: Considerations for workplace health and well-being. American College of Sports Medicine’s Health & Fitness Journal, 24(5), 65-68. Web.