Improving Health Through the Expanding Use of Clinical Preventive Services: Issues and Strategies

A Workshop for Senior State and Local Health Officials

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This workshop was designed for senior State and local health officials from the executive and legislative branches who have responsibility for designing, implementing, and managing programs and policies that influence the delivery of health services, particularly clinical preventive care. The workshop was held in Snowbird, Utah, June 7-9, 2000.

About the Workshop Sponsor.

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Overview

Although many of today's major health problems are preventable, promising approaches—including the utilization of effective clinical preventive services—have not been pursued on a widespread basis. Underutilization of effective preventive services not only results in lost opportunities to improve health status but also reduces the value received for expenditures made through healthcare financing programs like Medicaid and State employee health benefit programs. As recognition of these lost opportunities grows, State policy leaders are becoming more interested in promoting the expanded use of appropriate clinical preventive care.

The objectives for participants in this workshop included:

• Understanding the potential role that clinical preventive care can play in improving the health of the population.
• Utilizing an evidence-based framework to promote the appropriate use of clinical preventive services.
• Assessing the latest health services research to identify promising approaches to expand the provision of preventive services.
• Helping health officials and providers implement clinical preventive services programs by presenting the experiences of promising strategies and initiatives.

Participants

Workshop participants included State legislators and legislative staff, State Medicaid officials, State and local health officials, and representatives from State employee health benefit programs. Nineteen States were represented.

AHRQ's User Liaison Program (ULP) disseminates health services research findings in easily understandable and usable formats through interactive workshops. Workshops and other support are planned to meet the needs of Federal, State, and local policymakers, and other health services research users, such as purchasers, administrators, and health plans.

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