In January 2000, the Department of Health and Human Services launched Healthy People 2010, a comprehensive, nationwide health promotion and disease prevention agenda. This initiative contains 467 objectives designed to serve as a road map for improving the health of all people in the United States. We have moved toward Healthy People 2020.

A limited set of the objectives are intended to help everyone understand the importance of health promotion and disease prevention and to encourage wide participation in improving health in the next decade. These indicators were chosen based on their ability to motivate action, availability of data to measure their progress and their relevance as broad public health issues.

Consider the impact you can have on TRICARE beneficiaries’ overall health and wellness by implementing health promotion programs and prevention education around these leading health indicators. Coupled with your continued focus on high-quality medical intervention for disease and injury, such programming can really make a difference.

The end results will be improved military readiness, a healthier population, lower healthcare costs and increased patient satisfaction—all of which will help TRICARE remain a US healthcare leader.