On the evening that Health Care Reform passed, it’s relevant to see how the cost and consequences of poor health have wrecked havoc on our system. If we are going to have real reform, it has to be across industries, governments, and the entire health care system. Health is as much as a social responsibility as it is freedom from disease.
Now more than ever, the business of health and environmental improvement is inextricably linked to the business of business. (greener state = more greenbacks)
What are unhealthy conditions costing us?
Between 2005 and 2007, poor air quality in California caused more than $193 million in hospital-based medical care according to the RAND Corporation.
“Failing to meet federal clean air standards caused nearly 30,000 hospital admissions and ER visits throughout California over 2005–2007. Nearly three-quarters of these events were attributable to high ambient levels of fine particulate matter.”
That means as people sought help for problems such as asthma and pneumonia – conditions and diseases that are caused by the airborne nasties that contribute to climate change.
Buildings, cars, agriculture is also involves public insurers: “Overall, Medicare and Medi-Cal (Medicaid in California) paid for about two-thirds of the estimated ER visits and hospital admissions.”
Now there’s a statistic that can make a federal budget bloated. “Medicare spent an estimated $104 million on hospital care because California failed to meet federal clean air standards during 2005–2007. Medi-Cal spent about $28 million. Private health insurers spent about $56 million.”
Benefits for business:
- You have to breath to work. Dirty air means missed days of work; more hardship and for families, children…and business.
- Happy, healthy, motivated workforce.
- More tourists, better PR campaign for “Visit California” campaign.
- Large Green Jobs workforce (of every collar)
- Drive clean energy innovation which would increase jobs, develop technology and ensure our seat in the global marketplace.
- Savings before regulations. End-of-pipe methods, which capture pollution that has already been created and remove it from the air. (This was a benefit found after the Clean Air Act went into effect).
It wasn’t long ago that we signed the Clean Air Act into law.
Is clean air good for business? Health and welfare of our citizens?
Comments always appreciated!
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