SO YOU WANT TO DEVELOP POLICY FOR A HEALTH PROMOTION-DISEASE PREVENTION PROGRAM HERE ARE THE GUIDELINES

1. Keep it simple

2. Make it reasonably comprehensive, but still spartan.

3. Keep it reasonably inexpensive - the quickest way to ruin health promotion-disease prevention is to make it too expensive.

4. Include only reasonably documented and defensible tests and actions.

5. Protect it from irresponsible additions - protect its integrity.

6. Build in flexibility so time lines can be changed, so there can be additions or deletions as more evidence becomes available. That requires some sort of effective advisory board.

7. Include a consultation period for discussions of health promotion-disease prevention issues of interest to or concern about for the consumer

8. Build in continuing evaluation so you assess its efficacy and make sure it helps all segments of the community.

9. Create a structure that plans for the future when there will be more health promotion-disease prevention tests than we can afford in any given year.

10. Provide information for consumers in between annual examinations and, where appropriate, appropriate resources for behavioral change.

11. Work with as broad a coalition as possible, including health insurers and managed care organizations. Try and avoid an adversarial environment. After all, an annual prevention examination should benefit everyone.

12. Establish the principle that that which is fully documented in health promotion-disease prevention will, in general, if possible, be included. Those who want more will be expected to pay with supplemental insurance, co-payment, or out of pocket.

13. Be sure to pay the health care providers adequately or the whole program will fail.