I believe that everyone on this earth has some gift to give. Something beautiful that only they are capable of pouring forth, whether it's obvious like art, music, or building a company, or if it's something more subtle, like the way they make their friends laugh, or raising their children to be kind. No-one can give their gift fully if all they can think about is their own illness. And make no mistake, this country is sick. 43% of Americans are obese, 30% of adults have multiple chronic conditions. 40% of deaths are preventable, and 49% of home foreclosures are because of medical debt. Our economy is built on pills and cash crops, so we have a nation full of people burdened by sickness and debt instead of the weight of their own beauty.
And it doesn't have to be this way. Keeping people healthy is not hard when the starting point of their health journey isn't their first hospitalization. There is absolutely a place for interventional medicine. We were not designed to live forever and sooner or later something will break down due to accident or genetics that no behavior could have changed. But I believe that for EVERYONE, it can be later. And, I see a win win. Keeping people healthy is not only better, it's cheaper. The cost of treating a heart attack is $150k on average. The cost of the blood testing, imaging, and medications for 15 years to keep someone from having a heart attack is less than $4k. In states where Medicaid is allowed to cover basic needs like food, housing and transportation, Medicaid SAVES $85 per month per patient, because those people have a fighting chance at actually staying healthy.
Preventative medicine isn't just better for our people's health, it is healthier for our economy. We are spending $1.5T a year to keep people sick, and I am sick of it. I see a win/win, and I am bringing together investors, operators, doctors, policymakers and anyone who cares to make it happen.