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This collaboration has already enjoyed advocacy success. The three organizations successfully and jointly lobbied for the inclusion of a new "Welcome to Medicare" wellness benefit in new Medicare legislation passed last year by Congress. Beginning January 1, 2005, new Medicare beneficiaries will have up to six months to schedule a one-time wellness visit. During this wellness visit, a primary health care provider will assess a beneficiary's health and family history, schedule necessary screenings, and allow time for counseling in support of efforts to stop smoking, improve nutrition, and increase physical activity.

The American Cancer Society, the American Diabetes Association, and the American Heart Association plan to continue to work collaboratively to raise awareness among policymakers of the staggering human and financial costs of these chronic diseases by promoting legislation to increase funding for and research into prevention and early detection.

In July 2008, the collaboration drafted statements and fact sheets regarding the benefits of health and physical education in today’s schools.  We believe that quality health and physical education programs delivered in the nation’s schools can improve the well-being and health of our children and youth.  Research studies provide evidence that promoting and establishing healthy behaviors for younger people are more effective, and often easier, than efforts to change unhealthy behaviors already established in adult populations.  According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Healthy Youth initiative and the Carnegie Council on Adolescent Development, schools can play a vital role in establishing healthy behavior patterns among young people that carry into adulthood.

• Physical Education in Schools Statement
• Physical Education Fact Sheet
• Health Edudation Statement 
• Health Education Fact Sheet

To find out how you can join the fight against cancer, visit the American Cancer Society Advocacy program for events information, to learn about fundraising efforts, support legislation on a local and national level, and help with activities in your area.

Government Relations and Advocacy at the American Diabetes Association works to improve access to quality care, eliminate discrimination against people because of their diabetes, and make sure the federal government is adequately funding diabetes research and programs.

In working to fulfill its mission to reduce disability and death from cardiovascular diseases, the American Heart Association encourages federal, state and local legislators to support public policies that advance the fight against heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases. But we can't accomplish our task without you. Please take a moment to learn about our efforts and how you can help make America heart-healthy and stroke free. Visit americanheart.org/advocacy.