Dr. Susan L. Hughes Testifies at U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging
Susan Huges Testimony
Dr. Susan L. Hughes, Professor Emerita in the Division of Community Health Sciences and Founding Director of Center for Research on Health and Aging at UIC, testified before the United States Senate Special Committee on Aging on January 15, 2025. The hearing discussed “Improving Wellness Among Seniors: Setting a Standard for the American Dream.” Dr. Hughes is a Gerontologist and health policy analyst whose research focuses on the design and testing of evidence-based health promotion programs for older adults.
In her testimony, Dr. Hughes highlights the urgent need to improve wellness programs for seniors, particularly those addressing physical activity. Dr. Hughes drew attention to Medicare’s historical focus on acute care, which has left gaps in supporting long-term care and preventive health for older adults, especially those with chronic conditions like arthritis. She underscores the need for a transformational shift toward wellness programs that could reduce healthcare costs and improve outcomes, citing the success of her Fit & Strong! program—a low-cost, evidence-based intervention that helps older adults manage osteoarthritis through physical activity. Despite its effectiveness, programs like Fit & Strong! lack funding and reimbursement mechanisms, limiting their reach.
Dr. Hughes advocated for reauthorizing and increasing funding for the Older Americans Act (OAA), particularly Title III D, to support such programs. She also called for Medicare to incentivize wellness through Medicare Advantage (MA) plans, suggesting that the integration of evidence-based health promotion programs could be a key to improving senior health. Overall, she concluded that investing in wellness today will yield significant returns in reducing chronic disease and healthcare costs in the future.
To watch the full hearing or read Dr. Hughes testimony, click here.