Help Set Goals for the Health of Our Nation

Send Feedback on Objectives for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for the Next 10 Years

Deadline for comments: January 17, 2019, 5:00 p.m. ET

The Healthy People Initiative provides science-based, national objectives every 10 years for improving the health of all Americans. For several decades, Healthy People has established benchmarks and monitored progress over time to:

• Encourage collaborations across communities, areas, or groups.
• Empower individuals to make informed health decisions.
• Measure the impact of prevention activities.

For the next decade, Healthy People 2030 (HP2030) will provide a smaller, more focused set of objectives that reflects national, action-oriented priorities to improve health. Several objectives have already been developed, but Healthy People needs to hear from you. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is now asking for comments from the public. Input from people like you helps HHS receive funding for chronic conditions like epilepsy. Comments are being accepted through 5:00 p.m. ET on January 17, 2019.

To ensure that the needs of people with epilepsy are considered in the objectives for HP2030, we need your help!

What can I do?

Please look at the Healthy People 2030 objectives, especially the objectives listed below. Then follow the instructions to share a comment on your experiences related to epilepsy and why you feel an area is important for people with epilepsy.

• Access to Health Services (Objectives 5-8)
• Disability and Health (Objectives 1-3)
• Educational and Community-Based Programs (Objectives 1, 6, and 7)
• Health Communication and Health Information Technology (Objectives 1-4 and 7)
• Mental Health and Mental Disorders (Objectives 3-8)

How can I give feedback?

You can comment in 2 ways:

• Visit the Healthy People 2030 Public Comment webpage. Click on "Comment on proposed objectives for 2030" at the bottom of the screen.
  • Make sure you register or log in to leave a comment.
• Send your comments on specific objectives to HHS at [email protected].

What types of comments are helpful?

As an example, a comment might include the following:

HC/HIT-2030-04: Increase proportion of persons who use health information technology (HIT) to track health care data or communicate with providers.

Comment: I use an online seizure diary to track my seizures, medicines and how epilepsy affects me. We need to make more people aware of digital resources for people to track seizures and health issues associated with epilepsy and other chronic conditions. The diagnosis of seizures and epilepsy is very dependent on symptoms that are not usually found on routine tests. Information collected by people with epilepsy is needed to diagnose epilepsy and monitor how well a treatment is working.

AHS-2030-05: Reduce the proportion of persons who are unable to obtain or delay in obtaining necessary medical care.

Comment:  Many people with epilepsy are not referred to an epilepsy specialist for many years (insert number of years if desired). As a result, people may not be diagnosed properly or continue to have seizures for years with dangerous consequences. When I (or my child/spouse/friend) was seen at an epilepsy center, I (they) was asked questions that no one had ever explored. I was offered treatments that had not been considered. Now my (their) seizures are much better controlled and my life is totally different (give examples of how life may be changed).  

Why is my feedback important?

• Please also look at objectives about other health issues that are important to you. The full list of topic areas is available on the Healthy People 2030 website.
• You can also propose new objectives. Review the "Objective Selection Criteria for Core Objectives" guidelines beforehand.

When are comments due?

The deadline to comment is 5:00 p.m. ET on January 17, 2019.

Questions? Please contact Jody Kakacek at 301-918-3722 or via email at [email protected].