Financial Literacy and Lifestyle Medicine Being Advanced Nationally by Delaware Lawmaker

August 1, 2025

House Republican Caucus

Two concepts that could have a massive impact on the financial welfare of Delawareans are being elevated to the federal level by one state lawmaker. State Rep. Jeff Hilovsky (R-Oak Orchard, Long Neck) is a leading proponent of financial literacy, having successfully sponsored House Substitute 1 for House Bill 203 (as amended) earlier this year.

The proposal was passed with strong bipartisan support by the legislature and is expected to be signed into law shortly. Beginning with the freshman class of 2026-2027, Delaware will require a minimum half-credit in financial literacy education as a graduation requirement.

“This course will provide essential skills students will need to become responsible stewards of their financial futures,” Rep. Hilovsky said. “Comprehensive financial education will ensure that every graduate possesses practical knowledge in budgeting, saving, investing, understanding credit and debt, managing taxes, and planning for retirement. There is ample data showing that people with a solid grounding in understanding financial concepts are more successful as adults, both in avoiding debt and in significantly increased earnings.”

Rep. Hilovsky recently met with Presidential Regional Liaison Sam Martinez at the White House Executive Office Building (in photo) to discuss the importance of emphasizing financial education nationally. Later in the day, at another Washington D.C. venue, Rep. Hilovsky was a featured panelist at a financial literacy forum sponsored by VISA. “I’m trying to partner with the Center for Economic Education, the National Endowment for Financial Education, VISA, and officials in the federal government to elevate this conversation to the national level,” Rep. Hilovsky said.

Rep. Hilovsky was joined at the forum by Delaware State Professor Greg Coverdale and Professor Scott Bacon, with the University of Delaware’s Center for Economic Education. “When I met with Mr. Martinez, we also discussed the dire need to change the focus of our healthcare system from 'sick care’ to ‘wellness care,’” Rep. Hilovsky said. Championed by advocates such as Dr. Dean Ornish, wellness care is gaining traction. With an emphasis on positive lifestyle choices, including nutrition, physical activity, and stress reduction, the goal is to prevent illnesses and debilitating conditions.

A retired Doctor of Optometry, Rep. Hilovsky is the prime sponsor of House Substitute 1 for House Bill 163, a bipartisan measure that seeks to establish a three-year pilot program and observational study of 500 Delaware diabetic patients. “We need to change our approach from reactive to proactive,” he said. “This proposal involves forming a coordinated partnership to test, manage, and incentivize diabetic patients and their providers to improve health outcomes. Type 2 Diabetes is a largely preventable disease, with costly complications and comorbidities. Diabetics are at high risk of heart disease, stroke, and other severe difficulties, such as kidney failure, blindness, and lower-limb amputations. According to data released last November by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, there are nearly 112,000 Delawareans with diabetes, with another 93,000 who are prediabetic. The CDC reports that diabetes in Delaware results in $1.3 billion in annual direct medical costs, including $463 million in Medicare expenses and $242 million in Medicaid expenditures.

Rep. Hilovsky’s proposal would have an estimated cost of about $5.9 million over the three-year life of the program. The bill has been released from the House Health & Human Development Committee and is currently residing in the House Appropriations Committee. “I think the CDC numbers are actually understating the problem,”

Rep. Hilovsky said. “The bill contains a specific protocol that will reduce the severity and comorbidities. If this program is successful in just 5% of the population, the potential savings in one year will be over $50 million.

Healthcare costs are growing at an unsustainable rate. We need to try something different because we cannot keep doing what we’re doing and hope for better results.” Rep. Hilovsky said he is collaborating on securing federal funding, including grants, to help finance the program.