Chronic Disease and its Impact on Healthcare Costs

With the recent creation of the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD), more groups than ever before are on the path to raising awareness of the preventable devastation that chronic disease has on our nation. The PFCD is a national and state-based coalition with hundreds of partner organizations representing patients, providers, community organizations, business and labor groups and health policy experts. They are working together to urge America’s leaders to realign incentives in the health care system to encourage chronic disease prevention and management.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “Chronic diseases—such as heart disease, and diabetes—are the leading causes of death and disability in the United States. The toll they exact on American patients is staggering, accounting for 70 percent of all deaths in the United States.

Of the $2.2 trillion America spends each year on health care, 75 percent of that money goes to fighting chronic diseases, many of which are preventable. These conditions, which include diabetes, chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular disease and cancer, often last for years, requiring frequent treatment throughout a person’s life. It is for this reason that treating chronic conditions carries such a hefty price tag. And the problem is getting worse.

Between 1980 and 2006, the incidence of diabetes tripled, triggering a massive increase in health care spending. And heart disease and related illnesses will cost Americans over $304 billion this year alone. In 2005, nearly half of all Americans were suffering from at least one chronic disease. But word is getting out on prevention of this pandemic.

As outlined by one Bay Area reporter, “Huge strides can be made toward this goal [of prevention] by empowering Americans through better health education. Informing citizens about good diet and exercise habits would go a long way toward curbing the incidence of obesity, a condition that often deteriorates into more costly chronic illnesses.”

While these figures are startling, the good news is that prevention is possible and there are already a number of fabulous education and wellness programs out there set on tackling this epidemic. One such program, Live Healthy Dallas, is aimed specifically at businesses. Workplace wellness has the benefit of creating a healthier, more productive workforce. In turn, a healthier workforce can create less expense for employee health coverage.

To learn more about chronic disease please join the Dallas Regional Chamber for our June 9th Healthcare Hot Topics breakfast addressing the question: Can Dallas Slow the Progression of Chronic Disease? A panel of Dallas area business leaders will be discussing the impact of chronic disease on our area and how this specifically affects the costs of healthcare coverage.
For more information or to register for this event please visit our website, dallasregionalchamber.org/healthcare.

i Carmona, Richard. Baltimore Sun. “Viewpoint: A new mission to fight chronic disease”. April 14, 2009. Accessed April 20, 2009. <http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bal-op.viewpoint14apr14,0,958118.story>.
ii Applebaum, Gary. The Buffalo News. “Gary Applebaum: Meaningful reform requires focus on chronic disease”. April 19, 2009. Accessed April 20, 2009. < http://www.buffalonews.com/149/story/644386.html>.
iii Pitts, Peter. The Mercury News. “Opinion: The root cause of rising health care costs: chronic disease”. April 20, 2009. Accessed April 21, 2009. <http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_12186052?nclick_check=1>.