Blogs

Evidence Based Care Coordination CAN Work in Medicare

January 31, 2012

In light of the recent summary from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), “Lessons from Medicare's Demonstration Projects on Disease Management, Care Coordination, and Value-Based Payment” there has been some short-sighted reporting on the findings of the demonstrations that have left some impressions that I feel need correcting. The solid and growing evidence base around care coordination - the vast majority of which was not included in CBO's document - shows that well-designed programs do work to both improve outcomes and lower costs.

Small Improvements Translate into Big Savings

January 30, 2012

Working off the momentum the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease gained last year, one of our focal points for 2012 will continue to be on finding and promoting ways to achieve better health outcomes for the chronically ill. 

Viewpoints on Health Care Reform around the Debates

January 25, 2012

As everyone gears up for an exciting presidential campaign year, health care reform continues to play a major role in the news and conversations this week due to the ongoing struggle candidates, lawmakers and policy analysts face in battling our national $2.7 trillion deficit and mounting debt. 

Health Affairs Briefing Addresses Costly Consequences of Diabetes Treatment in America

January 11, 2012

This week I was honored to participate in a panel discussion at a Health Affairs briefing in Washington, D.C. on the costly consequences of the diabetes epidemic in United States.  The briefing, entitled “Confronting The Growing Diabetes Crisis,” opened up the dialogue about the many opportunities that exist to reverse the toll diabetes takes on the overall health of Americans – and their wallets. 

PFCD 2011 Year in Review & Looking Ahead to 2012

January 4, 2012

In an effort to raise awareness of the leading cause of death, disability and rising health care costs in our country, the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) worked throughout 2011 to broaden the discussion and advance solutions in health care particularly with respect to the cost reductions resulting from reforms that address chronic disease as the primary driver of health care costs.

Health Care Reform to be Top of Mind in 2012

December 20, 2011

It's been almost a month since the Super Committee announced their stalemate on how best to reduce our national deficit. With no end in sight and the future of public health care programs in jeopardy, Democrats and Republicans alike are taking to the presidential campaign trail to discuss their ideas on how to cut national spending. The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD), in the interest of preserving and improving programs that improve health outcomes, has been closely monitoring the headlines.

Making Prevention a Priority

December 5, 2011

Last week, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that coverage will be added for preventive services to reduce obesity. The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) applauds CMS’s announcement which is a big step in the right direction towards emphasizing prevention and curbing the obesity epidemic.

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse Keynotes PFCD Panel Discussion to Promote Adoption of Health IT

November 17, 2011

Earlier this week, the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) hosted “Health Information Technology: An Invaluable Tool for Managing Chronic Diseases” at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center. We were honored to have Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (RI) keynote the briefing. Senator Whitehouse has earned a reputation for being a tireless and vocal advocate in Congress for using health information technology (IT) as a tool to improve health outcomes, to stop the spread of chronic disease and to save billions in Medicare and Medicaid programs by keeping people healthier.

NCD prevention in India: setting an example for low-cost interventions in emerging and developing economies

November 14, 2011

By Ashok Malik

Earlier this month, India Health Progress (IHP), an advocacy and research organisation, and PFCD co-hosted a roundtable discussion in New Delhi on the “Growing Social and Economic Burden of Non-Communicable Diseases in India”.

Medicare Has Lower Than Expected Premium Increases

November 9, 2011

As the November 23 deadline for the Super Committee fast approaches, the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease continues to advocate for reforms that strengthen Medicare and Medicaid while pulling costs from the system.  There is a lot at stake for the future of these programs, and, more importantly, the people they serve.  In addition to deliberations by the Super Committee, there were several recent announcements affecting Medicare worth noting:

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