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Prevention is better than cure

(Feb. 20, 2012) The only way to combat chronic diseases is to focus on prevention. The aim should be to work with patients to keep them healthier and out of hospitals

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Health Care: A Penny-Wise, Pound Foolish Doc-Fix

(Feb. 17, 2012)  Friday’s payroll tax cut extension bill included $18 billion to maintain Medicare physician salaries at current levels for the rest of this year. Unlike the payroll tax extension, Congress insisted on paying for the doc-fix with offsetting budget cuts.

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Will We Get The Biggest Bang From Health Law’s Prevention Grants?

(Feb. 10, 2012)  Backers of the health law’s provision of $15 billion for prevention efforts believe it has the potential to improve health and reduce costs. But some question the administration’s decision to sprinkle money for community programs among dozens of groups testing different approaches, rather than channeling it to proven programs.

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Evidence Based Care Coordination: Can it Work in Medicare (Yes)

On January 18, 2012, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released an Economic and Budget Issue Brief on Medicare quality and efficiency demonstrations entitled, “Lessons from Medicare’s Demonstration Projects on Disease Management, Care Coordination and Value-Based Payments.” PFCD Chairman, Dr. Ken Thorpe responds with a detailed commentary on the scope of the demonstrations and the value of care coordination.

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America hits the brakes on health care spending

(January 9, 2012)  WASHINGTON - Is health-care relief finally in sight? Health spending stabilized as a share of the nation's economy in 2010 after two back-to-back years of historically low growth, the government reported Monday. 

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Dr. Kenneth Thorpe emphasizes the value and opportunity of diabetes prevention and management in the fight against chronic disease

WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 10, 2012) - The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) today applauded Health Affairs for taking diabetes head on and for advancing the importance of addressing this costly chronic disease before its consequences erode the overall health of Americans and further challenge our U.S. health care system and budget deficit.

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Building evidence-based interventions to avert disease and reduce health care spending

In early November, along with more than 20 concerned Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) partners, Dr. Ken Thorpe sent a letter and an in-depth analysis to the leaders of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction. The analysis describes in detail sources of potential savings – more than $240 billion to Medicare alone – that could result from implementing evidence-based delivery system reforms.

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Super Committee Urged To Alter Coverage For Some Low-Income Medicare Beneficiaries

As a group, dual eligibles cost state and federal governments a combined $300 billion annually. They comprise 16 percent of Medicare's enrollees but account for 27 percent of its spending. They make up 15 percent of Medicaid beneficiaries but draw 39 percent of its spending, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

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PFCD Briefing Spotlights Health Information Technology in Managing Chronic Diseases, Cutting Health Care Costs

WASHINGTON, D.C. (November 15, 2011) - The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease(PFCD) hosted a briefing for Senate staff today entitled “Health Information Technology: An Invaluable Tool for Managing Chronic Diseases.”

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Obesity and chronic disease cost UK £20bn a year in terms of lost productivity

September 30, 2011 - Overweight and obese workers with no chronic problems take twice as many days off as comparable workers of a healthy weight, found the UK survey of almost 9,000 people.

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