PFCD Executive Director Ken Thorpe Testifies Before Health Reform Leaders
Testimony Emphasizes the Value of Investment in Public Health Programs, Especially Those Targeting Chronic Diseases
WASHINGTON, D.C. [December 10, 2008] -- The Partnership to Fight Chronic executive director Ken Thorpe, Ph.D., testified this morning at a hearing held by the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Thorpe’s testimony emphasized the problem of chronic disease in driving health care spending in Medicare, the role of primary prevention and better disease management in curbing spending, and strategies for adopting such initiatives as a part of broader health reform efforts.
"Crafting effective solutions to the high and rising costs of health care requires a clear understanding of where we spend our health care dollar and the factors accounting for rising spending," said Thorpe. "First, patients with chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and pulmonary disease account for 75 percent of national health spending, and an even higher proportion in public programs: 96 cents of every dollar in Medicare is spent on patients with chronic disease and 83 cents of every dollar in Medicaid."
Dr. Thorpe’s testimony offers multiple recommendations for health reform, including enhanced primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention in clinical and public health settings, and eliminating barriers to preventive care.
"Reforming the way in which the U.S. health system provides care to chronically ill patients is an essential first step in rationalizing our nation’s health investment," said Thorpe.
About the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease:
The PFCD is a national coalition of more than 100 patient, provider, community, business and labor groups, committed to raising awareness of the number one cause of death, disability, and rising health care costs in the U.S.: poorly prevented and mismanaged chronic disease.
The PFCD's mission is to:
- Challenge policymakers - in particular, the 2008 presidential candidates - to make fighting chronic disease a top priority and discuss how they will address it in their health care proposals
- Educate the public about chronic disease and potential solutions for individuals, communities, and the nation
- Mobilize Americans to call for change in how policymakers, governments, employers, health institutions, and other entities approach chronic disease
For more information about the PFCD and its partner organizations, please visit: http://www.fightchronicdisease.org.
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