Partnership Praises Democratic National Committee's 2008 Health Care Priorities
Unprecedented focus on prevention and disease management "Exactly what is needed"
Denver, CO (August 27, 2008) - The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) commends the Democratic Party for recognizing the critical need to reduce rising rates of chronic disease in its party platform, which it unveiled this evening at the DNC convention. This is the first time the party's platform includes specific language about how important it is to address this challenge in order to lower health care costs, improve quality of care and provide greater access to health care coverage for all Americans.
"I welcome the 2008 Democratic platform's emphasis on one of the greatest threats to our nation's health: the enormous burden of sickness and cost brought about by problems with chronic illness," said PFCD Executive Director, Ken Thorpe, who is attending the DNC convention. "With more than 75 cents of every dollar spent on patients with chronic illnesses, and more than 130 million Americans affected directly, policies to better prevent and manage disease are exactly what is needed."
While at the Democratic Convention, Thorpe is speaking with delegates at PFCD-sponsored breakfasts about the need for Democrats and Republicans alike to include chronic disease prevention and management in a comprehensive health care reform package.
"For years, we have been attempting to reform the U.S. health care system starting with the divisive issue of coverage for the uninsured -- and we haven't been very successful," Thorpe said. "It's time that we move forward a bi-partisan agenda to improve not just coverage, but also cost, access and quality. We see chronic disease prevention and management as the perfect place for both parties to start."
Chronic diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer, are responsible for seven out of 10 deaths and 75 percent of every health care dollar spent in the U.S. These are conditions that could either be effectively prevented or minimized through simple, low-cost disease prevention and management programs, which would eliminate, not just shift, costs from the U.S. health care system.
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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