Pennsylvania Medical Society Welcomes Governor's Executive Order on Chronic Care
The following is a statement from Mark A. Piasio, MD, president of the Pennsylvania Medical Society, regarding Governor Edward Rendell's executive order issued May 21, 2007, to establish the Governor's Chronic Care Management, Reimbursement, and Cost Reduction Commission. Dr. Piasio is a practicing orthopedic surgeon from Dubois, PA.
According to a recent edition of Behavioral Health Risks of Pennsylvania Adults, produced by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, 62 percent of Pennsylvania adults are overweight including 25 percent who are obese. Twenty-four percent of Pennsylvania adults smoke cigarettes regularly.
It’s not unusual for such lifestyle decisions to lead to expensive chronic diseases such as diabetes, depression, congestive heart failure, and asthma to name a few. And, Pennsylvania statistics prove we are not immune to those chronic diseases. For example, 12 percent of Pennsylvania adults have asthma, while eight percent have diabetes. Twelve percent of those older than 35 years have had a heart attack, heart disease, or stroke, or a combination of the three.
Chronic diseases are prolonged conditions that often do not improve and are rarely cured completely. But, through chronic disease management, a systematic approach can be designed to improve health care for people with chronic disease. If done correctly, care can be delivered more effectively and efficiently, particularly if patients with chronic diseases take an active role in their own care and providers are supported with the necessary resources and expertise to better assist their patients in managing their illness.
That’s why the Pennsylvania Medical Society was pleased with Governor Rendell’s executive orders today establishing the Governor’s Chronic Care Management, Reimbursement, and Cost Reduction Commission.
As we work to prevent chronic diseases through healthy living projects such as smoking bans and fitness and diet programs, it’s important that we also provide a better way of managing patient care for those already suffering from chronic diseases. An alarming 75 percent of the current health care costs are attributed to only 25 percent of patients who have chronic diseases.
In 2005, the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council says that there were $1.7 billion in hospital charges for avoidable hospitalizations for Pennsylvanians with chronic diseases. If that spending can be safely reduced without negatively impacting current chronic disease patients, everyone would benefit.
That’s something the Pennsylvania Medical Society would like to see happen. The Pennsylvania Medical Society looks forward to continued progress in making Pennsylvania a healthier commonwealth.
Last Updated: 7/31/2008