CHRONIC CARE MANAGEMENT & WELLNESS

Growing health care costs have spurred interest in a better value for the health care dollar.  Legislators are paying increasing attention to the chronically ill as they consume a disproportionate share of the health care dollar.  Some estimates suggest that health care spending on chronic diseases accounts for up to 75 percent of health spending. A June 2006 Report to Congress by the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) found that, in 2002, 48 percent of Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) spending went to the costliest 5 percent of beneficiaries, with 88 percent of Medicare spending consumed by the costliest quartile.  Chronic care management shows promise to address rising costs driven by the growing incidence of chronic disease, while still increasing quality and protecting health care access.  Legislators are also attentive to disease prevention with efforts to promote greater nutrition, fitness, and overall wellness.