Coalition pushes candidates to address chronic diseases

CONCORD, N.H. --Health care, business and labor organizations are working together to put the issue of chronic disease in the presidential primary spotlight.

The New Hampshire Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease is the local chapter of a national, nonpartisan coalition seeking to educate the public about the scope and cost of chronic disease and push presidential candidates to address the issue.

At a news conference Thursday, members noted that not only do chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer account for seven out of 10 deaths in the United States, but they also are the primary driver of health care costs.

Treatment of chronic disease accounts for 75 percent of the $2 trillion spent each year on health care, said Ken Thorpe, a former White House health policy advisor and national co-chairman of the coalition.

"Not only is the money part of it important, but we do a very mediocre job of delivering preventive health care services to those patients," he said.

Simple things like blood sugar monitoring and eye exams for diabetics could prevent more complications, he said.

Though Thorpe worked in the Clinton administration, he said the coalition believes the debate about how to reform the delivery of health care should not be limited to one party.

"Our goal is to get these presidential candidates, the Democratic candidates, the Republican candidates, talking about health care and talking about real solutions to our health care crisis in this country," he said.

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On the Net: http://www.fightchronicdisease.org/