FRIDAY, July 30, 2020 (HealthPayer Intelligence)
HealthPayer Intelligence led with a story Friday with some surprising information. From the story: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 90 percent of national healthcare spending goes toward chronic disease management and mental healthcare, which means that strong mental health and chronic disease prevention strategies can help reduce payer spending.
The CDC has named the eight most expensive chronic diseases in the U.S. The good news for payers is that most of these can be prevented to some degree. By being aware of preventive care strategies for these eight chronic conditions, payers can actively reduce their healthcare spending and support positive patient outcomes. Here are the eight conditions as reported by CDC:
1) Heart disease and stroke – remain the most expensive chronic diseases.
2) Cancer – consistently one of the most fatal diseases in the U.S.
3) Diabetes – is also a major driver of healthcare spending.
4) Obesity – one in three adults and one in five children classified as obese.
5) Arthritis – affecting around a quarter of American adults.
6) Alzheimer’s disease – a fifth of Medicare spending went to Alzheimer’s.
7) Epilepsy – expected to increase from 2017 to 2027.
8) Tooth decay – without treatment, tooth decay can lead to negative health.
Like you probably, Greg Says isn’t surprised by anything on this CDC list. The good news is that every one of the above items, with the possible exception of tooth decay, is covered by Medicare.