OBAMA BUDGET PROPOSAL INCLUDES WISE, NECESSARY FUNDING TO COMBAT CHRONIC DISEASE

Today, President Obama will officially unveil his proposed $3.7 trillion FY 2010 federal omnibus budget overview. While his proposal is far from frugal and appears to be loaded with billions of dollars worth of unnecessary spending, there is a silver lining.

Obama has not only proposed an increase for health care funding in the budget, but he is also asking Congress to appropriate the funding toward some innovative new technologies that would help significantly combat chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.

Of the $2.2 trillion we pour into health care each year, a frightening 75 cents of every dollar goes towards treating patients with chronic illnesses. In Medicaid, this figure is an even more regrettable 83 cents of every dollar; in Medicare, it’s an astounding 96 cents. [...]

The good news is, President Obama has already achieved two important down payments for health care reform through recent allocations in the stimulus package: $19 billion for health information technology and $1.1 billion for comparative effectiveness research. Both signal a promising new approach to health care — one that seeks not only to expand coverage but also to improve efficiency and health outcomes. [...]

President Obama must realign health system incentives to prioritize prevention and chronic care management by creating new primary care models that are more accountable and better coordinate care between physicians, hospitals and other health providers.

These are not particularly controversial issues. However, there are many difficult choices that President Obama and Congress must confront in the debate. [Kenneth Thorpe, Executive Director of the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease]

If anyone can vouch for the best way to tackle this vital issue, it’s Thorpe and the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease. Their track record of getting in the trenches on the front line to fight chronic illness is unparalleled.

And when they say we need to spend more money in this area and we need to take a closer look at how we spend it, they’re right.

But while properly spending money is important, Thorpe also noted that lifestyle changes are just as significant to creating quality, affordable health care.

In other words, grab a salad instead of a cheeseburger every now and again, and hop on the treadmill instead of having a smoke. Easier said than done, I know, but it’s a vital part of making sure we get the most for the money we’re spending to fight chronic disease.

For America’s sake, I hope everyone from Obama to Mr. and Mrs. Smith in Summerville are listening to Thorpe’s advice.