Tackling the High Cost of Chronic Disease

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Tackling the High Cost of Chronic Disease: Health Care's Costliest 1%

By Haydn Bush

Caring for the chronically ill consumes 75 percent of the nation's health care resources. A growing number of hospitals and communities are targeting those individuals to reduce costs and improve overall health.

"By emphasizing wellness across a broad range of primary care and behavioral health interventions, providers ultimately hope to change chronically ill patients' perspectives and behaviors — and ultimately their overall health. It's a strategy that relies heavily on the creation of a detailed care plan with specific, day-to-day instructions for patients and their clinicians."

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4 Common Causes of Chronic Disease

Four modifiable health risk behaviors are responsible for much of the illness, suffering and early death related to chronic diseases. They are:
1. Lack of physical activity
2. Poor nutrition
3. Tobacco use
4. Excessive alcohol consumption