High costs of chronic disease must be addressed

By Christopher Atchison

Recent announcements of pending health insurance premium increases have shaken families across Iowa and the nation. In these tough economic times, many families struggling financially now face an additional burden on their budgets.

As a result, Iowans have additional motivation to question these increases even while they understand that the direct costs of health care are skyrocketing. Controlling the growth of health care costs must be a vital national priority. We must focus on two components that have remained consistent over the past several years: the growing number of people suffering from chronic disease and cost of treating these diseases.

Seventy-five percent of U.S. health care dollars are now being spent to address chronic disease. In announcing its rate increase, Iowa's Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield's most alarming explanation was Iowa's rise in obesity and its association with chronic diseases. According to the Iowa Behavioral Risk Factor Survey, 60 percent of Iowans are either overweight or obese. According to the American Institute for Cancer Research, about 45 percent of colon cancer and 38 percent of breast cancers in the U.S. could have been prevented with changes in diet, physical activity and weight control. Poor prevention strategies cost Iowa billions in health care costs and lost productivity.

Three years ago, as presidential candidates traveled through Iowa, the Partnership for Better Health - a network of more than 30 Iowa organizations - urged the candidates to address the rapidly increasing health care costs. The Partnership urges a comprehensive approach to this challenge. This includes several strategies.

An investment in prevention will help Iowans improve their own health and avoid growing epidemics like diabetes and heart disease. Intervention and proper disease management will help reduce health care costs by allowing individuals to best manage their conditions. Early detection and treatment of diseases will yield more positive health results and less costly treatments than if otherwise left undiagnosed.

Finally, public and private investments in research and innovation will improve our ability to treat, manage or even cure debilitating diseases. As President Obama and Congress work on health care reform, we urge them to address the high costs of chronic disease. When we couple prevention, intervention and innovation, costs are reduced and Iowans are healthier.

Christopher Atchison is co-chair, Partnership for Better Health, and director, University of Iowa Hygienic Lab. Comments: chris-atchison@uiowa.edu