DMAA Joins Launch of Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Disease Management Association of America (DMAA) today joined dozens of other national organizations in a call for decisive health policy changes that support public- and private-sector efforts to fight chronic disease.

"Chronic disease is our nation's number one killer and a primary driver behind skyrocketing costs in Medicare and other public programs," DMAA President and CEO Tracey Moorhead said. "Effective, population-based health improvement, such as disease management, can keep chronic disease in check. We must embrace these strategies, as a matter of public policy. We can't afford not to act."

DMAA, a member organization and Advisory Board representative for the new Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD), pointed to the varied stakeholders among the PFCD membership as evidence of the broad support for innovative strategies and public policies to fight diabetes, obesity, asthma, heart disease and other chronic conditions.

"No one is exempt from chronic disease and the burden it places on our nation's health care system, our quality of life and the financial stability of public and private health programs," Moorhead said. "Our nation's leaders, and those who aspire to a place in the national spotlight, must make the fight against chronic disease central to their message for improving health care quality and efficiency."

DMAA applauded the efforts of the new coalition, Chairman Richard H. Carmona, MD, Executive Director Ken Thorpe, PhD, and former Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Mark McClellan, MD, who participated in today's launch. "The involvement of such high-caliber health policy leaders speaks to this Partnership's commitment to real change in how we approach chronic disease care in this country," Moorhead said.

DMAA, a non-profit membership association based in Washington, D.C., represents more than 200 stakeholders in disease management, population-based health improvement and care coordination. DMAA promotes the role of chronic disease care in raising the quality of care, improving health outcomes and reducing health care costs for individuals with chronic conditions. Learn more at www.dmaa.org.

# # #