PA Governor Rendell Says Pennsylvania Again Leads the Nation With Introduction of Chronic Care Manag...(in learning collaboratives that will hel...),Health

While a few other states, such as Vermont, Washington, Colorado and North Carolina, have begun chronic care initiatives, Pennsylvania's is the first that also takes into consideration the way health care practitioners are paid for delivering care. The commission members agree that it pays dividends to work to pay a little more to improve the time that is spent with patients before problems are exacerbated and become difficult for the patient to handle and more costly to the system.

"What is significant about this report is that it comes from a 'who's who' of Pennsylvania health care providers -- from health insurance providers and hospital executives, to physicians and nurses, and labor and consumer representatives," Governor Rendell said. "They all agree that we must adopt a stronger, proactive approach to address chronic conditions while also addressing how we pay for chronic care services. We must work together to update information systems and improve the attention we give to self management.

"Rarely, when it comes to health policy, do you get every group involved to agree on the changes that are required, but that's what has happened in Pennsylvania with this new initiative to tackle chronic care."

The 44 commission members represent a broad cross section of health care related fields and come from all geographic areas of the state. In addition, the secretaries of Health, Public Welfare and Insurance and the Director of the Governor's Office of Health Care Reform serve as members of the commission.

"This strategic plan represents hundreds of hours of research, discussion and careful consideration of the core principles and necessary actions required to fundamentally
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