PA Governor Rendell Says Pennsylvania Again Leads the Nation With Introduction of Chronic Care Manag...(change the way health care is deliveredi...),Health

"I thank the commission members for their contribution of time, energy and expertise on a plan that will improve the health of Pennsylvanians with chronic disease and reduce the costs for all Pennsylvanians."

The completion of the plan is only the beginning of the commission's work. The Governor's Office of Health Care Reform has already begun implementing the strategies outlined in the plan.

To illustrate some of the evidence-based, patient oriented strategies that will be implemented as part of Pennsylvania's new chronic care model, the commission's report included a comparative scenario focused on a hypothetical patient named "May."

May is a 52-year-old woman with diabetes who, under the current system, is having trouble dealing with her disease. While she knows she needs to take care of herself because she saw first-hand how her mother's diabetes led to severe disabilities that could have been avoided, she has a limited idea of how to best take care of her health. Under the current system, May does not have the time with her doctor that she needs to be able to be proactive in her own care, and is likely to end up using the hospital and emergency room as her disease progresses. The cost of this care and the diminished capacity she would experience would seriously affect the quality of life for her and her children.

Under the new chronic care model, May would have a care management team including her doctor, nutritionists and registered nurses who work together to provide a comprehensive and simple support network to help May manage her condition. The cost of these programs is far less than the cost of avoidable hospitalizations and May will live a longer, healthier life.

The chronic care plan, as w
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