New Data Estimates Staggering Costs of Chronic Disease in Largest U.S. Metropolis

Congressional briefing examines how social determinants, health disparities impact America's hardest hit populations

WASHINGTON--()--Recent research data developed by IHS Markit on behalf of the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) examines the enormous toll that chronic disease exacts on New York City with costs estimated at a staggering $709.8 billion between now and 2028. These data, which cover the five New York City boroughs both as a whole and singularly, take a closer look at medical and economic costs, multiple chronic conditions and the value of prevention, with additional definition of how the burden disproportionately impacts residents by racial/ethnic, age, and income levels.

This new data resource supplements a growing body of information about the state-by-state impact of chronic disease, and other specific disease states such as Alzheimer’s disease, mental health and diabetes, and examines population health and relevant demographics in the United States’ largest metropolis. The data also highlights potential savings quantified in human lives and health care dollars, amounting to an estimated 615,400 prevented cases of chronic disease and $114.1 billion over the next ten years.

PFCD is sharing this new resource while hosting “The REAL Cost of Chronic Disease,” a briefing in Washington to engage legislators, regulatory officials, their staff and other stakeholders on the health system and economic ramifications of increasing rates of chronic conditions, with a particular focus on health disparities and efforts to address them. Former Congresswoman Donna Christensen, M.D. will deliver a keynote address and participate on the panel of experts with Kevin Kimble of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and Amina Ferati with the Asian & Pacific Islanders American Health Forum. These experts recognize the positive impact of the CDC’s Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health’s (REACH) on its twentieth anniversary, will discuss how health disparities impact economic opportunity in hard hit populations, and share ways to address these issues to achieve greater health equity.

“The research and expertise being shared today demonstrate the urgency to better educate all Americans about the value of efforts to better detect, treat and prevent the onset of costly chronic disease and to take action on opportunities to address health disparities,” stated PFCD Chairman Ken Thorpe. “PFCD’s goal in highlighting the potential human and economic savings is to elevate the health care debate and motivate change that will make a measurable and sustainable difference in overall health outcomes. The inequitable burden of chronic disease and the toll it takes on wealth and economic mobility demands it.”

The briefing will be streamed on Facebook Live at 1 p.m. ET https://www.facebook.com/ThePFCD/. Additional data on the national and state by state impact of chronic disease can be found on PFCD’s website at https://www.fightchronicdisease.org/pfcd-in-the-states.

The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) is an international coalition of hundreds of patient, provider, community, business and labor groups, and health policy experts, committed to raising awareness of the number one cause of death, disability and rising health care costs: chronic disease.

Contacts

Jennifer Burke
Jennifer.burke@fightchronicdisease.org
301-801-9847