Chronic Disease Management: Improving Outcomes, Reducing Costs

The relationship between poverty and poor health are strikingly apparent in the United States. People living below the federal poverty line have a shorter life expectancy and higher incidence of chronic disease than those with higher incomes. The poor, however, are less likely than the non-poor to have recent contact with a physician or engage in preventive care. This article discusses the significance of chronic disease management in improving health outcomes for low-income individuals and in reducing preventable health-related expenditures from a provider perspective. The article concludes with a discussion of the role of community health and social workers in coordinating care between providers and poor patients.