Minnesotans suffering chronic conditions such as diabetes and asthma cost the healthcare system eight times more than healthy patients, reports the Star Tribune. A new state analysis on healthcare spending seeks to motivate payment reform so those with chronic disorders receive more affordable, higher quality care.
A report released Wednesday from the Minnesota Department of Health found chronically ill patients cost the healthcare system on average $12,800 per person annually, compared to $1,600 per healthy patient. The system spent $22.7 billion on chronically ill insured Minnesotans in 2012, the report concluded.
Roughly 35 percent of insured Minnesotans with chronic illness accounted for 83 percent of total medical expenses in 2012, the report continued.
While it is no surprise sick individuals require more care services, clinic leaders hope the findings will encourage value-based payment reforms that reward clinicians' extra efforts to support chronically ill patients with medication, dietary and fitness recommendations.
"There are no codes to bill for [these support services]," Paul Berrisford, CEO for Entira Family Clinics in St. Paul, told Star Tribune. "So you have taken on additional costs that will lower the cost of healthcare, but there is no way you can possibly bill for them."
Minnesota health commissioner Ed Ehlinger, MD, agreed, citing the state's need for increased investment in preventative initiatives.
"We cannot afford to treat our way out of this crisis," Dr. Ehlinger told Star Tribune. "We must more strongly focus on preventing chronic disease or delaying its progression by investing in healthier communities, public health and primary care."