Abstract

Health disparities can be defined as differences in rates of disease incidence, prevalence, morbidity, mortality, and/or survival in a particular population compared with the health status of the general population.¹ A sizeable portion of these disparities resides within the category comprising chronic medical conditions (CMCs). These conditions run the gamut from high-volume primary care diagnoses, such as heart disease and diabetes, through subspecialty pathologies such as cancer and human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. CMCs are the leading cause of death and disability in the United States and are responsible for the demise of 7 of every 10 people.² Furthermore, they affect the quality of the lives of as many as 90 million Americans.² From an economic perspective, CMCs also consume three-fourths of healthcare expenditures.² Adding the costs for cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, arthritis, and smoking-related complications leaves society with a price tag approximating $600 billion.² It is sobering to observe that health disparities have been recognized as a problem for a considerable time, but for myriad reasons have resisted substantive melioration. What is the next step?