An Unhealthy America: The Economic Burden of Chronic Disease

October 2007 Charting a New Course to Save Lives and Increase Productivity and Economic Growth In October 2007, the Milken Institute issued a report on chronic disease in America. The authors argue that the rise of chronic diseases has contributed significantly to rising medical costs in the U.S. The purpose of the study was to quantify the economic costs of chronic disease, focusing on employers, the government, and the national economy. The diseases studied were cancer, diabetes, hypertension, stroke, heart diseases, pulmonary conditions, and mental disorders. The study found that more than 109 million Americans report having at least . . .