HHS Awards Funding for Chronic Disease Self-Management Programs for Older Americans

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that the Communities Putting Prevention to Work  Chronic Disease Self-management Program, funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, will be distributing $27 million in grants to almost 40 states.  The funds will allow states to provide self-management programs to older adults with chronic diseases and will help to build statewide delivery systems and develop the workforce that delivers these programs.  

"The number of older adults with chronic conditions will increase dramatically in the coming years as our aging population grows," said Assistant Secretary for Aging Kathy Greenlee, whose agency, the Administration on Aging (AoA), will administer the grants.  "This opportunity will allow states to build the foundation for an infrastructure that embeds health prevention programs into the nation’s health and long term care system and expands a system of care that addresses the growing prevalence of chronic conditions."

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The Stanford University Chronic Disease Self-Management Program, which serves as a model for this initiative, emphasizes the patients’ role in managing their illness and building their self-confidence so they can be successful in adopting healthy behaviors.

To see the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program State Funding Table

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