Physician, public and policymaker perspectives on chronic conditions. (Health Care Policy).(a survey of health care industry insiders on the status of chronic illness care in the U.S.)

"One reason why Americans are living longer is that the medical care system has become more proficient at treating infectious diseases and acute episodes. Unfortunately, as they grow older, [Americans] are more likely to develop chronic conditions.

Chronic conditions are now the leading reason why people seek medical care in the United States, yet ... the current medical care financing and delivery system is still more oriented to providing episodic than ongoing care.

We asked physicians, the public and policymakers a series of questions about the current status of chronic illness care in the United States.

There was strong agreement that chronic …