Uncomfortable Truths — What Covid-19 Has Revealed about Chronic-Disease Care in America

The Covid-19 pandemic exposed critical flaws in the U.S. health care system’s approach to chronic disease management, particularly for marginalized populations. This article highlights how the pandemic forced disruptive innovation, such as expanded telehealth and scope of practice reforms, while revealing systemic inequities and reimbursement inadequacies. The author argues for value based payment models, team based care, and addressing social determinants of health to improve chronic disease outcomes. Lessons from the pandemic underscore the need to prioritize patient centered care, health equity, and integration of technology with human touch to dismantle structural biases in the system.

The Covid-19 pandemic exposed critical flaws in the U.S. health care system’s approach to chronic disease management, particularly for marginalized populations. This article highlights how the pandemic forced disruptive innovation, such as expanded telehealth and scope of practice reforms, while revealing systemic inequities and reimbursement inadequacies. The author argues for value based payment models, team based care, and addressing social determinants of health to improve chronic disease outcomes. Lessons from the pandemic underscore the need to prioritize patient centered care, health equity, and integration of technology with human touch to dismantle structural biases in the system.