The disease management enterprise is emerging as one of the major initiatives to make America's healthcare system more efficient and cost effective and to enhance healthcare quality and reduce medical errors. Disease management is proliferating in both the private and public sectors. With new authority from recent legislation, Medicare has become an important new player in actively supporting pilot and demonstration projects dealing with the management of chronic diseases.

Disease management efforts are nested throughout the health system at the employer and plan level, within healthcare providers and in freestanding disease management enterprises. The Disease Management Colloquium presents case studies of disease management efforts in a variety of settings. The Colloquium explores the role of disease management as it affects Medicare, Medicaid, the commercially insured, and the under- and uninsured; the role of evidence-based medicine; the use of incentives for physician and consumers; new tools and techniques; innovations by health plans and disease management companies; and key legislative and policy issues affecting the future of disease management.

The Colloquium seeks to better educate government agencies, the health care industry (including health plans and providers), employers, and the general public about the important role disease management programs play in improving health care quality and outcomes for persons subject to chronic conditions.

We are very pleased to be able to welcome everyone to our campus in Philadelphia. We believe this is an outstanding conference and we know you will all enjoy it immensely. We have assembled a top notch faculty and the interaction will be first rate. Disease Management is a dynamic field and in order to stay on top of the details it takes hard work and attention to what the experts have to say.