Identification and prediction of chronic conditions for health plan members using data mining techniques

Data mining techniques have become an essential management tool in today's health care arena. Rising health care costs, the increasing prevalence rates of chronic conditions, and an aging population all add to the complexity and challenges facing our health care delivery systems as we move Into the 21st century [2]. Health care spending in the United States was over $2.1 trillion dollars in 2006, and it is estimated that health care expenditures will represent nearly 20 percent of all U.S. spending by 2016 [3]. Major changes must occur over the next decade in the way we manage our health care resources to meet this need.