Diabetes Is Significant Economic Burden for US Health Care System

PRLog (Press Release) - Jun 26, 2009 -
Contact: Cathia Falvey, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., (914) 740-2100, ext. 2165, cfalvey@liebertpub.com

Diabetes Is Significant Economic Burden for U.S. Health Care System—
Pay-for-Performance Model Would Lower Costs and Improve Care

New Rochelle, NY—Excess medical expenses and reduced productivity due to diabetes costs the U.S. economy more than $174 billion annually, a figure that could be reduced by lifestyle modifications and preventive care and by pay-for-performance incentives that reward improved disease management, as supported by three articles in the recent issue of Population Health Management, a peer-reviewed journal published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. (http://www.liebertpub.com). These diabetes-related reports are available free online at http://www.liebertpub.com/pop

Three timely articles examine the challenges presented by the rising number of Americans with diabetes. The reports estimate the national medical costs associated with caring for adults with prediabetes or gestational diabetes and present a critical analysis of a pay-for-performance incentive to improve the care of patients with diabetes.

“This research adds significant new information to our understanding of the total burden diabetes mellitus puts on our society,” says Journal Editor-in-Chief David B. Nash, MD, MBA, Dean, and Dr. Raymond C. and Doris N. Grandon Professor, Jefferson School of Population Health (Philadelphia, PA).

The article entitled “Medical Cost Associated with Prediabetes” showed that in 2007, care for these patients was more than $25 billion, or an additional $443 for each adult compared to individuals with normal blood sugar levels, according to a study by Yiduo Zhang, PhD, and colleagues from the Lewin Group (Falls Church, VA) and Ingenix/i3research (Basking Ridge, NJ and Nanterre, France). The authors conclude that these findings “strengthen the business case for lifestyle interventions to prevent diabetes by adding additional economic benefits that potentially can be achieved by preventing or delaying PD.”

Excessive use of medical services by adults with diabetes could be reduced by better adherence by physicians to evidence-based clinical guidelines intended to improve diabetes care. Thomas Foels, MD, and Sharon Hewner, RN, PhD, from Independent Health Association (Buffalo, NY), report on a study targeting adult primary care physicians and encouraging consistent adherence to guidelines, a critical review of practice patterns related to care of diabetic patients, and changes in office systems to improve care. In “Integrating Pay for Performance with Educational Strategies to Improve Diabetes Care,” the authors demonstrate that participation- and performance-based economic incentives can yield significant improvements in adherence to diabetes clinical guidelines, office-based education, and overall disease management.

Yaozhu Chen, MPA, and co-authors from The Lewin Group (Falls Church, VA), Ingenix/i3research (Basking Ridge, NJ), and Ingenix/i3 Pharmainformatics (Cary, NC), estimate the “Cost of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in the United States in 2007” at an additional $3,305 per pregnancy, plus $209 during an infant’s first year of life. In 2007, for the estimated 180,000 pregnancies affected by gestational diabetes, the total national medical costs were $636 million.

Population Health Management is an authoritative peer-reviewed journal published bimonthly in print and online that reflects the expanding scope of health care management and quality. The Journal delivers a comprehensive, integrated approach to the field of population health and provides information designed to improve the systems and policies that affect health care quality, access, and outcomes, thereby improving the health of an entire population. Comprising of peer-reviewed original research articles, clinical research, and case studies, the content includes a broad range of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic pain, diabetes, depression, and obesity, as well as focusing on various aspects of prevention and wellness. Tables of contents and a free sample issue may be viewed online (http://www.liebertpub.com/pop). Population Health Management is the Official Journal of DMAA:  The Care Continuum Alliance (www.dmaa.org).  

Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. (http://www.liebertpub.com) is a privately held, fully integrated media company known for establishing authoritative peer-reviewed journals in many promising areas of science and biomedical research, including Diabetes Technology and Therapeutics, Journal of Women’s Health, and Obesity Management. Its biotechnology trade magazine, Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (GEN), was the first in its field and is today the industry’s most widely read publication worldwide. A complete list of the firm’s 60 journals, books, and newsmagazines is available at www.liebertpub.com

Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.    140 Huguenot St., New Rochelle, NY 10801-5215    www.liebertpub.com
                Phone: (914) 740-2100    (800) M-LIEBERT    Fax:  (914) 740-2110