Is this a better way to treat diabetes?
I was reading Forbes magazine this evening and noticed a full right-page advertisement that started with this statement.3rd Law of HealthonomicsThe remainder of the advertisement reads.
Soaring healthcare costs are only the symptoms. You've got to start treating the disease.
Most employers are rethinking their responses to escalating healthcare costs. Why? They recognize chronic diseases are the root problem. Example: An employee managing his diabetes might cost $5,000 per year. An employee not managing his diabetes could cost up to $45,000. The win-win here is that by providing employees incentives to lead healthier lives an helping them to manage their chronic diseases, you reduce your healthcare costs. And you'll have healthier employees. Sure beaths the alternative.The advertisement points to a website to 'learn about lowering costs'. That site leads to the Diabetes Ten City Challenge (DTCC) site.
The DTCC FAQ page includes the following summary of how the DTCC works:
The Diabetes Ten City Challenge establishes a voluntary health benefit for employees, dependents and retirees with diabetes, provides incentives through waived co-pays for diabetes medications and supplies, and helps people manage their diabetes with help from a pharmacist coach in collaboration with their physicians and diabetes educators.I like the idea of waiving co-pays for meds and supplies to help with better diabetes management. I just wonder whether this program is aimed at people with all forms of diabetes, or just those with type 2? Given that one of the sponsors is GlaxoSmithKline, I'll bet I'm right. Will is lead to better benefits for insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors, or will the focus on cost reduction mean these important technologies are less covered?
This program is being tried by a number of employers in the following cities: Charleston/Spartanburg; Cumberland; Chicago; Colorado Springs; Dalton; Honolulu; Los Angeles; Milwaukee; Pittsburgh; and Tampa Bay.
Have you been enrolled in this program and can you give any feedback on how it works for you? I'm interested in seeing if this is the start of a new approach to diabetes care across the country. And I'd love to know whether or not it includes all types of diabetes.
Labels: challenge, diabetes, healthcare, insurance
posted by Bernard @ 9:08 PM
1 Comments:
Hi Bernard,
While I haven't heard of this specific program, I work in a government public health agency and the "incentive" idea is gaining in popularity. It's 99% likely type 2 is the target; people generally have no clue that type 1 affects adults, they think it's only a childhood disease. (I find that people in this field know very little about diabetes in general, and trying to educate them on the different types is nearly impossible.) And as far as they're concerned, diabetes is entirely brought on by obesity--they figure if you lose weight, you'll be cured. No one thinks much beyond that. I'm sure the concept of CGMS and pumps would frighten most businesses--it's just too expensive. Most companies are thinking of e-mail, websites and automated phone calls to help employees manage their conditions, not additional medications, testing and insulin delivery supplies.
In my job we look at the privacy/security concerns of giving up health info, which as you may imagine is especially tricky when it comes to employers knowing your medical condition(s). I haven't even told my own boss about my type 1--she's pushed me several times to get the cheaper health insurance plan so we'll save money, I'm afraid she might drop me altogether if she knew more about my D-related expenses and why I can't switch. I think most employers we work with have noble goals, but it's really about saving them money, not improving employee health. There is still a LOT of resistance from companies who would sooner find a younger, healthier and cheaper employee than truly assist someone who has a chronic disease.
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