Effect of reimbursement incentive on enrollment in weight control

Abstract

Although much research addresses the effects of various obesity treatment strategies, little is known about factors that influence choices to enter treatment programs. Objective: to determine whether the prospect of partial fee reimbursement for a university-sponsored community weight management program, contingent on individual performance, influences the proportion of program inquirers who enroll. Methods: EatRight Program (www.uab.edu/eatright) inquirers between June and November 2004 (Control period) were given a different message by phone than were inquirers between January and September 2005 (Intervention period). Control-period inquirers who asked about reimbursement were told its availability depended on their insurance provider. Intervention-period inquirers with self-reported BMIs 30 kg/m2 were told that the Program would reimburse half of the $270 fee if they 1) paid the full EatRight fee, 2) attended 10 of 12 classes, and 3) lost 6% of initial body weight. Results: during the Control period, 139 potential subjects inquired and 48 enrolled (34.5%); during the Intervention period 234 inquired and 79 enrolled (33.8%). Conclusions: the prospect of partial reimbursement for the cost of a weight control program, contingent on individual performance, did not appear to affect program enrollment. This could be influenced by the subjects’ SES and other variables. Additional variables (class attendance, weight loss, health care costs, second control period, seasonality) will be examined. Supported by NIH grants DK067357 and DK056366.