PDB14: IMPACT OF A DIABETES DISEASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM: A RETROSPECTIVE CLAIMS-BASED EVALUATION

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the impact of a comprehensive diabetes disease management (DM) program on health care costs, quality of life and patient satisfaction. METHODS: Diabetes patients targeted by pharmacy claims were invited to enroll in a voluntary payor-sponsored DM program (n = 2,178). Eligible non-enrollees were used for the control group (n = 6,396). Medical and pharmacy claims were combined to determine health care costs. Quality of life and patient satisfaction were also assessed, via patient interview. The analysis timeframe encompassed two years prior and one year following program initiation. RESULTS: Enrollees had higher direct health care costs than non-enrollees. We were able to predict accurately the medical spend in our control group in absence of intervention with standard time series analysis within 4%. Following DM intervention, enrollees' health care spend was lower than their baseline spend and lower than their projected spend (−$116, −$1,056). Conversely, health care spend increased in the non-enrollee group from baseline (+$714) (Table 1). Additionally, enrollee quality of life measures improved from baseline and patient satisfaction with the DM program was high. CONCLUSIONS: A comprehensive diabetes DM program can lower health care cost and improve patient reported quality of life while demonstrating consistently high patient satisfaction.