Taking Control of Your Health: Employer-Based Diabetes Management Program Achieves High Satisfaction and Cost Savings

The non-profit Midwest Business Group on Health (MBGH) announced the first-year results of its Taking Control of Your Health (TCYH) program, an employer-based diabetes management initiative. Implemented in partnership with the Illinois Pharmacists Association, the program aims to improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs by leveraging pharmacists as diabetes coaches. The results indicate high satisfaction rates, significant cost savings, and improvements in key clinical indicators for participants.

Key Takeaways:

• The TCYH program yielded a return on investment (ROI) of $1,467 per participant, or $126,162 for all 86 participants, through actual savings compared to projected costs for diabetics not in the program.
• Average total healthcare costs for participants declined by almost $625, demonstrating the program's effectiveness in reducing costs.
• The program's unique elements include employer-sponsored co-pay reduction or waiver for diabetic drugs and supplies, patient commitment to education and face-to-face coaching, and pharmacist-led diabetes coaching.
• The TCYH program has expanded to over 200 participating patients and is open to covered employees, dependents, and retirees of employer members of the MBGH.
• The program's accomplishments have earned endorsements from the Illinois Academy of Family Physicians and the Institute of Medicine of Chicago.
• Starlin Haydon-Greatting, RPh, clinical project coordinator for the Illinois Pharmacists Association, highlighted the value of pharmacists as diabetes coaches in establishing relationships with program participants and serving as clinician, coach, and cheerleader.
• The TCYH program is part of the Diabetes Ten City Challenge, a national employer-based diabetes self-management program conducted by the American Pharmacists Association Foundation.

Statistics:

• 86 participants from four Chicago-area employers (City of Naperville, Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago, Hospira, and Pactiv Corporation).
• Average total healthcare cost reduction of $625 for participants.
• Participant return on investment (ROI) of $1,467 or $126,162 for all 86 participants.
• Program expansion to over 200 participating patients.
• $1.3 billion annual health care costs in the Chicago area attributed to diabetes and its complications.

Sources:

• Midwest Business Group on Health (MBGH)
• Illinois Pharmacists Association
• American Pharmacists Association Foundation (APhA)
• American Diabetes Association