Health Promotion Programs Hold Promise of Saving Medicare Money - Particularly When They Change Behavior, Thomson Healthcare Study Finds
Posted on: Monday, 16 April 2007, 12:00 CDT
ANN ARBOR, Mich., April 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Health promotion programs for older people can improve health, prevent disability, delay mortality, improve the quality of life - and save Medicare money by reducing the need for medical services, according to a new study. The study, sponsored by the Centers for Medicare and Medicare Services (CMS), is published today in the journal Clinical Interventions in Aging (Dove Medical Press).
Researchers from Thomson Healthcare and Cornell University led the research project, which examined the relevant scientific literature and concluded that well-designed health promotion initiatives can deliver a positive return-on-investment to the Medicare program.
"Medicare is confronting rising healthcare costs, an aging population, and the high prevalence of chronic disease among the elderly. It needs innovative approaches to manage an urgent situation," said lead author Ron Z. Goetzel, Ph.D., a vice president at Thomson Healthcare and director of the Institute for Health Productivity Studies at Cornell University. "This study suggests that well-designed health promotion programs can improve seniors' quality of life and save money."
According to the new research, health promotion and disease prevention programs are most likely to be successful if they can achieve lasting changes in health-related behaviors. Effective programs also are tailored to individual needs, sufficiently intensive, and complemented by social supports.
CMS sponsored this study as it prepares to launch a three-and-a-half year research project, called Senior Risk Reduction Demonstration (SRRD), that will evaluate the health and economic impact of providing health promotion services to Medicare beneficiaries. "This project is an important step in changing the Medicare program's focus from disease treatment to disease prevention," Goetzel said.
The SRRD will make health promotion services available to non- institutionalized Medicare beneficiaries through private sector vendors. Enrollment in the program will be voluntary. The demonstration will emphasize self-care - reducing risk behaviors such as smoking, inactivity, and poor eating habits, and promoting healthy behaviors such as exercise and a balanced diet.
"Research has found that 5 percent of Medicare beneficiaries - presumably many with chronic diseases - account for nearly half of Medicare spending," Goetzel said. "And 40 percent of beneficiaries account for only 1 percent total spending. Clearly, preventing or postponing the onset of chronic disease can save money while improving lives."
About Thomson Healthcare
Thomson Healthcare is the leading provider of decision support solutions that help organizations across the healthcare industry improve clinical and business performance. Thomson Healthcare products and services help clinicians, hospitals, employers, health plans, government agencies, and pharmaceutical companies manage the cost and improve the quality of healthcare.
Thomson Healthcare is a part of The Thomson Corporation, a provider of value-added information, software tools and applications to professionals in the fields of healthcare, law, tax, accounting, scientific research, and financial services. The Corporation's common shares are listed on the New York and Toronto stock exchanges (NYSE: TOC; TSX: TOC). For more information, visit (http://www.thomsonhealthcare.com/).
Thomson Healthcare
CONTACT: John Roderick, +1-631-689-3038, john@jroderick.com, for ThomsonHealthcare; or David Wilkins of Thomson Healthcare, +1-734-913-3397,david.wilkins@thomson.com
Web site: http://www.medstat.com/http://www.thomsonhealthcare.com/
Source: PRNewswire
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