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HealthPartners reports most cost effective programs in 2006
Generic drugs, disease management reduce expenses nearly $70 million
December 28, 2006
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. - HealthPartners reports that disease management and case management programs and generic drug use reduced medical expenses by $69 million in 2006. The programs include services that reduced medical complications for members with chronic illness and serious behavioral health conditions. "We know that providing care that prevents medical complications significantly improves health and quality of life and now we have data to show that it also reduces the medical costs and helps us make care more affordable," said George Isham, M.D. HealthPartners chief health officer.
Generic drugs biggest cost savings
HealthPartners program to encourage generic drug use was the most cost effective initiative in 2006. Nearly two out of three prescriptions (64 percent) for HealthPartners members were for generic drugs, a significant increase from 50 percent in 2004. The average cost of a generic prescription is $23 compared to $130 for the average cost of a brand name drug.
Behavioral health
Another program that is among the most cost effective is an initiative to prevent behavioral health crises that lead to emergency hospitalization. HealthPartners Behavioral Health Case Management program reduced medical expenses by $3.6 million. The program identifies and offers services to members who are at risk for developing a behavioral health crisis within 12 months. The program increased outpatient visits by 26 percent and increased adherence to medication by 10 to 67 percent. Providing early intervention decreased emergency room visits for depression by nearly 10 percent.
Disease management
More than 100,000 HealthPartners members participate in disease management programs that prevent medical complications and reduced medical costs in 2006. The programs that were the most cost effective include:
Disease Management
Rare and chronic diseases
Congestive Heart Failure
Coronary Artery Disease
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Behavioral Health |
Reduced Expenses
$6.6 million
$2.1 million
$2.1 million
$2.7 million
$3.6 million |
Case Management
Inpatient Case Management
Complex Case Management |
$7.7 million
$9.8 million |
| Generic Drugs |
$34.5 million |
About HealthPartners
Founded in 1957, the HealthPartners (www.healthpartners.com) family of healthcare companies serve more than one million medical and dental health plan members nationwide. It is the largest consumer-governed, nonprofit health care organization in the nation, providing care, coverage, research and education to improve the health of members, patients and the community. For the third year in a row, HealthPartners is rated one of the best commercial health plans in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, NCQA's "America's Best Health Plans 2007" and is ranked "Highest in Member Satisfaction among Commercial Health Plans in the Minnesota-Wisconsin Region" by J.D. Power and Associates.
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