When it comes to overall value of care, multiple drivers influence results. Improving health, experience and affordability\u2014simultaneously\u2014is critical in creating value for patients, members and communities. With many options for improvement available but resources limited, which initiatives will make the biggest impact? Health economics research helps find those answers.<\/p>\n
We began developing health economic models in 1999. Using highly detailed analyses involving realistic individuals allows us to evaluate the impact of a proposed intervention or policy. Our work has grown to include a family of models known as HealthPartners Institute\u2019s ModelHealth microsimulation models.<\/a> They address conditions such as obesity, tobacco use, colorectal and cervical cancers, sexually transmitted diseases and heart disease. Our models are used in many ways to inform policy and medical decision-making.<\/p>\n Our health economics research program has been recognized for its:<\/p>\n Approximately 895,000 heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular disease events could be prevented over the next decade. How? By gradually reducing sodium levels in commercially processed, packaged and prepared foods in the United States. Researchers from the Institute and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention used a new\u00a0modeling study<\/a>\u00a0for these results. They also found that reducing sodium in our food system would significantly lower people\u2019s blood pressure and save $37 billion in related medical costs.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n A study conducted by the Institute and ClearWay Minnesota found that Minnesota’s tobacco-control programs have saved more than 4,000 lives and 43,000 hospitalizations for smoking-related diseases over the last 20 years. They also have saved $5 billion in health care costs and productivity losses. The study\u2019s microsimulation model used smoking prevalence rates to estimate the impact of tobacco control programs and quantify savings from smokers who quit or never started. The researchers used data from 1998 to 2017 to calculate their findings.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n We developed the Community Health Advisor<\/a> website with guidance from the National Commission on Prevention Priorities. It helps researchers and public policy makers identify which policies and programs may have the biggest effect on health and medical costs in a particular region. The site is for anyone working to improve community health who wants to understand what policies to advocate for and invest in based on the impact at a county, state or national level.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n This study sought to determine if shared decision-making is associated with better patient-reported functional outcomes. Researchers collected data before surgery from patients receiving either total hip or knee arthroplasty, and after 12 months post-operatively. Responses from more than 1,300 patients showed that increased shared decision-making pre-operatively was associated with higher joint function and patient ratings of their surgeons at 12 months after surgery. If patients felt more involved in the decision to have surgery, their outcomes were better.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Learn more about our Health Economics\u00a0investigators and their publications<\/a>\u00a0by visiting Knowledge Exchange.<\/p>\n Appendix: ModelHealth: CVD Technical Documentation (Annals of Family Medicine<\/em>)<\/a><\/p>\n Appendix: ModelHealth: Tobacco Documentation (Annals of Family Medicine<\/em>)<\/a><\/p>\n\n
Investigators<\/h2>\n
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Key projects<\/h2>\n\n
Reducing sodium levels in our food system could save lives<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Minnesota’s efforts to control tobacco saved lives<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Community Health Advisor<\/h3>\n
Do patients who feel involved have better outcomes?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Key publications<\/h3>\n
ModelHealth technical documentation<\/h3>\n