Study investigates pilot VBBD program to improve adherence to diabetes medications

A recent study led by MedImpact Healthcare Systems, Inc. investigated a pilot Value-Based Benefit Design (VBBD) program to improve adherence to diabetes medications. The study found that a VBBD program that reduced copayments for diabetes medications by 36 percent reduced the number of non-adherent patients by 30 percent. The findings are significant because one of the most pressing challenges payors face today is patient medication non-adherence and the management of chronic illnesses.

“By aligning with our clients to consult on benefit designs they are developing that promote adherence, we will continue to measure and establish evidence of outcomes that seek to increase medication adherence, improve care, and lower health care costs for everyone.”

"These results are significant in helping our clients deliver appropriate and cost-effective care to the individuals they serve," said Louis Brunetti, MD, JD, chief medical officer and senior vice president at MedImpact. "By aligning with our clients to consult on benefit designs they are developing that promote adherence, we will continue to measure and establish evidence of outcomes that seek to increase medication adherence, improve care, and lower health care costs for everyone."

The complete study, "The Impact of Value-Based Benefit Design on Adherence to Diabetes Medications: A Propensity Score Weighted Difference in Difference Evaluation," will be published in a future issue of Value in Health, the official journal of the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research. The study was co-authored by Feng Zeng and Bimal Patel of MedImpact; Jae Jin An and Michael Nichol of the University of Southern California; and Robert Scully and Christina Barrington of Health Alliance Medical Plans. Health Alliance is a provider-sponsored health insurer that administers health plans for more than 310,000 members in Illinois and Iowa.