OCI Co-Authors Healthcare Analytic Study
06/12/2006
06/12/2006
OCI CO-AUTHORS RESEARCH ANALYSIS PUBLISHED IN DISEASE
MANAGEMENT & HEALTH OUTCOMES
OCI Analytic team examines Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus treatment patterns and healthcare costs in
the elderly population
CHEYENNE, WY. – Type 2 diabetes in the elderly creates significant healthcare expenditure
for employers, their beneficiaries, and third-party employers, according to a study co-authored
by OCI and published in Disease Management & Health Outcomes.
The study evaluates treatment patterns and assesses the relationship between diabetes mellitus-
related vascular complications and total medical costs in the elderly population, using a large,
national, self-insured employer database.
The Fortune 50 telecommunications employer data used in the study is housed by OCI in its
research and reference database, which contains more than 169 million employee, disability,
medical, pharmacy, absence, and productivity records.
OCI played an integral role in the study, providing not only the data from its research and
reference database, but expertise in analytic design and execution. With more than 22 years of
analytic experience, OCI has developed unmatched expertise in the understanding and use of
benefits data to help managers make better decisions.
“This research provides HR and plan managers with new information on the true impact of type
2 diabetes and its complications to their workforce,” said Justin Schaneman, Director of Analytic
Services at OCI.
“The impact of diabetes extends beyond the direct medical cost of treating the condition and can
result in considerable co-morbid costs, absence, and ultimately lower productivity. The results
of this study indicate that better management of the disease initially, could potentially offset
significant costs downstream, resulting in better outcomes for the patient and the employer,” said
Schaneman.
The analysis found a substantial and statistically significant link between vascular complications
and costs associated with type 2 diabetes for a self-insured employer, its members, and
Medicare. Unlike previous studies, this analysis included measures of all medical and
prescription drug costs, not just those related to type 2 diabetes. In assessing these measures, it
was found that the presence of one diabetic complication in an elderly individual increased the
total annual healthcare costs by about 50 percent, and multiple complications can increase costs
by 200 percent to 300 percent.
The study concludes that preventive strategies and better management of type 2 diabetes in
elderly patients could reduce the occurrence of complications and have remarkable cost-saving
implications.
About Disease Management & Health Outcomes
Disease Management & Health Outcomes provides timely peer reviewed information on all
aspects of disease management. The journal covers practical disease management focusing on
disease management tools, implementation of disease management programs and outcomes
assessment. For more information, visit http://pt.wkhealth.com/pt/re/dmo/home.htm.
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About OCI
OCI is an information management solutions provider that helps companies make better-informed decisions about their risk management and employee benefit programs.
OCI has designed and delivered integrated health and productivity solutions to Fortune 1000 companies since 1984. Using secure web-based applications, a flexible, client-centric approach and deep industry experience, our solutions transform data into information and knowledge, giving our customers the power to increase administrative efficiency, reduce expenditures and improve productivity.