Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Diabetes Disease Management: Health Plans to Share Strategies for Sweetening Outcomes

Manasquan, N.J., USA, June 8, 2006 – An estimated 17 million high-cost patients easily identified by their drug use patterns. Consistent clinical practice guidelines applicable to children and adults. Validated outcome measures to determine intervention efficacy. Plentiful patient communications. These conditions make diabetes an optimal target for disease management interventions and cost control measures, yet the disease still affects one in 20 Americans, is the sixth leading cause of death and consumes one in every 10 healthcare dollars spent in the country.

More frighteningly, one in three diabetics in America doesn’t even know he or she has the disease.

Recognizing that intensified disease management efforts in this area can positively impact patient identification, health outcomes and treatment costs, the Healthcare Intelligence Network (HIN) is sponsoring Diabetes Disease Management: Practical Strategies for Identifying At-Risk Populations and Avoiding Complications, a June 28, 2006 live audio conference. Presenting diabetes disease management strategies from two health plans, the 90-minute interactive audio conference is aimed at healthcare organizations wishing to implement or enhance a program that takes aim at diabetes’ direct and indirect costs. According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), the total cost of the disease in 2002 was approximately $132 billion, of which $92 billion was for direct medical costs and $40 billion was for indirect costs associated with lost productivity due to disability and death. For conference details and registration information, please visit the HIN bookstore.

“A disease management focus on diabetes can not only help curb healthcare costs related to diabetes, but can also impact the costs of the many chronic conditions that are exacerbated by diabetes,” stated Melanie Matthews, HIN executive vice president and chief operating officer. Referring to ADA statistics from 2002, Matthews noted that the total per capita healthcare expenditure for diabetics amounted to more than $13,000 that year, more than five times the cost for people without diabetes. The disease is a leading contributor to end-stage renal disease, blindness, heart disease and stroke and puts patients at increased risk for lower-limb amputation, she said.

During Diabetes Disease Management: Practical Strategies for Identifying At-Risk Populations and Avoiding Complications, industry experts David Larsen, director of quality improvement at SelectHealth, and Jaan Sidorov, medical director with Geisinger Health Plan, will detail how their programs identify potential members for diabetes disease management programs, the interventions given and the impact these programs are having on patient outcomes and the bottom line. For more information, please visit the HIN bookstore.

Aimed at healthcare professionals administering, contemplating or planning a diabetes disease management effort, the audio conference will cover the essential components of program design:

• Identifying patients that would benefit from diabetes disease management programs or those at-risk for diabetes;
• Stratifying diabetes patients for appropriate interventions;
• Structuring and designing program elements for maximum benefit;
• Working with primary care physicians to increase program effectiveness;
• Motivating participants to make the behavior changes that can impact diabetes; and
• Managing the comorbidities associated with diabetes.

About the Healthcare Intelligence Network – HIN is the premier advisory service for executives seeking high-quality strategic information on the business of healthcare. For more information, contact the Healthcare Intelligence Network, PO Box 1442, Wall Township, NJ 07719-1442, (888) 446-3530, fax (732) 292-3073, e-mail info@hin.com, or visit http://www.hin.com.

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Contact: Patricia Donovan