A health outcome assessment of the Cardio Metabolic Mission Health Program at Novartis.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of the Novartis Cardio Metabolic Program--an education, awareness, and health management initiative--on hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, and obesity within the Novartis employee population. METHODS: A prospective, 6-month pre-/post assessment to determine improvement in blood pressure (BP) control and risk factors after implementation of Novartis Cardio Metabolic. RESULTS: A total of 238 subjects with cardiovascular risk factors participated. In the hypertension cohort, overall BP control improved from 38% at baseline to 79% at follow-up (P < 0.0001). In the hyperlipidemia cohort, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol control improved significantly between baseline and study end (22% to 34%, P = 0.0004). In the diabetes mellitus cohort, the rate of glycosylated hemoglobin control increased from 83.7% to 86.2% (P = 0.69). There was a significant decrease in body mass index at follow-up (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Novartis Cardio Metabolic educational and health interventions helped to improve health awareness among Novartis employees.

A value-based insurance design program at a large company boosted medication adherence for employees with chronic illnesses.

This paper contributes to a small but growing body of evidence regarding the efficacy of value-based insurance design. In a retrospective, observational study of employees of a large global pharmaceutical firm, we evaluated how reduced patient cost sharing for prescription drugs for asthma, hypertension, and diabetes affected the use of these drugs and related medical services. We estimate that prescription medication use rose 5 percent per enrollee across the entire enrolled population. Increased use was most evident for patients taking cardiovascular medication. By the third year, adherence to cardiovascular medications was 9.4 percent higher, and patients realized cost savings over time. Overall, the program was mostly cost-neutral to the company, and there was no aggregate change in spending. However, we raise the prospect that this program may have saved the company money by reducing other medical costs.

The Novartis health index: a method for valuing the economic impact of risk reduction in a workforce.

OBJECTIVES: To develop a calculator that measures the potential cost impact of changes in health risks and presents results graphically. METHODS: Demographic and health risk data for Novartis employees were input into a calculator that estimated employer medical care, short-term disability, absenteeism, and presenteeism costs associated with risk prevalence, based on a previous cross-sectional analysis of the association between risks and costs. Estimated costs were presented as a relative score, the Novartis Health Index, which is a measure of the overall costs associated with the risk profile of a population of interest. RESULTS: The population of Novartis employees had an index score of 81.5 (out of 100), indicating a relatively healthy risk profile, and baseline annual costs of $9619 per employee. Risk reduction of 1% and 10% for tobacco, alcohol use, and emotional health risks had the potential to generate annual savings of $91,500 and $915,000, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The Novartis Health Index framework allows employers to track performance relative to health risk management using a single, accessible, user-friendly measure.

The relationship between modifiable health risk factors and medical expenditures, absenteeism, short-term disability, and presenteeism among employees at novartis.

OBJECTIVE: To quantify the impact of health risks on medical care and productivity costs in an employed population. METHODS: Health risk, medical care, and productivity data were obtained for 5875 Novartis employees in 2005-2006. Factor analysis was performed to identify relationships among health risks. Multiple regression analyses were applied to estimate relationships between combined risk factors and costs. RESULTS: We found a significant and consistent association among three factors (high biometric laboratory values, cigarette and alcohol use, and poor emotional health) and increased presenteeism for both men and women and increased absenteeism for women. Medical care expenditures were 13-22% higher for men and women at risk for the high biometric laboratory values and the emotional health factor. CONCLUSIONS: There is a potential for medical and productivity savings for employers able to reduce health risks among their workers.