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Volume 8
Epidemiology: Open Access
ISSN: 2161-1165
Epidemiology 2018
September 17-19, 2018
Page 38
conference
series
.com
September 17-19, 2018 | Rome, Italy
8
th
International Conference on
Epidemiology & Public Health
Ray M Merrill, Epidemiology (Sunnyvale) 2018, Volume 8
DOI: 10.4172/2161-1165-C1-019
Prescription claims according to wellness program participation for a large employer in the United
States
W
orksite wellness programs that include biometric screening and health risk appraisal can identify the need for lifestyle change
and prescription medication. Hence, there may be an initial increase cost in prescription medication, but the aim is to prevent
more costly health problems in the future, as well as lower absenteeism and presenteeism. The purpose of the current study was
to identify the number and total cost of prescription claims and copays for a large US employer according to wellness program
participation, age, and sex. A retrospective analysis was conducted of prescription medication use among 6810 workers during
2013-2016. Those completing the wellness program were more likely women (32.5% vs. 22.9%, p < 0.0001) and younger (M=45.5
vs. 48.5, p < 0.0001). Approximately 72.7% (74.4% women and 68.6% men, p < 0.0001) filed a pharmacy claim. In 2013, there
was no difference in number of claims filed or total cost between participants and nonparticipants. Mean number of prescriptions
changed over the study period, initially increasing but then decreasing for wellness participants. Overall the decrease was 34.7%
among wellness participants. The corresponding change for non-participants was an increase of 3.4%. Mean changes in total costs
showed similar patterns. In 2016, program participants filed nearly 3 fewer claims, with total cost about $329 less, on average.
Approximately 96.5% of employees filing a pharmacy claim made a copayment. Overall, copays consist of 6.4% of total insurance
and employee expenditure on pharmacy claims. In conclusion, the biometric screening and health risk appraisal components of the
wellness program resulted in an initial increase in number and total cost of pharmacy medication. However, over the four-year study
period, the number of claims and total cost of pharmacy medication significantly decreased.
Recent Publications
1.
MerrillRM,FrutosA.Reducedlungcancermortalitywithloweratmosphericpressure.DoseResponse.2018;16(2):1559325818769484.
2.
Merrill RM. Conditional relative survival among female breast cancer patients in the United States. Breast J. 2017; Epub ahead of
print.
Ray MMerrill
Brigham Young University, USA