Annual productivity savings to employers is estimated at $794 per employee with diabetes
SAN FRANCISCO – August 8, 2018 – A review of 13 scientific studies found that chronically ill employees who take their medications as prescribed have a significantly fewer sick day and short-term disability (STD) absences. The review was conducted by the Integrated Benefits Institute (IBI) a non-profit focused on workforce health and productivity.
“The study suggests substantial financial savings could be realized for employers by increasing rates of adherence among employees with certain chronic conditions—particularly when combined with findings from other research showing that medication adherence reduces hospitalizations, emergency department visits, and provider office visits,” said Brian Gifford, PhD, Director, Research and Analytics for IBI.
The most consistent findings indicated that employees who had antidiabetic medications such as insulin, sulfonylureas, meglitinides, and biguanides on hand at least 80% of the time experienced between 2.8 and 9.0 fewer STD days per year than employees with diabetes who possessed medication less often—an average of 3.7 days across four studies that examined this relationship. Assuming average compensation costs in the US, the annual productivity savings to employers is estimated at $794 per employee with diabetes taking medications as prescribed.
Other conditions for which medication adherence was found to improve STD outcomes were asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), hypertension, high cholesterol, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis. While the findings were less consistent, several analyses suggested that medication adherence also can improve sick day absences for employees with several conditions.
Combined with results published in January in the peer-reviewed journal Health Affairs, the review authors estimate that a 10 percent increase in medication adherence among 1,000 employees with diabetes could reduce lost productivity and health care utilization costs by about $370,000. This takes into account increases in prescription drug costs associated with improved medication adherence. By comparison, savings among 1,000 patients with high cholesterol and hypertension are estimated at about $340,000 and $410,000, respectively.
To help employers and other payers recognize the potential value of improved medication adherence, IBI is developing a free calculator tool for populations of employees with diabetes, high cholesterol, and hypertension. Tool users will be able define their own adherence targets and compensation levels to generate savings estimates for populations of patients with each chronic condition. Learn more at https://www.ibiweb.org/.
