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Interventions > Patient Care Management and Rewards Program

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Patient Care Management and Rewards Program

Who is the intervention targeting?

African American patients with diabetes or cardiovascular disease

What intervention is being evaluated?

Within the context of an existing nurse-led care management program, patients will receive financial incentives (up to $408) to promote weight management, aerobic activity, and medication compliance.  Financial rewards will be distributed on a quarterly basis for one year. To promote the maintenance of healthy behaviors, 40% of the total reward earned will withheld from the patient until the program is completed.

Where is this intervention taking place?

Non-profit primary health organization in the rural Mississippi Delta where 91% of the patients are African-American and 86% of the patients are below 200% of the poverty level.

Partnering Organizations
Aaron E. Henry Community Health Services Center, Inc. (Lead Organization)
Altruista Health
University of Mississippi
Heinz Family Philanthropies
Delta State University

Why might this approach work?

Cash incentives have been found to promote wellness behaviors and, due to economic challenges, the uninsured may be particularly responsive to this type of reward system.

How will this intervention be evaluated?

Six-hundred patients will be randomized into either the control group or 1 of 7 intervention groups (representing all combinations of incentives for weight loss, exercise and/or medication compliance).  The goal and incentive program will run for one year. Health behavior outcomes include:

  • Amount of weight lost
  • Level of exercise/aerobic activity (measured by a pedometer)
  • Medication compliance rates (self-reported)

Clinical outcomes that will be measured include:

  • Blood glucose levels
  • Blood pressure
  • HbA1c
  • Cholesterol

Expected program outcomes include:

  • Improved health indicator scores
  • Reduction in overall health costs (measured by lower hospital stays and ER visits).

The study will also identify health indicators more likely to be positively impacted through incentives and will evaluate optimal monetary levels needed to incentivize healthy behaviors in the uninsured.

Principal Investigators:

William L. Booker, M.D.
Medical Director, Aaron E. Henry Community Health Centers

Ashish J. Abraham, MD, MBA, MHSA
Chief Executive Officer, Altruista Health

 

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