Pennsylvania has seen a moderate rise in diabetes-related hospitalizations—less than 1 percent over the past two years—yet diabetes remains a serious public health issue in the state. Approximately 8 percent of Pennsylvania adults are living with diabetes, which is 1 percent higher than the national average of 7 percent. Additionally, several counties in Western Pennsylvania report high rates of end-stage kidney disease, a severe complication of diabetes.
In light of this concerning situation—along with a continued increase in diabetes hospitalizations, which rose by 9 percent over the past five years, reaching 23,725 cases in 2004—a new health initiative is being launched to help reduce overall healthcare costs.
A study by the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council found that diabetes-related hospitalizations resulted in more than $673 million in hospital charges last year alone. While health plans covered about 40 percent of these expenses, the financial burden remains significant.
To address this issue, a new program aims to reduce healthcare costs associated with diabetic employees by keeping them healthier and out of the hospital—while keeping them productive and on the job.
Set to launch in January, the initiative will provide health coaches to 4,200 diabetic employees across 10 companies in the region. The program is spearheaded by the Pittsburgh Business Group on Health, a coalition made up of human resources and benefits executives from 62 companies in the area.
Participating employees will meet with pharmacists for counseling on the proper use of diabetes medications. Health coaches will ensure that participants are receiving appropriate medical tests, adhering to dietary and exercise recommendations, and effectively managing their condition overall.
