Healthcare costs that cannot be measured cannot be reduced.
Data is the key to managing healthcare costs. Unfortunately, most of the reports employers get from carriers are missing a vital piece of data—the amount of money spent on digestive conditions.
Digestive Claims Miscategorized
Gut-related claims are generally rolled up within other major diagnostic categories or appear in that catch-all called “Other.” This misinformation leads to missed opportunities, opportunities to (1) help covered members feel better and be more productive at work and (2) help employers save money on healthcare spending.
Gut Health Matters
Why does (or should) gut health matter to employers? Check out these stats. (We’re going to throw a lot at you, but stick with us. This is enlightening stuff.)
- 21.7% of the US population has a diagnosed digestive disease—that’s TWICE the number of people with diabetes.
- Due to our diets and lifestyles, digestive disease numbers are not expected to go anywhere but up.
- 74% of American adults say they struggle with digestive symptoms. 74%!!! That’s 3/4 of us.
- More than half admit they haven’t consulted a doc for help yet.
- Employees with digestive disease miss an average 35 days of work per year (that’s per person, by the way). That’s 3 times more than other chronic conditions, including depression which is a well-known obstacle to productivity.
- Pharmacy costs are rising at 8.5%+ per year.
- Biologics (specialty medications) for digestive disease is currently the fastest growing pharmaceutical business segment in the US. (‘Cause big pharma knows where the money’s at.)
- Current cost for biologic drugs—like Humira®, Remicade® and Stelara®—can run up to $70,000 per year…for just one employee!
- 80% of folks who seek treatment for gut trouble receive less than ideal support because, unfortunately, the healthcare system is not set up to handle their ongoing treatment plans or “connect all the dots” to achieve personalized care.
- Face time with doctors is short.
- A paper handout with diet suggestions is insufficient. It’s confusing, non-compelling and probably tossed in the recycle bin within a week.
- Patients are left with more questions than answers most of the time. As inflammation intensifies and symptoms grow worse, it results in repeated ER visits, hospital admissions, and surgeries.
- An estimated 70% of people with inflammatory bowel disease will eventually undergo surgery.
This is a lot to mull over. Take a minute to re-read these stats if you can.
If you don’t have time, we’ll sum it up here: Digestive disease is becoming more and more prevalent. Due to inadequate care and high-priced drugs, cost of care for people with gut trouble is only going to tick upward. More and more employers are going to feel the results as productivity and attendance suffer and as healthcare spending skyrockets.
But there’s good news…
Vivante Health Free Claims Analysis
First, tools like the free cost calculator from Vivante can give employers a rough estimate of how digestive conditions will affect spending over the next two years. Just enter the number of employees to see results.
Next, a full complimentary claims analysis from Vivante can reveal to employers exactly what’s going on within a covered population. Vivante performs these specialized claims analyses at no cost. The results help employers understand the current financial implications of digestive trouble in their organizations, as well as the projected spending if nothing is done. Sound complicated? It is, but employers can leave all the back-end details to Vivante’s tech nerds. They make it simple and really easy to understand.
Conclusion
Data is the key. We’ll say it again: Healthcare costs that cannot be measured cannot be reduced. For employers, the first step in reining in healthcare spending is to really understand the problem through clear, accurate data.
Contact Vivante Health to set up a complimentary full claims analysis for your organization.
About Vivante Health
Vivante Health is an innovative digital healthcare company reinventing the way chronic conditions are managed. Our mission is to fill the unmet needs of people living with chronic conditions that are invisible, neglected or stigmatized, starting with digestive disease. Our health management ecosystem, GIThrive™, empowers people—through brilliant technology and advanced science—to spend less time worrying about their digestive condition and more time living life.
Sources:
https://www.foxnews.com/health/survey-shows-74-percent-of-americans-living-with-gi-discomfort
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2976865/
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-mark-hyman/is-your-digestive-system_b_313247.html
