Enrollment in a diabetes prevention program was associated with lower health care costs amongst participants with prediabetes.

Background

Almost 15% of the U.S. population has diabetes, resulting in health care costs that exceed $300 billion annually. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) launched the National Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP) in 2010 to create a national lifestyle change program to reduce the risk of diabetes amongst individuals with prediabetes and other risk factors. This study measured differences in direct medical costs in commercially insured individuals with prediabetes who enrolled in National DPP and those who did not.

Findings

Claims data was provided by the health plan to measure inpatient, outpatient, prescription, and other costs incurred for 575 individuals before and two years following enrollment in the National DPP through the health plan then compared with costs for 5,373 individuals who were not enrolled. The average reduction in total direct medical costs was approximately $4,600 over 2 years for each enrollee versus each non-enrollee, where cost savings were most realized in reductions in hospitalizations, outpatient, and emergency department visits. Individuals in the National DPP group also had a lower incidence of diabetes.

Program/Policy Takeaways

Participation in a health insurance plan’s National DPP benefit was associated with lower health care costs over two years and diabetes incidence amongst adults with prediabetes. This study is consistent with other evaluations of National DPP implementation, including Medicare populations, and may inform state Medicaid agencies and managed care plans as they assess the potential impact and value of similar programs.