New report shows better diabetes management saves money and improves patient outcomes

A recent IHS Markit report, “The Clinical and Economic Benefits of Better Treatment of Adult Medicaid Beneficiaries with Diabetes,” simulated savings in the Medicaid program as a result of better management of diabetes. The study found that controlling blood pressure, total cholesterol and HbA1C (a key blood sugar metric) significantly reduced the onset of several chronic conditions for patients with diabetes and could save more than $4 billion based on Medicaid health care spending in 2016.

Currently, only 8 million Americans with diabetes are successfully treated; the other 22 million Americans that have this disease live with uncontrolled diabetes. Research shows that better management of diabetes through improved medication adherence can lead to improved health outcomes and lowered costs for patients, and could save the health care system $8.3 billion each year.

According to the report, better management of diabetes in the Medicaid program could:

• Reduce the national average onset of hypertension, ischemic heart disease, heart attack and stroke by between 13 to 28 percent over the next 10 years for adult enrollees with diabetes
• Reduce the national average onset of these health issues by between 18 to 34 percent for adult enrollees with uncontrolled diabetes

Disease Onset Reduction Over the Next Ten Years

The study’s results highlight the substantial positive impact that improved medication adherence could have for the health care system and the more than 30 million Americans affected by diabetes. Learn more about the benefits of better diabetes’ treatment by reading IHS Markit’s study here.