The savings gained from participation in health promotion programs for Medicare beneficiaries.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to estimate savings to Medicare associated with participation in one or more health promotion programs offered to 59,324 retirees from a large employer and their aged dependents.


METHODS
Propensity score and multiple regression techniques were used to estimate savings adjusted for demographic and health status differences between elderly retirees and dependents who used one or more health promotion services and nonparticipants.


RESULTS
Participants who completed a health risk assessment saved from $101 to $648 per person per year. Savings were generally higher as more programs were used, but differences were not always statistically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Using the health risk assessment as a guide for health promotion programs can yield substantial savings for the elderly and the Medicare program. The federal government should test health promotion programs in randomized trials and pay for such programs if the results suggest cost savings and better health for Medicare beneficiaries.
Ozminkowski
Ronald J
RJ
Health and Productivity Research, Thomson Medstat and the Institute for Health and Productivity Studies, Cornell University, 777 East Eisenhower Parkway 903R, Ann Arbor, MI 48108, USA. ron.ozminkowski@thomson.com
Goetzel
Ron Z
RZ
Wang
Feifei
F
Gibson
Teresa B
TB
Shechter
David
D
Musich
Shirley
S
Bender
Joel
J
Edington
Dee W
DW
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017046:Cost Savings; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000191:economics*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D006278:Medicare / Q000191:economics*; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods; D012179:Retirement; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment