Asheville Project Videos

View a video to learn more about how the City of Asheville decreased healthcare costs associated with diabetes through value-based health management.

The Healthcare Problem

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A Healthier Solution

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Creating the Health Coach

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Secret to Success

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Results

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Beyond Asheville

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The Patient Experience

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Diabetes and the Asheville Project
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Case Study: Diabetes and The Asheville Project

Diabetes Management

Two employers, the City of Asheville and Mission-St. Joseph's Health System, participated in 2 initiatives targeting asthma and diabetes. A total of 194 employees met the criteria for participation in the diabetes program. The study assessed both clinical and economic outcomes for up to 5 years.1

Program Components:

  • Pharmacy care services by trained community pharmacists.
  • Diabetes education center, staffed by certified diabetes educators.
  • Patient participation incentives.
  • Free home blood glucose monitor.
  • Waiver of copayment for all diabetes drugs and related supplies, such as lancets
    and test strips.

The City of Asheville incorporated a value-based health management program for diabetes. It resulted in improved employee health management and decreased healthcare costs. enlarge chart
Asheville Project (2001); Mean Cost Per Patient Per Year (USD)

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Program Outcomes:

  • The mean insurance cost per-patient-per-year (PPPY) decreased by $2,704; $3,609; $3,908; $5,480; and $6,502 in the first through fifth follow-up years, respectively.
  • Prescription costs increased. But total mean direct medical costs PPPY decreased every year compared with the baseline.
  • For one employer group, sick days were reduced for 5 consecutive years. Increased productivity value was estimated at $18,000.
  • Prescription costs increased every year compared with the baseline. For the first through fifth years, increases of $656; $1,487; $1,932; $1,942; and $2,188 PPPY, respectively, were observed.
  • Mean hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels decreased (improved) at every follow-up.
  • HbA1c levels compared with baseline for enrolled patients improved at each follow-up visit in 57.7% to 81.8% of patients.
  • Mean HDL-C levels increased (improved) at every follow-up in 53.3% to 75% of patients.

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Reference:

  1. Cranor CW, Bunting BA, Christensen DB. The Asheville project: long-term clinical and economic outcomes of a community pharmacy diabetes care program. J Am Pharm Assoc. 2003;43(2):173-184.