Maxicare's Diabetes Health Management Program Results in Significant Increase of Diabetics Actively Monitoring Blood Glucose.Business Editors/Health-Care Writers LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 20, 1999 Maxicare Health Plans Inc. (Nasdaq/NMS: MAXI) today announced that in a post-intervention study of approximately 4,700 Maxicare health plan members with diabetes, the Company's program of providing, free of charge, glucose meters to enable diabetics to monitor their blood glucose blood glucose Diabetology The principal sugar produced by the body from food–especially carbohydrates, but also from proteins and fats; glucose is the body's major source of energy, is transported to cells via the circulation and used by cells in the presence and a diabetes health management program resulted in a statistically significant increase in the number of diabetics who monitor their blood glucose. This data suggests that implementation of a managed care health management program for people with diabetes can lead to substantial improvements in diabetes self management behaviors. The results are from the quarterly period June 1, 1999 through Aug. 31, 1999 and follow encouraging health management program results previously announced by the Company in August 1999. In the Company's first announcement regarding patients' blood glucose monitoring blood glucose monitoring Sugar monitoring Lab medicine The periodic testing of serum glucose in Pts known to have DM. See Bedside glucose monitoring, Beta cell implants, Diabetes, Glucometer, Glycosylated hemoglobin, Non-Invasive glucose monitoring. behavior, for the three month period March 1, 1999 to May 31, 1999, the data showed more than a five percent (5%) increase in pharmacy claims for test strips used to monitor blood glucose levels. Of the over 4,700 diabetics identified during the first intervention period, significantly more diabetics, 27.4%, monitored their glucose compared with the pre-intervention measurement of 22.4%. Additionally, during the second intervention period, further improvement was demonstrated in that of the 4,977 diabetics identified, 29.5% now monitor their blood glucose. The improvement not only indicates an improvement over the first intervention period, but more importantly demonstrates a sustained improvement in positive behavior change across this population. Alex Bokor, M.D., chief medical officer of Maxicare, said, "The data suggest that implementing key components of a managed care health management program for people with diabetes can lead to substantial improvements in diabetes self management health behaviors." Julie Schueller, M.P.H., Maxicare Health Plans, commented further on the results, "The Maxicare Diabetes Health Management (MDHM) Program's free glucose meter intervention results illustrate the ability of a managed care health plan to increase access to blood glucose monitors, encourage regular monitoring, and reduce health costs for members. "The promotion and implementation of the MDHM program achieved a major program objective, increasing the number of diabetics who monitor their blood glucose which ultimately improves care for our members." The Maxicare Diabetes Health Management Program, in partnership with Roche Diagnostics, makers of the Accu-Chek(TM) family of products, was developed to provide more than 4,500 commercial and Medicare + Choice (Max 65plus(R)) members with the tools they needed to effectively manage their diabetes. According to the American Diabetes Association The American Diabetes Association, or the ADA, is an American health organization providing diabetes research, information and advocacy. Founded in 1940, the American Diabetes Association conducts programs in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, reaching hundreds of , more than 16 million Americans have diabetes. Previous studies, including the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial The Diabetes Control and Complications Trial, or DCCT, was the largest, most comprehensive diabetes study ever conducted at the time. The U.S. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) conducted this clinical study of 1,441 volunteers (DCCT DCCT Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (NIDDK) DCCT Distributed Computing and Communications Technology ), have suggested that by maintaining consistent and safe blood glucose values, people with diabetes may delay and even prevent the disease's complications, which can include blindness, nerve disease and kidney failure kidney failure or renal failure Partial or complete loss of kidney function. Acute failure causes reduced urine output and blood chemical imbalance, including uremia. Most patients recover within six weeks. . Appropriate diabetes management includes diet, exercise, medication, and blood glucose monitoring. Maxicare Health Plans was founded in 1973 and today has health plans in California, Louisiana and Indiana, each offering health maintenance organization (HMO HMO health maintenance organization. HMO n. A corporation that is financed by insurance premiums and has member physicians and professional staff who provide curative and preventive medicine within certain financial, ), preferred provider organization pre·ferred provider organization n. Abbr. PPO A medical insurance plan in which members receive more coverage if they choose health care providers approved by or affiliated with the plan. (PPO PPO abbr. preferred provider organization PPO Managed care Preferred provider organization, see there Infectious disease Pleuropneumonia-like organism, see there ), point of service (POS (1) See point of sale and packet over SONET. (2) "Parent over shoulder." See digispeak. POS - point of sale ), and related products. |
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