On the impact of predictive analytics-driven disease management interventions. Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of a predictive algorithm-driven disease management (DM) outreach program compared with non-predictive algorithm-driven DM program participation on health care spending and utilization. STUDY DESIGN: We used propensity score matching forMedicare Advantage members with chronic heart failure (CHF) to evaluate the impact of predictive algorithm-driven DM outreach using claims data from 2013 to 2018 from a large commercial health insurer. METHODS: The insurer ran a predictive algorithm to identify members with CHF with a high likelihood of hospitalization (LOH), and a DM outreach was initiated to those identified as being at high risk of hospitalization (high-LOH intervention group). The intervention group was matched to members with similar concurrent medical risk profiles, based on the DxCG/Verisk score, who received the same DM outreach through the insurer's standard process (low-LOH intervention group). This approach allowed an evaluation of the predictive algorithm in targeting individuals suitable for DM outreach. RESULTS: Regression models showed that high-LOH intervention members had a lower probability of hospitalization (0.032; P=.075) and emergency department (ED) visit (0.039; P=.043) in the year after the outreach compared with low-LOH intervention members, leading to lower total outpatient spending ($1517; P<.001). Analyses for no-intervention members showed that predictive outreach members would have been expected to have higher inpatient and ED utilization and higher medical spending compared with the traditional care members. CONCLUSIONS: A prediction-driven DM outreach program among patients with CHF was effective in reducing medical spending in the year after the outreach compared with traditional DM outreach programs.

published proceedings

  • Am J Manag Care

author list (cited authors)

  • Ukert, B., David, G., & Smith-McLallen, A.

citation count

  • 1

complete list of authors

  • Ukert, Benjamin||David, Guy||Smith-McLallen, Aaron

publication date

  • January 2022