Among the other findings of the survey:

Indirect costs: Employers feel that disease-related disability because of diabetes-related complications is the most important indirect cost associated with diabetes (89 percent), followed by loss of productivity (39 percent) and absenteeism (34 percent).
Identifying diabetes risk: Screening of employees through examination of medical claims was used by most employers for identifying diabetic employees or those at risk (79 percent), with many also using biometric screening (56 percent) and Health Risk Assessment (45 percent). Employees who are identified are most often encouraged to participate in programs, with a few employers offering economic incentives for doing so.
Measuring success: Respondents were asked how they measure their program's success, and by far, the most common measure was participation rates (79 percent), followed by overall total claims costs for those with diabetes (50 percent). Achievement of clinical measures was cited by 36 percent of respondents.
Emotional barriers: By far, employers pointed to employee reluctance to engage in lifestyle modification and other self-care programs because of stigma, embarrassment and lack of motivation. These emotional barriers contribute to low participation in diabetes programs; low awareness of the importance of diabetes that keeps employees from actively seeking out available programs was cited as another major obstacle.

"Employers are aware of the toll diabetes takes on their employees, as well as the impact to their organizations in terms of direct health-care costs and indirect costs associated with diabetes-related absenteeism, presenteeism, disability and early retirement," said Laurel Pickering, MPH, President and CEO of NEBGH. "But we need to look beyond what is currently in place in most organizations and actively pursue innovative new models of care delivery, new ways of engaging employees and new business models that reward high value care, if we are serious about making a dent in this American epidemic."

Instant Insights /

Business group takes action on diabetes costs

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