New analysis from CIGNA finds combining medical andpharmacy benefits from the same company promotes healthier habits.Research shows individuals who have a health plan with integratedbenefits designed to work together are far more likely to obtainnecessary care, take their medication appropriately, and get necessary lab testsassociated with chronic conditions.

Individuals in health plans that combine medical and pharmacybenefits from the same company were 2.8 percent more likely toclose gaps in their health care than those in plans where thepharmacy benefit is not integrated with the medical benefit orwhere pharmacy claims data is imported from another pharmacybenefit management company.

By closing gaps in health care, individuals are more likely tobe able to prevent complications or the progression of theirconditions. The improvements in obtaining necessary care bycondition were:

• 14 percent higher for individuals with asthma
• 11.7 percent higher for individuals with chronic renal failure(CRF)
• 7.6 percent higher for individuals with hypertension (highblood pressure)
• 7.4 percent higher for individuals with coronary artery disease(CAD)
• 7.0 percent higher for individuals with hyperlipidemia (highcholesterol)
• 6.5 percent higher for individuals with diabetes

Total savings for plan sponsors (usually the employer) wasestimated to be $1.60 per employee per month.

"The data in this analysis supports the assertion that theconnection between pharmacy and medical benefits really does make adifference. By improving people's health and reducing costs, we are helping to improve the quality of theirlives," said Dr. Bunz Thomas J. Bunz, Pharm.D., clinical programmanager and co-author of the report "Pharmacy Benefit Integrationand Adherence to Evidence-Based Medicine in a Commercially-InsuredPopulation."

The analysis was also co-authored by Ha V. Nguyen, seniorinformatics specialist, CIGNA Pharmacy Management. The abstract forthis analysis was published in the May 2010 issue of Value inHealth.

Get more: How can organizations trimworkers' compensation costs while getting every bit of thatintangible peace of mind? One of the surest ways to control, and perhaps reduce, yourtotal workers' compensation cost is to make certain your insurancecarrier or TPA works with an effective, results-driven pharmacybenefit manager.