University of Pennsylvania LDI CHI | Center for Health Incentives at the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics | Home of the UPHS Innovation in Healthcare Financing Center & Penn CMU Roybal P30 Center on Behavioral Economics and Health

Principal Investigator: Volpp

Co-investigators:  Asch, Duggan, Kolstad, Pauly, Werner

Due to concerns about increasing health care costs, health insurers are looking to the field of behavioral economics to offer solutions to some of the most serious problems facing health care; obesity, medication non-adherence, and ineffective provider payment models. To this end, Horizon Healthcare Innovations established an Academic Research Consortium to address these issues. The goals of the academic research consortium is to independently study new health care and consumer engagement pilot programs. The Consortium members will advise Horizon Healthcare Innovations on pilot designs and adjustments to produce improved results in health quality, cost and patient engagement. The Consortium will test new ways of trying to improve health and address the nation's problems of high rates of growth in health care costs.

Funder: Horizon Healthcare Innovations (a Horizon BCBS subsidary)

Principal Investigator:  Volpp

Co-investigators:  Chernew, Loewenstein, Saulsgiver, Troxel

CHIBE is collaborating with the New York State Health Department to design, implement and evaluate multiple financial incentive interventions to reduce smoking, improve diabetes management and blood pressure control in the state's Medicaid population.  This is one of 10 demonstration projects in states across the U.S. being funded under a mandate in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Funder:  Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

Principal Investigator:  Long

Co-investigators:  Ferguson, Glick, Loewenstein, Small, Volpp, Weiner

One-on-one peer mentoring and financial incentives are being compared as interventions which might address some of the barriers to effective disease management common among patients with diabetes.  If effective, these interventions could provide important models for improving glucose control in general and, in particular, for addressing racial disparities in diabetes outcomes.

Funder:  National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases