Al Lewis, Executive Director of the DMPC, reports that two very large deals with employers are in the works. While he cannot identify the employers, he does speak to the magnitude of the initiatives. They are likely to combine their UM with multi-disease DM to create a true population management model. If they succeed, it spells the end of disability management and the beginning of a mega trend towards true managed health for self-administered employers. The Kaiser Family Foundation has released its 1999 Annual Employer Health Benefits Survey .
Accreditation plays a relatively minor role in plan selection.
While many employers will undertake watchful waiting, expect many to take the bull by the horns and sponsor DM services for their employees. Researchers examined 18 published and unpublished studies, including surveys, focus groups, case studies and statistical analyses. A press release summarizing the study and the full study are available. The report is the first of its kind to assess the degree to which proven behavior change strategies are integrated into medical care. The report is based on a 1999 survey of HMO medical directors, interviews with health care purchasers, and a review of the literature.