Program will be implemented in 14 plans INDIANAPOLIS, June 18
INDIANAPOLIS, June 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- WellPoint NextRx, the
nation's largest health plan-owned pharmacy benefit management (PBM)
subsidiary, announced today the results of a program to treat insomnia that
was piloted in five states. The pilot program was designed to encourage a
dialogue between members and their physicians about best approaches to treat
insomnia before seeking the aid of sleep medications. As a result of the
positive outcomes of the pilot program WellPoint's affiliated health plans
will make this program available through its pharmacy benefits manager (PBM),
NextRx to members in 14 plans across the country.
According to the National Institutes of Health, each year an estimated 70
million adult Americans suffer from some form of sleep problem. "In the last
year, we've seen a continued growth in the use of sleep aids and over time
that use can prove very costly for our members. There are many
nonpharmacological treatments that physicians and members may want to
consider," said Colleen Haines, staff vice president clinical pharmacy
services. "We know there are many health factors that could contribute to an
individual suffering from insomnia. Our goal is to encourage physicians and
health plan members to discuss those health factors together and explore all
therapy options available as well as ensure appropriate use of drug therapy
for the treatment of insomnia," added Haines.
The pilot program identified a targeted group of health plan members in
Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Missouri and Wisconsin who had been using sleep aids
for more than 100 days within a six-month period and provided them with a
sleep diary and insomnia educational brochures. In addition, the members'
physicians also received updated treatment guidelines for insomnia along with
information about the program to help them begin an active dialogue with the
member. Both members and physicians were encouraged to discuss sleep patterns
and concerns to help identify what other factors may be contributing to their
insomnia and look to other therapies such as daily behavioral changes that
could help induce healthier sleep habits. Those changes could include a
bedtime routine, improving exercise and eating patterns or avoidance of
alcohol and caffeine before bedtime, in an effort to help induce healthier
sleep habits.
The feedback about the pilot program from health plan members was positive
with many reporting that it helped to change their sleep habits and that they
would be more inclined to discuss sleep concerns with their physicians. Over
the course of the study, the analysis showed a 3.5 percent higher rate of
reducing the quantity of sleep aid they were using, resulting in an average
cost saving of $14 per member.
WellPoint NextRx is a service mark of WellPoint, Inc. Services are
provided by a WellPoint PBM (either NextRx Services, Inc. or NextRx, LLC, as
applicable). WellPoint NextRx is a division of WellPoint, Inc.
About WellPoint, Inc.
WellPoint, Inc. is the largest health benefits company in terms of medical
membership in the United States. WellPoint is an independent licensee of the
Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association and serves its members as the Blue
Cross licensee for California; the Blue Cross and Blue Shield licensee for
Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri (excluding
30 counties in the Kansas City area), Nevada, New Hampshire, New York (as
Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield in 10 New York City metropolitan and surrounding
counties and as Empire Blue Cross or Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield in selected
upstate counties only), Ohio, Virginia (excluding the city of Fairfax, the
town of Vienna and the area east of State Route 123.), Wisconsin; and through
UniCare. Additional information about WellPoint is available at
www.wellpoint.com.
SOURCE WellPoint, Inc.
