Interface EAP, a
nationwide provider of
Employee Assistance Programs, completes beta testing and offers an
innovative approach to control health care cost. Interface EAP has
developed a Pharmacy Intervention Protocol
(patent pending) to
identify individuals experiencing stress, anxiety, and/or depression, and
motivate them to seek effective treatment for addressing the cause(s) of
the problem(s) instead of just masking the symptoms through the
consumption of certain prescription drugs. As a result,
Total Life
Assistance
provides savings in four
areas:
1)
Reduce (or eliminate) what the
plan would pay (for targeted medications) on those who fail to respond
(reasons will vary). This savings is immediate.
2)
Through interactions with our
psych nurses, a percentage of participants currently using name-brand
medications will be motivated to switch to generic. Results from this
level of intervention should begin within a couple of months.
3)
By providing and coordinating
effective treatment for the cause of the symptoms, a percentage of
participants will improve (as measured by a standardized
anxiety/depression scale) whereby medications can be discontinued.
Results from this coordination should begin in approximately four to six
months.
4)
As the result of effective
treatment for stress and depression, there will be a decrease in medical
utilization and therefore, overall medical costs. This savings can be
analyzed at around eighteen months.
By implementing Interface's
Pharmacy Intervention Program
(patent pending)
employers can expect substantial savings by moving a percentage of
users to generic, eliminating plan co-pay for those who would not respond,
and eliminating the medication use in a substantial percentage.
Simultaneously, participants are being properly treated to optimally
reduce their stress and depression. The long-term impact will be reduced
medical utilization and costs for those participants who receive effective
treatment. And those receiving effective treatment not only include those
who eliminate their medication, but also those who have their condition
improved through appropriate medication compliance and/or counseling. An
analysis of the study compiled and published by the
Health Enhancement
Research Organization (HERO) provides an indication of the potential
cost-offset (increase) to medical claims from stress and depression.
In addition, other labor costs are
impacted in a positive fashion through identification of those individuals
experiencing stress and depression. Met Life recently reported that
depression is now its number two claim for disability. Add productivity
costs to the equation and the ROI to employers for addressing these issues
only increases. The first indicator (of the severity of the problem) for
an employer is an analysis of the prescriptions currently being
prescribed.
Total Life Assistance (TLA), provided by
Interface EAP, has been created to identify those participants
experiencing issues leading to stress, anxiety, and depression, and
motivate them to seek effective treatment early on. More than just an
Employee Assistance Program, TLA has several components for
the self-funded health plan. By integrating our EAP with our Mental
Health Care Management and Pharmacy Intervention Program
(patent pending), the ROI for TLA is maximized. To learn
more, Click
Here.
