Reimbursement Effects on Enrollment in Obesity Treatment

NCT ID: NCT00250510

Last Updated: 2010-03-18

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 401 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2004-06-30
• Study Completion Date: 2006-12-31

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to simulate what would occur if insurance reimbursement became available for obesity treatment but required that the individual meet defined performance milestones.

Detailed Description

This is a prospective study to determine whether a reimbursement incentive (the prospect of reimbursement of half of the out-of-pocket fee for participation in the UAB EatRight Weight Management Program, when it is contingent upon consistent Program participation and loss of 6% of initial body weight) is associated with (1) a higher rate of Program enrollment and (2) greater percent weight loss, greater reductions in medication dosages and costs, and fewer visits to health care providers after 12 weeks and 9 months.

Conditions

Obesity

Study Design

• Allocation Method: NON_RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

1

Group Type: NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

2

EatRight Program inquirers with BMI's of 30 kg/m2 or greater were told that they would have the possibility of being reimbursed 50% ($150) of their initial fee ($300) if certain conditions were met.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Simulated insurance reimbursement

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Participants were told they would have the possibility of being reimbursed 50% ($150) of their initial fee ($300) if they: 1) paid the fee in advance or committed 3 monthly payments in advance, 2) attended 10 of 12 class sessions, and 3) lost at least 6% of their current body weight during the program.

Interventions

Simulated insurance reimbursement

Participants were told they would have the possibility of being reimbursed 50% ($150) of their initial fee ($300) if they: 1) paid the fee in advance or committed 3 monthly payments in advance, 2) attended 10 of 12 class sessions, and 3) lost at least 6% of their current body weight during the program.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Adults with obesity (BMI at least 30 kg/m2)
• Commitment of the full EatRight Weight Management Program fee

Exclusion Criteria

• None

• Minimum Eligible Age: 19 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

NIH

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Principal Investigators

Douglas C Heimburger, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Locations

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Birmingham, Alabama, United States

Countries

United States

References

Hubbert KA, Bussey BF, Allison DB, Beasley TM, Henson CS, Heimburger DC. Effects of outcome-driven insurance reimbursement on short-term weight control. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2003 Nov;27(11):1423-9. doi: 10.1038/sj.ijo.0802403.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 14574356 (View on PubMed)

Related Links

http://www.uab.edu/eatright

UAB EatRight Weight Management Program

Other Identifiers

R03DK067357

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: secondary_id

View Link

R03 DK67357 (completed)

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id