Reimbursement Effects on Enrollment in Obesity Treatment

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Obesity

Treatments: Behavioral: Simulated insurance reimbursement

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: NIH

Identifiers

NCT00250510

R03 DK67357 (completed)

Details and patient eligibility

About

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.

Full 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.

Enrollment: 401 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 19+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

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

Exclusion criteria

• None

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Non-Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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401 participants in 2 patient groups

1

No Intervention group

2

Experimental group

Description:

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.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Simulated insurance reimbursement