January 2010

A subanalysis of a successful algorithm-driven primary care–based diabetes disease management program examines the relationships among patient characteristics, labor inputs, and improvement in A1C level.

A pay-for-performance program in Taiwan improved the quality of diabetes care and slightly increased the cost of care.

Patients with type 2 diabetes in a German disease management program had a lower mortality rate after 3 years than those not in the program.

Patients with diabetes were more likely to have good medication adherence if they refilled their medications by mail versus at localpharmacies.

Physician utilization during the year before the first indication of type 2 diabetes did not differ between Medicaid-covered and privately insured youth.

The new HEDIS diabetes blood pressure measure may promote performance incentives for overtreatment of blood pressure, causing potential harm, especially in the elderly population.

In this study, providers were more likely to achieve processes-ofcare goals when diabetes care was bundled at the indicator level than at the patient level.

Although physicians should be aware of guidelines and measures, they need to apply more nuanced approaches when seeing individual patients.

Clinical and economic outcomes associated with the use of specific potentially inappropriate medications in the elderly were evaluated.

A copayment increase from $2 to $7 adversely affected veterans' adherence to statins, antihypertensives, and oral hypoglycemic agents.

A pay-for-performance program in a preferred provider organization setting may significantly increase the receipt of quality care and decrease hospitalization rates among patients with diabetes.