A return-on-investment analysis of the health promotion program at the University of Minnesota.

Abstract

To determine the return-on-investment, if any, for the health promotion program adopted by the University of Minnesota in 2006. Regression analysis was used to determine the cost-savings in annual health care expenditures associated with three components of the program: a risk assessment, a risk management program, and a disease management (DM) program. Differences-in-differences equations with random effects were used to deal with selection bias. The analysis suggests that the DM reduced spending by about $1375 per year for each participant. The risk assessment and risk management components had no effect on spending in this initial year. DM reduced health care spending at the University of Minnesota, but not enough to generate a positive return-on-investment. A number of factors may qualify this conclusion.