Cost-effectiveness of financial incentives for improving diet and health through Medicare and Medicaid: A microsimulation study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Economic incentives through health insurance may promote healthier behaviors. Little is known about health and economic impacts of incentivizing diet, a leading risk factor for diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD), through Medicare and Medicaid.

Methods and findings

A validated microsimulation model (CVD-PREDICT) estimated CVD and diabetes cases prevented, quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), health-related costs (formal healthcare, informal healthcare, and lost-productivity costs), and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) of two policy scenarios for adults within Medicare and Medicaid, compared to a base case of no new intervention: (1) 30% subsidy on fruits and vegetables ("F&V incentive") and (2) 30% subsidy on broader healthful foods including F&

SUBMITTER: Lee Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6424388 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature