Not surprisingly, pharmacy costs went up significantly for insurers in the full-coverage group by 8%, but there was also a nonsignificant decrease of 14% in spending for medical services and an 11% decrease in total spending. This translated into a savings of $18,254 for insurers.
While Aetna may have been impressed by MI FREEE, Dr. Yancy asked whether the researchers have taken the value-based insurance strategy to the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services.
Dr. Chaudhry responded that the CMS is the "big bear in the room," but suggested they see this as a "winning strategy" because they are on the hook for the same drugs, despite spending slightly less than private insurers on medical services.
Aetna and the Commonwealth Fund to Brigham and Women’s Hospital funded the trial. Dr. Choudhry reported receiving consulting fees from Mercer Health and Benefits and grants from CVS Caremark. Some of his coauthors are employees of, and have an equity interest in, Aetna.