The effect of consumer-directed health plans on the use of preventive and chronic illness services.

We compared use of preventive, cancer screening, and diabetic monitoring services among 17,411 people who were continuously enrolled in a consumer-directed health plan (CDHP) for three years with a matched group of 128,444 people who were enrolled in a preferred provider organization (PPO). In the CDHPs, preventive and screening services were free. Levels and trends in use were similar between the two groups over the three years of follow-up.

Does self-management education benefit all populations with arthritis? A randomized controlled trial in a primary care physician network.

Objective: Studies have suggested that the Arthritis Self-Management Program (ASMP) course is effective at reducing arthritis pain and health care costs in volunteer participants. There have been no reports of trials of the ASMP in the context of primary care physicians' practices, where the potential for spreading the program may be greatest. We conducted a randomized controlled trial of the ASMP course in a large primary care physician network.