In addressing the growing problem of chronic disease, U.S. health plan sponsors are increasingly looking to integrate pharmacy and medical data to help improve health and financial outcomes, according to a survey.

A Medco survey polled 300 U.S. plan sponsors with at least 500 employees in the first quarter of 2009. According to the survey report, 80 percent of U.S. organizations plan to integrate drug and medical data, while 73 percent intend to add clinical management programs to their pharmacy benefit to help increase patient safety and control plan costs.

"Integrating both medical and prescription claims data is a key strategy in helping to control costs related to chronic and complex conditions," said Mike Romanzo, president of Medco's Systemed Group. "It facilitates identifying medication adherence and safety issues. Pharmacists can then counsel patients to reduce the chances of more serious health problems and additional costs."

. . . The Medco survey found that 90 percent of plan sponsors believe that minimal attention to personal health and increased incidence of chronic illness such as diabetes and heart disease are at the root of rising health care costs. When asked what influences will have the greatest impact on controlling these escalating costs, nearly 60 percent of respondents said embracing the concept of wellness will yield the most savings, citing the need to control preventable and self-inflicted diseases often linked to obesity and smoking.

The rest of the story . . . .