Utah Diabetes Prevention Network Promotes Coverage of the National DPP

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Submission Date: July 2018

State/Territory Submitted on the Behalf of: Utah

States/Territories Involved: Utah

Funding Source: CDC

CDC Funding:

Yes

CDC Funding (Specified):

(1305) State Public Health, (DP14-1422) State and Local Public Health Actions to Prevent Obesity, Diabetes and Heart Disease

Domain Addressed:

Community-Clinical Linkages

Public Health Issue:

  • The National Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP) seeks to expand the availability of and participation in the effective National DPP lifestyle change program for people at risk for diabetes.
  • Covering the cost of providing lifestyle change programs for employees can help employers manage healthcare costs, make the programs more accessible, and promote employee health and productivity.
  • Promoting networking between healthcare providers and lifestyle change programs can facilitate information exchange and program sustainability.

Program Action:

  • The Utah Department of Health’s Healthy Living through Environment, Policy, and Improved Clinical Care (EPICC) program, working collaboratively with the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors, convened a State Engagement Meeting (StEM) in 2015 to create a diabetes action plan for scaling and sustaining the National DPP. Many important stakeholders attended, including staff of the Utah Public Employee Health Plan (PEHP).
  • Following the StEM, the EPICC program presented information on the National DPP lifestyle change program and the National DPP Coverage Toolkit to the PEHP Director and worked with PEHP on a pilot National DPP lifestyle change program. EPICC staff provided technical assistance to the PEHP team on benefit design, program delivery options, participant enrollment and engagement strategies, and educational materials.
  • A committee of StEM attendees implemented a statewide survey to inform the process of creating a one-stop shop for program delivery information and networking for all program providers.
  • Interviews with select Utah employers, conducted by Leavitt Partners, encouraged them to join the National DPP network and to learn more about offering lifestyle change programs to their employees and the public.

Impact/Accomplishments:

  • In August 2017, PEHP began an online National DPP lifestyle change program for Utah state employees and their adult dependents with prediabetes. Based on annual health screening results and insurance data provided by the PEHP actuary department, nearly 3,000 PEHP members or dependents have prediabetes. Three hundred and fifty PEHP members expressed interest, 97 attended an introductory Session Zero, and 35 started the class. As of June 2018, 16 participants attend the online program with a group weight loss of 190 pounds and an accumulated 61,000 minutes of physical activity.
  • In fulfillment of a Utah diabetes action plan goal, the EPICC program developed the Utah Diabetes Prevention Network which includes a web page on diabetes on EPICC’s Living Well Utah website; in-person meetings of the Network for which EPICC shares hosting duties; and continuing education offerings. The Network promotes collaboration and sharing among all National DPP providers in the state.
  • Deseret Mutual Benefit Administrators (DMBA), a large Utah employer and a Leavitt Partners interviewee, now offers the National DPP lifestyle change program to its employees. DMBA’s successful pilot program has inspired DMBA-affiliated organizations to look into offering the National DPP for their own employees.

Program Areas:

Diabetes

State Contact Information:

Utah
McKell Drury
Utah Department of Health
801-538-6896
mdrury@utah.gov

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