NASHVILLE, Tenn., April 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Total average
healthcare expenses are significantly reduced by 16% for
SilverSneakers® participants compared to
non-participating Medicare Advantage members, according to a new
comprehensive scientific study. The study was conducted by
well-respected healthcare consulting firm Avalere Health and
released today by Tivity Health® Inc. (Nasdaq: TVTY), a
leading provider of health improvement solutions, including
SilverSneakers®, the nation's leading community fitness
program for older adults.
The study's findings showed total annual average health
expenses, including medical and pharmacy, among SilverSneakers
participants to be $4,463 compared to
$5,303 for non-participants. Medical
component of costs was decreased by 26%, driven primarily by
reductions in hospitalization costs. Use of outpatient care was
higher for SilverSneakers members combined with less acute care,
indicating better health management among participants compared to
non-participants.
The study used clinical data to establish an evidence-based
narrative on the value of the SilverSneakers program related to
healthcare costs, utilization, and quality measures. SilverSneakers
participant data was shared with Avalere to link up with Medicare
Advantage healthcare claims data and matched participants with a
similar cohort of non-participating Medicare Advantage
beneficiaries.
After starting the SilverSneakers program, participants
experienced a significant 42% fewer hospital stays, and 18% fewer
ER visits compared to Medicare Advantage non-participants. Length
of stay for hospitalizations was also significantly shorter for
SilverSneakers participants, 4.4 days compared to 5.8 days for
non-participants. This reinforces that SilverSneakers both improves
the quality of life for health plan members and reduces overall
cost of care.
"We hear about the physical, emotional and social impact
SilverSneakers has on our members every day, but this data
validates research from the strategic advisory firm Avalere Health,
that the program is proven to improve health outcomes and reduce
healthcare costs for seniors," said Richard
Ashworth, president and CEO of Tivity Health. "As health
plans consider the supplemental benefits they offer, the impact on
outcomes and cost is a deciding factor. SilverSneakers delivers
even greater value in partnership with our health plans to enhance
the patient care experience, improve the health of our senior
population and reduce the per capita cost of healthcare."
SilverSneakers participants also performed significantly better
on key quality measures including all-cause 30-day readmissions,
adherence to hypertension and cholesterol medications, diabetes
care (HbA1c testing and eye exams), and many preventive screening
measures including colonoscopy, depression, cholesterol, breast
cancer, and prostate cancer screening when compared to
non-participants.
"Aetna shares Tivity Health's passion for encouraging Medicare
Advantage members to stay active and connected, especially during
the pandemic," said Christopher
Ciano, President of Aetna Medicare. "We recognize that
staying active has a significant positive impact on members' total
health and well-being. We're pleased that many of our Medicare
Advantage members are taking advantage of the SilverSneakers online
workouts and videos during this time."
To ensure the study was designed and executed appropriately,
each participant was matched using a 1:5 match ratio participant
versus matched controls. Once matching was complete, more than
50,000 participants and matched controls were included in the
evaluation. The study compared differences in cost and overall
health improvement outcomes between the SilverSneakers members and
the control group of similar non-participating Medicare Advantage
patients. There are also several areas of comparison demonstrating
that SilverSneakers leads to improved Stars ratings, a measurement
system used by Medicare to measure how Medicare Advantage and Part
D plans perform.
For more information and to view the full survey findings, visit
the "Insights" section of the Tivity Health website at
www.TivityHealth.com.
About SilverSneakers
SilverSneakers®, by
Tivity Health, is the nation's leading community fitness program
for older Americans. The program was founded in 1992 and is
available to more than 16 million Americans through many Medicare
Advantage plans, Medicare Supplement carriers, and group retiree
plans. For more information, to check eligibility or to enroll in
the program or sign up for a SilverSneakers newsletter, go to
silversneakers.com.
About Tivity Health
Tivity Health® Inc.
(Nasdaq: TVTY) is a leading provider of healthy life-changing
solutions, including SilverSneakers®, Prime®
Fitness, WholeHealth Living® and Wisely
Well™. We are focused on becoming the modern
destination for healthy living. We will expand beyond fitness by
establishing an engagement platform that enables personalized
member interaction with all our offerings, and we will partner with
other payors and service providers to aggregate services to seniors
under the SilverSneakers umbrella. The continued development of our
suite of digital offerings will enable a more tailored,
interactive, and impactful experience across a variety of areas,
including fitness, social connection, community involvement,
volunteering, and enrichment. Learn more at
www.tivityhealth.com.
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SOURCE Tivity Health