Ronald J. Ozminkowski

The impact of rheumatoid arthritis on medical expenditures, absenteeism, and short-term disability benefits

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to estimate medical expenditures, absenteeism, and short-term disability costs for workers with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to estimate the relative costs of RA over a 12-month period. Methods: Using data from nine U.S. employers, direct and indirect costs for 8502 workers with RA were compared with costs for a matched group without RA. Regression analyses controlled for factors that were different even after propensity score matching. Results: Average total costs for workers with RA were

The direct and indirect cost burden of clinically significant and symptomatic uterine fibroids

4244 (2003 dollars) greater than for workers without RA. RA was the fourth most costly chronic condition per employee compared with cancers, asthma, bipolar disorder, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, depression, diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, low back disorders, and renal failure. Conclusions: RA is a costly disorder and merits consideration as interventions are considered to improve workers’ health and productivity.

Assessing management support for worksite health promotion: Psychometric analysis of the leading by example (LBE) instrument

Objective: To estimate direct medical costs and indirect (productivity related) for women age 25 to 54 who had clinically significant and symptomatic uterine fibroids (UF). Methods: We compared direct medical expenditures among 30,659 women who had clinically significant and symptomatic UF to expenditures among an equal number of matched controls who did not. We also compared indirect costs for a sub-sample of 910 employed women in each group. Regression analyses controlled for demographic and casemix factors. Results: Mean 12-month direct medical costs for women with UF were

The Savings Gained From Participation in Health Promotion Programs for Medicare Beneficiaries

11,720 versus

Using formative research to develop environmental and ecological interventions to address overweight and obesity.

3257 for controls, and mean 12-month indirect costs for women with UF were

Uterine fibroid treatment patterns in a population of insured women

11,752 versus

Emerging trends in health and productivity management

8083 for controls. Differences were statistically significant (P < 0.0001). Conclusions: UF is a costly disorder and merits thought as interventions are considered to improve womens health and productivity.

The Impact of Nebulized Levalbuterol on Health Care Payments for Elderly Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients in Medicaid Plans

Purpose. Describe the development of the leading by example (LBE) instrument. Methods. A total of 135 responses from employees of a private corporation working at 11 different worksites were factor analyzed in 2005. Exploratory factor analysis was used to obtain an initial factor structure. Factor validity was evaluated using confirmatory factor analysis methods. A second sample was collected in 2006 from the same population (N = 178) and was used to confirm the factor structure via confirmatory factor analysis. Cronbachs α and item-total correlations provided information on the reliability of the factor subscales. Results. Four subscales were identified: business alignment with health promotion objectives, awareness of the health-productivity link, worksite support for health promotion, and leadership support for health promotion. Factor by group comparisons revealed that the initial factor structure was effective in detecting differences in organizational support for health promotion across different employee groups. Conclusions. Management support for health promotion can be assessed using the LBE, a brief self-report questionnaire. Researchers can use the LBE to diagnose, track, and evaluate worksite health promotion programs.

Prescription to over-the-counter switching of drugs: Methodological issues and implications for non-sedating antihistamines

Objective: The objective of this study was to estimate savings to Medicare associated with participation in one or more health promotion programs offered to 59,324 retirees from a large employer and their aged dependents. Methods: Propensity score and multiple regression techniques were used to estimate savings adjusted for demographic and health status differences between elderly retirees and dependents who used one or more health promotion services and nonparticipants. Results: Participants who completed a health risk assessment saved from

Impact of bipolar disorder on employers: Rationale for workplace interventions

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