Driving Diabetes Care Quality
Our Impact on Diabetes Awareness and Prevention and the Strategic Value for Health Plans
As a health-focused vision care company and a strategic partner to leading health plans, VSP® Vision Care delivers innovative diabetes management solutions that drive measurable improvements in member health and help close gaps in care. While these programs assist health plans in achieving HEDIS and Star Ratings goals, they also demonstrate how annual eye exams are a vital part of preventive care—especially for the early detection of signs of diabetes1.
From strategic partnerships in data sharing to backing innovative ways of enhancing patient care, we’re proud to be at the forefront of ensuring that eye care plays an integral role in the care for all patients with diabetes.
Proven Partnerships and Measurable Outcomes
Our collaborations with leading organizations demonstrate measurable impact. Here’s a look at recent partnerships and programs.
American Diabetes Association (ADA)
This year, VSP celebrates six years of collaboration with the ADA, having achieved2:
- More than 5,000 practice locations have earned the ADA badge for their Find a Doctor listing on vsp.com to help members find a doctor who is committed to connecting vision to overall health.
- More than 150,000 60-Second Diabetes Risk Tests completed on vsp.com.
- More than 50% of the results indicated risk for diabetes.
The Power of Data Exchange
VSP collaborates with health plans and disease management vendors to exchange data on members with chronic conditions. This enables us to identify members who may benefit from additional care, especially for diabetes.
So far, millions of members have been flagged in our database with chronic conditions, including prediabetes, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, and glaucoma2. Many of these have been identified by our clients’ health plans/disease management vendors, proving the importance of this collaboration.
Increasing Utilization
- VSP partnered with one of our largest commercial clients to receive data from their three health plans identifying members with diabetes.
- We set a goal to increase eye exam utilization by 2% among these identified employees2.
- Outcome: Through targeted member outreach, we increased utilization by 5.1%—more than double the goal2.
VSP and iCare Health Solutions
VSP and iCare Health Solutions, a VSP Vision company, help health plans close gaps in care for the Eye Exam for Patients with Diabetes (EED) HEDIS measure. This support includes targeted member outreach, providing network doctors with patient recall lists, and working with primary care providers to set up screening events at their locations.
For clients receiving additional HEDIS services, we achieved2:
- 11,000 screenings at 2,300 PCP offices
- 120,000 outbound reminder calls
- 600,000 eye exam reminder letters sent
- 5-star ratings for five clients and 4-star ratings for three clients for measurement year (MY) 2024
Leveraging Technology with Teladoc Health
VSP has partnered with Teladoc Health® since 2020. Teladoc leverages technology to provide personalized guidance to people living with chronic conditions. Our program includes two-way data sharing to identify members with diabetes and encourage enrollment in Teladoc’s diabetes management programs. Mutual members receive reminders on their Teladoc digital device to schedule annual eye exams with VSP network doctors.
Outcomes since 20202:
- VSP has identified 14% of mutual members with diabetes previously unknown to Teladoc; Teladoc has identified 65% previously unknown to VSP.
- Up to 26% of mutual members scheduled eye exams after receiving reminders3.
Increasing Patient Access with Everly Health Solutions
VSP also recently partnered with Everly Health Solutions, which offers home-collected laboratory test kits to consumers, making healthcare easier and helping prevent diabetic eye disease4. In a year-long pilot, Everly offered 5,000 at-home A1C lab tests to VSP members.
Pilot Outcomes 2:
- 40% of participants tested in the pre-diabetes or diabetes range.
- Eye exam rates increased significantly among these members.
- Due to the pilot’s success, expansion efforts are currently underway.
Expansion Opportunities
Building on the success of our Everly Health pilot, VSP is expanding at-home diabetes screening programs. We invite health plans to connect with us on collaborating on next-generation member engagement strategies. Learn more about this program here.
Get in Touch
Ready to improve diabetes care quality and achieve your plan’s performance goals? Contact our GMS team today to learn more.
1 CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/vision-health/data-research/vision-loss-facts/index.html
2 VSP proprietary data
3 Eyeing chronic conditions to create value and help reduce gaps in care, VSP and Teladoc, 2024
4 The Diabetes Control and Complications Trial Research Group, (August 1995). “The Relationship of Glycemic Exposure (HbA1c) to the Risk of Development and Progression of Retinopathy in the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial.” Diabetes, 44 (8): 968–983. https://doi.org/10.2337/diab.44.8.968