Method of incentivising members of a disease management programme to comply with the programme

• US 7,953,611 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2001
• Issued: 05/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vitality Group International, Inc. (Discovery Limited)
• Original Assignee: Discovery Holdings Limited (Prudential PLC)
• Inventors: Nossel, Craig, Manson, Lori, Goodman, Maurice Ronan
• Primary Examiner(s): Kramer; James A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gottschalk; Martin A
• Application Number:
  US09/876,311
• Publication Number:
  US 20020055859A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,645 Days
• Field of Search: 705/2, 705/3, 705/14, 600/300
• US Class Current: 705/3
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0226 Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 70/60 relating to pathologies

Abstract

A method of incentivising members of a disease management program to comply with the program by splitting the program into general program areas and specific program areas. The general program areas are relevant to all of the diseases with which members of the program are stricken while the specific program areas are only relevant to some disease managed by the program. Members of the program are awarded points for taking part in and achieving certain levels within all of the general program areas and within the specific program areas associated with the disease with which they are stricken. The points are accumulated and members are rewarded if their points reach a predetermined level. Furthermore, bonus points are awarded to the members for achieving certain levels in all of the program areas associated with their disease.

Claims

1. A method of incentivising members of a disease management programme to comply with the programme, using a computer, the method comprising the steps of:

inputting into the computer data definitions of a plurality of general programme areas and a plurality of specific programme areas, wherein the plurality of general programme areas are programme areas that if complied with are of benefit to a member stricken with any disease managed by the disease management programme and wherein the plurality of specific programme areas are programme areas that are determined to be of particular benefit to a member afflicted with some but not all of the diseases managed by the disease management programme;

calculating, using the computer, an award of points to a member for each of the general programme areas in which the member participates, the points being allocated to members based on a multi-level system, including;

a first level, wherein the member is awarded points for merely taking part in a programme area,

a second level, wherein the member is awarded a bonus set of points in addition to the points awarded in the first level in response to participating in all programme areas associated with a disease with which the member is afflicted, and

a third level, wherein the member is awarded points for attaining a minimum level for a measurable of a programme area associated with a disease with which the member is afflicted;

inputting into the computer a definition of a measurable within each of the general and specific programme areas so that a member'"'"'s performance within said programme area can be ascertained;

inputting into the computer a minimum level for each measurable, which minimum level indicates a minimum required level of member performance within each of the programme areas;

calculating, using the computer, an award of points to a member for each of the specific programme areas in which the member participates, only if the member is afflicted with a disease to which the specific programme area in which the member participates has been determined to be of particular benefit and if the member obtains the minimum level of a measurable for a particular programme area;

calculating, using the computer, a total number of points awarded to the member; and

calculating, using the computer, an allocation of a reward to the member if the total number of points awarded to the member accumulates to a predetermined amount of points.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein points are only awarded to the member if the member participates in all the programme areas which are associated with the disease or diseases with which the member is afflicted.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein additional points are awarded to the member if the member participates in all of the programme areas which are associated with the disease or diseases with which the member is afflicted.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the general programme areas are some of diet, exercise, smoking and education.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the specific programme areas are one or more of blood pressure, flow volume loop measurement, influenza vaccine, pneumococcal vaccine, cholesterol and long term glucose control.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein, additional points are awarded to the member if they obtain the minimum level of a measurable for all of the programme areas which are associated with the disease with which the member is afflicted.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the amount of the reward is related to the amount of points accumulated by the member.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the reward is a cash payout or special options on services.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the services are one or more of airplane tickets, hotel accommodation and car rentals.