BOSTON, Mass. – May 6, 2009 – Health Dialog Services Corporation today released a whitepaper entitled, “Doing Well by Doing Right: Fairer healthcare can lead to lower costs.” Authored by David Costello, PhD, Senior Vice President, Consumer Segmentation & Engagement, this paper examines how health plans can effectively engage higher cost members – particularly those residing in underserved communities – while still reducing overall healthcare costs.

Healthcare disparities are well documented, with numerous studies underscoring the role that race, ethnicity, socioeconomics, and geography play in the delivery of healthcare services. For example, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Hispanics trail non-Hispanic whites for having a regular source of ongoing healthcare – 77% of Hispanics compared to 90% of non-Hispanic whites. Health Dialog asserts that by leveraging community-level information to develop customized messaging, health plans can effectively identify, target, and engage members who reside in communities traditionally associated with healthcare disparities.

“Understanding how members experience their world and their healthcare within this world is at the core of Health Dialog’s approach,” said Costello. “By outreaching to and engaging members in a way that respects their individual preferences and resonates within their communities, we can more effectively drive improvements in quality of care and reductions in overall costs.”

“Doing Well by Doing Right” provides research and examples that demonstrate how Health Dialog assists health plans in reaching at-risk members, thereby mitigating healthcare disparities and ultimately enhancing member health and well-being.

To download “Doing Well by Doing Right: Fairer healthcare can lead to lower costs” please visit http://www.healthdialogwhitepapers.com/doingright.

About Health Dialog:
Health Dialog is a leading provider of healthcare analytics and decision support. The firm is a private, wholly-owned subsidiary of Bupa, a global provider of healthcare services. Health Dialog helps healthcare payors improve healthcare quality while reducing overall costs. Company offerings include Health Coaching for medical decisions, chronic conditions, and wellness; population analytic solutions; and consulting services. Health Dialog helps individuals participate in their own healthcare decisions, develop more effective relationships with their physicians, and live healthier, happier lives. For more information please visit www.healthdialog.com.

Media Inquiries:
Kiran Ganda
Health Dialog
kganda@healthdialog.com
617.406.5239