On June 15, 2009, HCP’s Michael E. Chernew, PhD, won the Research Award from the National Institute for Health Care Management Foundation. The award acknowledges talented researchers who initiate positive change by communicating health care policy issues.

Chernew was unanimously chosen by the foundation’s judges as the top researcher for his 2008 article in which he was the lead author. The article was published in Health Affairs, the premier health care journal, and was entitled:  “Impact of Decreasing Copayments on Medication Adherence within a Disease Management Environment.” The publication illustrated the effects of a large employer’s value-based insurance initiative designed to improve adherence to recommended treatment procedures. Chernew et al. documented that the intervention reduced copayments for five chronic medication classes in the context of a disease management (DM) program. In comparison to a control employer that used the same DM program, adherence to medications in the value-based intervention showed expansion for four of five medication classes, therefore reducing non-adherence by 7–14 percent. The findings demonstrate the possibility for copayment reductions for highly valued services to increase medication adherence above the effects of existing DM programs.  

In addition to recognizing exceptional researchers, NIHCM recognizes talented journalists, and all winners were honored at the NIHCM’s 15th annual dinner on June 15 in Washington, DC. Founding Chairman of the Board, Leonard Schaeffer, hosted the evening and congratulated all for their accomplishments. In addition, the Department of Health Care Policy congratulates Chernew for his award-winning work. For more information about the winners and the institute please see the following link.