Participation will help identify areas of highest cost and poorest health outcomes and opportunities to address the root causes

WILMINGTON – The state of Delaware has entered into a multi-year agreement to participate in the AstraZeneca and HealthCore Real-World Evidence Collaboration. Delaware’s participation will help determine how to improve health and manage the total cost of care of its Medicaid enrollees and support a wide range of disease, treatment, and health outcomes studies.

Delaware – through the Delaware Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance – is the first state to participate in the Real-World Evidence Collaboration that was created last year by AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP (NYSE: AZN) and HealthCore, Inc., the health outcomes research subsidiary of WellPoint, Inc. (NYSE: WLP). The collaboration is conducting real-world evidence studies to understand how to improve overall patient health while managing the total cost of care – and to determine the value of that care.

“As a state, we need to find ways of addressing the staggering cost of Medicaid,” Governor Jack Markell said. “We want our Medicaid population to be healthier. This analysis will help us figure out  what’s working well and what’s not, so we can reward what works and change what doesn’t. Ultimately, this is about making people healthier while driving down costs.”

Approximately 207,000 Delawareans receive their health coverage through Medicaid at an annual cost exceeding $1.2 billion in both state and federal funding.

“Joining this collaboration will give us a view of health care across populations, particularly the incidence of chronic disease in Delaware,” Department of Health and Social Services Secretary Rita Landgraf said. “An important area of focus will be taking these insights to identify opportunities for interventions that will help us better manage diseases before they become more severe and more costly to treat. For our Medicaid clients, better outcomes will mean a higher quality of life.”

Unlike controlled clinical trials, real-world evidence studies use comparative effectiveness research and observational data such as claims information and patient and provider surveys. By examining data associated with the delivery of care, real-world analyses can assess treatment impact on hospital length of stay, readmissions, overall health status, cost of care and other key evidence-based outcomes.

Delaware will benefit from comparing its health care data to that of populations in other states maintained in the HealthCore data environment. Through its participation in the Real-World Evidence Collaboration, the state will be able to evaluate benefit design, health policies, practice patterns, and geographic and demographic variations in order to provide more accurate information when answering key health care questions and improve health care.

“Through real-world evidence research, we can gain a better, holistic view of what is happening clinically with Delaware’s Medicaid population,” Brian Sweet, Executive Director, Health Alliances, AstraZeneca said. “We look forward to helping Delaware improve the health of its vulnerable populations in the most cost effective manner.”

“Together, we can answer key health questions that could assist Delaware and others in making medical and drug policy decisions, developing education and intervention programs, and in communicating to members and healthcare providers about the findings to help them make more informed, evidence-based decisions,” HealthCore President Marcus Wilson said.

Wilson noted that AstraZeneca and HealthCore are seeking to further expand the collaboration with other public and private organizations in Delaware and other strategic geographies to accelerate efforts to integrate community health information and enhance community health.

About DMMA

The Delaware Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance (DMMA) is part of the Delaware Health and Social Services Agency (DHSS). DHSS is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware’s citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.

About the AstraZeneca/HealthCore Real-World Evidence Collaboration

The Real-World Evidence Collaboration was created in early 2011 by AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP and HealthCore, Inc., the health outcomes research subsidiary of WellPoint, Inc. to  conduct real-world studies designed to determine how to most effectively and economically treat disease. Unlike controlled clinical trials, real-world evidence studies use observational data such as electronic medical records, claims information and patient surveys. By examining data associated with the delivery of care, real-world analyses can assess treatment impact on hospital length of stay, readmissions, overall health status, cost of care and other key evidence-based outcomes. AstraZeneca and HealthCore are seeking to expand the collaboration into a broader healthcare consortium with other public and private organizations in strategic geographies to accelerate efforts to integrate community health information and enhance community health.

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