We’re Bolder, Stronger, Together: The Case for Evidence-Based Benefits

When aiming to improve clinical outcomes across large populations, it is essential to align health benefits and health plan strategies with the rapidly expanding medical knowledge base. Translating evidence-based care and clinical guidelines into benefits designs and plan administration and clinical processes (i.e., utilization management and step therapy) with agility can help deliver high-value care that benefits all stakeholders. Emerging research continually reshapes our understanding of chronic conditions, sometimes revealing that low-cost interventions—such as a $60 lab test and a $10–$20 monthly supplement—may be more effective for certain members than treatments costing $10,000-$20,000 per month. One recent study, for example, found that psoriasis is significantly associated with decreased riboflavin (vitamin B2) intake, especially among adults over 40, highlighting how micronutrient and antioxidant balance can help modulate a costly chronic inflammatory condition (Li et al., 2025). When benefits leaders work collaboratively with clinical experts to deliver care based on the most current evidence—regardless of timing or cost—the members, the plan, and the providers can win. Misalignment arises when legacy cost-containment strategies fail to keep pace with evolving clinical standards.

Li, A., Chen, F., Xia, Q., Liu, B., Xu, J., Song, X., Xu, T., & Cui, Y. (2025). Riboflavin deficiency associated with psoriasis: Insights from population and transcriptome. Experimental Dermatology. https://doi.org/10.1111/exd.70106