11-Year Study Found 63% Lower Medical Expenditures Among Ayurveda Participants

An 11-year study of Blue Cross/Blue Shield Iowa insurance data found substantially lower medical expenditures and healthcare utilization among participants in the Maharishi Vedic Approach to Health, a comprehensive prevention-oriented system associated with Maharishi Ayurveda.

The study reported that the participants had 63% lower average medical expenditures over the 11-year period compared with statewide norms.

A research summary also reported 80% fewer hospital admissions and 55% fewer outpatient doctor visits among program participants. Those over age 45 had 88% fewer hospital days than members of the matched control group.

The findings show an association between participation in the comprehensive program and lower use of conventional medical services. Because this was a retrospective observational study, the results do not prove that the program alone caused the differences.

Why Medical Care Utilization Matters

Medical utilization research examines how frequently people use healthcare services, including hospital care, physician appointments and other medical treatment.

Looking at these patterns over many years can provide a broader picture of health than a single laboratory test or short-term clinical study.

Lower rates of hospitalization and outpatient care may indicate fewer health problems requiring medical attention. However, healthcare use can also be influenced by lifestyle, access to care, personal health choices, socioeconomic circumstances and other differences between groups.

For this reason, medical utilization studies can identify important patterns but must be interpreted carefully.

The Research

The study, titled “An Innovative Approach to Reducing Medical Care Utilization and Expenditures,” was conducted by David W. Orme-Johnson, PhD, and Robert E. Herron, PhD.

It was published in the January 1997 issue of The American Journal of Managed Care.

The researchers reviewed archived Blue Cross/Blue Shield Iowa data for 693 participants in the Maharishi Vedic Approach to Health.

Their healthcare utilization and expenditures were compared with:

• Statewide insurance norms representing approximately 600,000 people
• A demographically matched control group of 4,148 people
• Medical data covering the years 1985 through 1995

The researchers also made more detailed comparisons with the matched control group using data from 1990, 1991, 1994 and 1995.

Key Findings

63% Lower Medical Expenditures

Over the full 11-year period, average medical expenditures among program participants were reported to be 63% lower than the statewide norm.

During the four years in which both statewide and matched-control comparisons were available, total medical expenditures per person were:

• 59% lower than the statewide norm
• 57% lower than the matched control group

Lower expenditures were reported across all age groups and disease categories examined in the study.

80% Fewer Hospital Admissions

The research summary reported that Maharishi Ayurveda participants had 80% fewer hospital admissions than the comparison population.

Hospital admissions generally reflect more serious or acute medical needs, making this one of the most notable findings reported in the research review.

55% Fewer Outpatient Visits

Participants were also reported to have 55% fewer outpatient doctor visits.

Outpatient visits include medical appointments that do not require an overnight hospital stay, such as consultations, examinations and follow-up care.

88% Fewer Hospital Days After Age 45

The greatest difference was observed among participants over the age of 45.

This group had 88% fewer total hospital days than people of similar demographic backgrounds in the matched control group.

Results Across Health Categories

The researchers found lower medical utilization and expenditures across the disease categories included in the analysis.

The published abstract reported that hospital admission rates in the matched control group were:

• 11.4 times higher for cardiovascular disease
• 3.3 times higher for cancer
• 6.7 times higher for mental health and substance-related disorders

These results describe differences in medical utilization between the groups. They do not establish that the program prevented or treated every disease within these categories.

What Program Was Studied?

The researchers described the program as the Maharishi Vedic Approach to Health, a multicomponent system focused on health promotion and disease prevention.

Rather than evaluating one isolated treatment, supplement or retreat, the study examined people participating in several components of the broader system.

Depending on an individual’s program, Maharishi Ayurveda may include personalized recommendations related to diet, daily routine, stress reduction, meditation, herbal preparations, purification procedures and other approaches intended to support balance in the body and mind.

The research evaluated the participants’ overall involvement in the comprehensive program. It did not determine that any single component was independently responsible for the lower medical expenditures or utilization rates.

This was also not a clinical trial of one specific Panchakarma program or a study conducted exclusively among guests at The Raj.

Why the Findings Matter

Healthcare spending and the management of chronic illness remain significant concerns for individuals, insurers and healthcare systems.

This study examined whether participation in a comprehensive, prevention-oriented health program was associated with differences in medical care over an extended period.

The substantial reductions reported in medical expenditures, hospital admissions, outpatient visits and hospital days suggest that the healthcare patterns of the Maharishi Ayurveda participants differed meaningfully from those of the comparison populations.

Because the analysis covered 11 years and included statewide data involving hundreds of thousands of insured individuals, it provides a longer-term perspective than many short clinical studies.

The authors concluded that the results supported further consideration of the comprehensive program as a potentially cost-effective approach within managed healthcare.

Important Study Limitations

This was a retrospective observational study, not a randomized controlled trial.

Participants who choose comprehensive wellness and prevention programs may differ from the wider population in ways that influence their health and medical care use. They may have different diets, daily routines, stress-management habits, healthcare preferences or levels of engagement in their well-being.

Insurance utilization data also measure how frequently people use medical services. They do not independently show why someone did or did not seek care, nor do they provide proof that a particular program prevented a specific illness.

The findings therefore demonstrate an association between program participation and lower medical utilization. They do not prove that Maharishi Ayurveda alone caused every reported reduction.

The results should not be interpreted as a reason to avoid medically necessary care or discontinue treatment recommended by a qualified healthcare professional.

Study Citation

Orme-Johnson DW, Herron RE. An innovative approach to reducing medical care utilization and expenditures. American Journal of Managed Care. 1997;3(1):135–144. PMID: 10169245.

Read the Full Study

Read the full published article in The American Journal of Managed Care

View the study record and abstract on PubMed

Experience Authentic Ayurveda at The Raj

The Raj offers authentic, personalized Maharishi Ayurveda programs in a peaceful residential environment designed specifically to support rest, balance and rejuvenation.

Each guest’s program is selected according to their individual needs and may include consultations with Ayurvedic wellness experts, customized treatments, specialized herbalized oils, Ayurvedic meals and time for deep rest.

The Raj also offers comprehensive Panchakarma programs for guests seeking a more immersive Ayurvedic purification and rejuvenation experience.

This information is provided for educational purposes and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Individual experiences and results vary. Maharishi Ayurveda and Panchakarma may not be appropriate for everyone and should be undertaken with qualified professional guidance. Do not delay or discontinue necessary medical care based on this information.