You get what you pay for: That old saw applies to most corners of American consumerism, but not to healthcare. Convincing people of that is tough.
You get what you pay for: That old saw applies to most corners of American consumerism, but not to healthcare. Convincing people of that is tough.
The research shows that most Americans believe more-expensive healthcare is usually better—an assumption that has become one major driver of unnecessary costs plaguing the U.S. healthcare system. And researchers say it will take more than just high out-of-pocket costs borne by consumers to change their views.
“People are afraid of the low-cost option because they are afraid of substandard care,” said Judith Hibbard, a senior researcher at the University of Oregon and renowned scholar on consumerism in healthcare, whose comments Tuesday came during a presentation in Chicago at the Operations and Technology Forum held by America's Health Insurance Plans.
The trick to alleviating the fear of lower-cost healthcare is to show Americans the cost of their care alongside the relevant quality rankings for potential providers they could visit. And many of the existing healthcare transparency tools could stand to improve in this regard, according to a study out Wednesday from Catalyst for Payment Reform, a not-for-profit organization that works on behalf of large employers and other healthcare purchasers.
Read the full story here: http://bit.ly/1aINrOv
Source: Modern Healthcare
Health Equity & Access Weekly Roundup: November 2, 2024
November 2nd 2024This week’s Center on Health Equity & Access highlights emphasize the role of social determinants of health in policy-making and underscore the importance of addressing rising costs and challenges employers face.
Read More
Bridging the Vaccination Gap: Insights on Global Immunization Challenges
July 30th 2024On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we speak with Jeffery A. Goad, PharmD, MPH, 2024-2025 president of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, on the recent report from the World Health Organization and UNICEF on public immunization rates, with national and global health implications.
Listen
Double Trouble: High-Deductible Plans Raise Maternity Care Costs Across 2 Calendar Years
June 27th 2024On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we're talking with the author of a study published in the June 2024 issue of The American Journal of Managed Care® about how annual high-deductible insurance plans increase maternity care costs when pregnancies cross 2 calendar years.
Listen
Overhauling Quality Measurement in the US: Measure What Matters
October 30th 2024As the US charts its course through the next political era, it is crucial that we boldly allocate resources and prioritize what truly impacts patients. When faced with complexity, feasibility concerns, or entrenched norms, we must proclaim: “It’s the outcomes, stupid.”
Read More