Faced with record disruption in healthcare services and the economic downturn caused by the pandemic, employers are maintaining or accelerating their health benefit strategies in 2020 and 2021, according to the most-recent National Alliance Pulse of the Purchaser survey.
When asked about their impression of health reforms related to their organization’s health benefit strategies, employers are open to a myriad of potential reforms with the majority indicating drug price regulation (94%), hospital price transparency (90%), surprise billing regulation (81%) and hospital rate regulation (79%) to be very or somewhat helpful. Employers also indicated a Medicare public option (50%) could be very or somewhat helpful, while 21% felt it could be very or somewhat harmful. When asked about Medicare for All, 46% of employers indicated that would be very or somewhat harmful.
We know that employers are maxed out as to what they and their employees and family members can shoulder for healthcare costs and they continue to be concerned about the sustainability of privately sponsored healthcare. Looking forward, they are working to shift market dynamics to get better value for their healthcare dollars through delivery-based strategies such as advanced primary care and centers of excellence. There is also an increasing openness to government action.
Read the press release here
View the survey results here
Media coverage includes:
American Journal of Managed Care
BenefitsPro
HealthLeaders
Los Angeles Times
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