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Employers Have Healthcare Pricing on the Brain

Analysis  |  By Alexandra Wilson Pecci  
   April 01, 2021

More than half are considering pre-deductible coverage of chronic conditions and 45% anticipate increased employee cost sharing to mitigate cost increases.

Employers will focus on reforming their benefits strategies over the next several months as they get back to normal operations, finds a survey from the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions.

For instance, about two-thirds of employers have already implemented or are considering value-based design approaches to their health benefits. More than half are considering pre-deductible coverage of chronic conditions and 45% anticipate increased employee cost sharing to mitigate cost increases.

Employers are paying close attention to hospital pricing and quality transparency efforts as well. Seventy percent of employers are considering strategies to address high-cost claimants, as well as bundled payments.

It found that 90% of employers have expanded or expect to expand telehealth for both physical and behavioral healthcare. Eighty percent are expanding virtual wellbeing programs and investing in other care management solutions.

In addition, there's a significant focus among employers on "total person health" as it relates to mental health integration, managing multiple chronic conditions, recognizing diversity within the employee population, and the personalization of health interventions.

The survey also found:

  • 83% of employees will continue to allow people to work from home through 2021.
     
  • 76% have expanded virtual meeting capabilities.
     
  • 60% offer flexibility to cover employee home demands.
     
  • When asked about efforts to support the COVID-19 vaccines 81% are providing information on benefits of the vaccines, 76% are offering education for employees about eligibility, 69% are educating on safety and efficacy and 67% are educating on how to access them.
     
  • More than 80% of very large employers anticipate providing onsite COVID-19 vaccines before year end.
     
  • Only 8% of employers anticipate mandating the vaccine for employees and only 10% have implemented it or are considering it for higher-exposure employees.

Alexandra Wilson Pecci is an editor for HealthLeaders.


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