Comments on: The True Consequences Of So-Called Consumer Driven Health Care http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/2008/10/27/better-wsj/ Thu, 26 Nov 2009 16:42:01 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: rsgrady http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/2008/10/27/better-wsj/comment-page-1/#comment-2748 rsgrady Tue, 28 Oct 2008 22:49:03 +0000 http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/2008/10/27/better-wsj/#comment-2748 First of all, The Commonwealth Study referenced above was based on data created at the end of 2003, suggesting that some of it was generated even before HSA legislation was passed in December 2003. HSAs were brand new and CDH education limited. HSAs and CDH has grown significantly since 2003 and I wouldn't hang my hat on any of The Commonwealth data. Let's take a look at current usage of Consumer Directed Health for a moment. Research conducted this year by The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and presented October 20th, 2008 at the National Consumer Directed Healthcare Summit, entitled Health Plan Initiatives, Trends & Research in Consumer Driven Care reported the following attributes of their HSA eligible members (and BCBS has thousands and thousands of them) as compared with their non-CDHP Enrollees. HSA eligible enrollees: -want more control over their healthcare costs -are more cost conscious and cost driven -are more engaged in tracking their healthcare expenses (current and future) -are more engaged in health screenings, exercise, nutrition and health coaching -use more preventative services -use JUST AS MUCH necessary services as non-CDHP enrollees (in otherwords, they don't skimp on services like in/out patient procedures, diagnostic imaging and ER visits as has often been argued by those who do not understand or support an individuals right to be responsible for themself) What I take away from this research is that individuals with CDHPs get ill less often, and when they do get ill, they tend to use the healthcare system more responsibly. Less usage and more responsible use not only drives their costs down for the member but for all of us. Seems like a good thing to me. For the actual BCBS presentation including the supporting stats, please see: http://www.bcbs.com/news/bluetvradio/consumerdriven2008/bcbsa-final-slides.ppt First of all, The Commonwealth Study referenced above was based on data created at the end of 2003, suggesting that some of it was generated even before HSA legislation was passed in December 2003. HSAs were brand new and CDH education limited. HSAs and CDH has grown significantly since 2003 and I wouldn’t hang my hat on any of The Commonwealth data.

Let’s take a look at current usage of Consumer Directed Health for a moment. Research conducted this year by The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and presented October 20th, 2008 at the National Consumer Directed Healthcare Summit, entitled Health Plan Initiatives, Trends & Research in Consumer Driven Care reported the following attributes of their HSA eligible members (and BCBS has thousands and thousands of them) as compared with their non-CDHP Enrollees.

HSA eligible enrollees:
-want more control over their healthcare costs
-are more cost conscious and cost driven
-are more engaged in tracking their healthcare expenses (current and future)
-are more engaged in health screenings, exercise, nutrition and health coaching
-use more preventative services
-use JUST AS MUCH necessary services as non-CDHP enrollees (in otherwords, they don’t skimp on services like in/out patient procedures, diagnostic imaging and ER visits as has often been argued by those who do not understand or support an individuals right to be responsible for themself)

What I take away from this research is that individuals with CDHPs get ill less often, and when they do get ill, they tend to use the healthcare system more responsibly. Less usage and more responsible use not only drives their costs down for the member but for all of us. Seems like a good thing to me.

For the actual BCBS presentation including the supporting stats, please see: http://www.bcbs.com/news/bluetvradio/consumerdriven2008/bcbsa-final-slides.ppt

]]> By: stateofthedivision http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/2008/10/27/better-wsj/comment-page-1/#comment-2730 stateofthedivision Mon, 27 Oct 2008 17:54:30 +0000 http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/2008/10/27/better-wsj/#comment-2730 Where has Bob Carroll been the last twenty years as employers raised deductibles, copays and premium sharing? He sounds like Al Hubbard, who most recently guaranteed a good outcome from implementing the Wall Street bailout. The government lies about the number of people with funded health savings accounts. Treasury uses the number of people covered by high deductible health plans, not those with actual money in an HSA. The McCain plan is driven by American business interests, who dearly want to dump that employer health insurance benefit. It would give CEO's a nice shot in their executive incentive compensation. I don't think many other Americans will truly benefit. Where has Bob Carroll been the last twenty years as employers raised deductibles, copays and premium sharing? He sounds like Al Hubbard, who most recently guaranteed a good outcome from implementing the Wall Street bailout.

The government lies about the number of people with funded health savings accounts. Treasury uses the number of people covered by high deductible health plans, not those with actual money in an HSA.

The McCain plan is driven by American business interests, who dearly want to dump that employer health insurance benefit.

It would give CEO’s a nice shot in their executive incentive compensation. I don’t think many other Americans will truly benefit.

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