Healthcare Spending Surge and Selective Care Strategies: What Employers Need to Know
Healthcare Spending Surge and Employer Strategies
The Business Group on Health recently revealed that healthcare spending is set to surge, with large employers predicting a nearly 8% increase in costs for treating patients in the upcoming year. This substantial rise, the highest in a decade, will likely drive employers to implement selective care strategies.
Quality Over Quantity: A Shift in Employer Focus
According to Ellen Kelsay, CEO of the Business Group on Health, employers will be more discerning in the care options they offer. This involves encouraging workforce reliance on high-performance networks and centers of excellence, aimed at ensuring that employees receive services from the highest quality providers. Employers may implement curated networks with fewer, yet higher-quality providers.
- Access to High-Quality Care: Emphasis on promoting high-quality corporate healthcare services.
- Focus on Treatment Efficacy: Managing use of costly obesity and diabetes treatments with careful patient selection.
- Collaborative Health Models: Enhancing discussions among employees to foster well-being and productivity.
This surge in healthcare costs is not a new phenomenon. Kelsay highlights the ongoing concern with rising fundamental healthcare expenses as a challenge that has been prevalent for decades. Although strides are being made, there is still significant work to be done.
This article was prepared using information from open sources in accordance with the principles of Ethical Policy. The editorial team is not responsible for absolute accuracy, as it relies on data from the sources referenced.