As the economy slowly emerges from a devastating recession, managing health care costs among private and public employers remains a top priority as a way to maintain profitability and balance budgets.
Businesses, public entities and individuals are at a common point where it’s more important than ever to work with health care providers to better manage health care costs through innovative technologies and resources.
Research shows that properly informed individuals who are engaged and encouraged to practice healthier living could see a dramatic improvement in their health.
At a time when budgets are tight for public institutions, businesses and families, it is imperative to take advantage of programs available to manage personal health and provide cost-efficient health care plans.
Fortunately, health plans, hospitals, well-being companies and health care trade associations have introduced a host of new initiatives to help people better manage their health care.
The Internet is playing a significant role in making information available on matters involving healthy living and best care practices. Even more so, in some cases individuals can now easily access ongoing documentation of their own health care histories, regardless of the physician or health care system that provides treatment – something UnitedHealthcare makes available through its Personal Health Record program.
There are Web sites that contain rankings of hospital performance, allowing individuals to gauge the quality of care available. One example is the Wisconsin Hospital Association (www.wicheckpoint.org). The Web site ranks hospitals for performance and patient satisfaction based on criteria such as death rates, infections, a variety of common procedures and patient safety practices.
The federal government makes similar information available to consumers through its “Hospital Compare” Web site (http://www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov), and private organizations such as the nonprofit “Consumers’ Checkbook” use government statistics along with their own research to compare and rank hospitals.
As health care continues to be a focal point of discussion on the local and national levels, being literate in and understanding of health care terminology is critical. Consumers can learn how to navigate health care’s many entities by visiting www.healthcarelane.com.
The site provides insight about online health tools and calculators, Health Savings Accounts, common health insurance terms, and information about wellness programs and healthy lifestyles.
Increasingly, employers and individuals are embracing new programs designed to improve wellness or better manage prescription drugs. Wisconsin leads the country in implementing UnitedHealthcare’s half tablet program, which encourages individuals to purchase larger dosages of certain medications in smaller amounts and splitting the pills for consumption as a way to save on prescription drug costs.
Many insurance companies are developing targeted plans to help better coordinate care for individuals with specific illnesses. UnitedHealthcare, for example, now offers a health care plan designed to help the rapidly growing numbers of diabetics and pre-diabetics manage their conditions more effectively while controlling employers’ escalating costs of insuring them.
The first-of-its-kind Diabetes Health Plan requires participants to comply with evidence-based guidelines for treatment of their illness. Individuals who meet their plan’s required guidelines receive significant savings on out-of-pocket expenses such as lower co-payments for related doctor visits and even free diabetes supplies.
People who take a more active role in their health care improve their path to healthier lifestyles and play a more collaborative role in decision making. When patients and doctors have a more open dialogue and utilize technologies that empower them to adopt healthier lifestyles, they can improve medical outcomes.
Resources are available on many fronts to help manage health care costs. Employers should identify resources available through their health plan and other outlets, and encourage employees to take advantage of the information and services available. Ultimately, such resources can lead to healthier lifestyles and better management of health care costs.
Wendy Arnone is president and CEO of UnitedHealthcare of Wisconsin.
