Question

Employers are making an effort to involve employees more in their health care. This is evidenced by the increase in consumer-directed health plans being offered by employers today. Employers feel that the more informed and engaged an employee is, the lower their health care costs will be. Employee engagement is a way for employers to battle rising health care costs and outlook on managed care plans.

What managed care trends do you think affect employers today and which do you think has the greatest impact on employers? Explain your perspective with examples. Do these trends impact small and large employers the same or not?

Answer 1

MANAGED CARE TRENDS THAT AFFECT EMPLOYEES: The three important trends that have impact on the healthcare managing industry is Trend 1. Chronic Condition Management: Based on a 2013 National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than half of the population aged 60 above is affected by chronic diseases and most of the health care sysytem cater services to reduce these illnesses on humans. Managing these conditions becomes increasingly important to support their outcomes and keep costs in check. To reduce these illnesses, the care management system must deal with a) appropriate predictive risk stratification b) address individuals care planning c) integrate physical, social and behavioral health and d) improve planning. Trend 2. Mobile Health: This trend is at the increasing use, as both younger and older generations use mobile technologies to access their information anytime, anywhere on any device. To implement quality employees, the health care system should encourage the patients to use direct enquiries than telephonic responses. In addition to this, face-face interactions, secure e-mail, texts and social media can be added to improve the health care delivery system. Trend 3. Medication Therapy Management and Adherence: The study based on the research by Medicare and Medicaid services, the medication therapy programs consistently improve medication adherence in patients. To reduce chronic conditions and to cure diseases, medication has a pivotal role in health care system. Engaging with community pharamacist must be considered to implement medication therapy. In my perspective Trend 2. Mobile Health should be considered first in managing health care system. The mobile apps are used as an educational tools for medical training or these apps reinforces the training previously received. For instance use of videos, interactive diagrams are used in the puopose of education and are not intended to use in the diagnosis of the diseases. HEALTH CARE TRENDS ON SMALL AND LARGE EMPLOYERS: The challenge of providing health care to employees is not new in the field of managing health care system. a) The recent trend shows that, the larger employers maintained their health coverage than small health cares. b) More employees are required employees to run a health care system. The smaller companies are not compelled to other health services and exchange tax credits.