The Leapfrog Group, an independent national watchdog organization representing employers, released findings on employer perspectives regarding health plan effectiveness in achieving health care quality, safety and value. Conducted as a confidential online survey, a total of 174 employers nati onwide participated, representing an estimated 4 million insured lives. Survey respondents were executives that administer and fund benefits for employees and dependents. Respondents cited their experience with health plans including Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, as well as a range of BlueCross and BlueShield (BCBS) plans, including Anthem and more than a dozen state BCBS plans.
HR Technology News: Online School Made Simple: K12 Inc. Introduces New Tech Tools for Thousands of Students
The survey prompted employers to identify which health plan(s) they partnered with, and rate those plans on the following four key issues: Responsiveness of the health plan to employer concerns; transparency in helping employers and employees choose the best providers; payment reform initiatives that incentivize excellence in the market; and, value strategies driven by health plans.
Among the plans reported in the survey, respondents gave Cigna the highest marks for its efforts towards driving for value. Respondents gave UnitedHealthcare the lowest ratings, with the most room for improvement in value, reducing costs and improving quality. Aetna led among plans for putting a focus on quality.
HR Technology News: TecHRseries Interview with Deborah Kearney, Global Senior Director of Human Resources at Cygilant
“We congratulate Cigna for achieving the highest ratings from their employer clients,” said Leah Binder, President & CEO of The Leapfrog Group, “But no health plan is earning an ‘A’ from their employer clients for improving health care, and that is disappointing.”
“As a former health benefits executive myself, I’m not surprised that employers said their health plans were less aggressive about quality and transparency than employers preferred,” said Jill Berger, Leapfrog’s director of Employee and Payor Engagement, “This survey brings into focus the conversations employee benefit executives have been having for a long time.” Berger was previously a health benefits executive for Marriott International and GM, among other companies.
HR Technology News: AAAS And Wiley Collaborate To Drive The STEM Workforce Forward