Employers

A survey of employer and purchaser members of the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions found that over half expect a transition to a more stabilized business environment by the third quarter of this year, as well as increased benefit offerings on mental health access and virtual care delivery.

Hinge Health’s State of MSK Report 2021 found that although patient outcomes remained stagnant in the past decade, cost for musculoskeletal care doubled with services provided in emergency rooms and outpatient/inpatient facilities associated with significantly increased spend.

A value-based care team approach can be utilized to adequately treat patients’ medical problems, particularly by addressing the social, economic, and environmental challenges they’re facing in their everyday lives.

To adapt to a new requirement this year for all US hospitals to publicly post the costs for treatment services under every insurance plan, health systems should be prepared to field the range of questions that consumers may ask on issues such as outcomes data and cost for prospective services.

Citing 2021 as the year of the pharmacist, this year's CVS Health’s Health Trends Report discusses pressing issues for pharmacists to monitor, including availability of COVID-19 vaccines to communities nationwide, as well as integration of telehealth and behavioral health services.

In preparing for the upcoming implementation of the Interoperability and Patient Access final rule by CMS, best practices for health plans include prioritizing data mapping, sensitivity codes for privacy, and consumer-friendly language in accessible data for patients.

Jeffrey Hogan, Northeast regional manager of the Rogers Benefit Group and member of the Board of Directors for the Connecticut Business Group on Health, discussed how his organization helped providers navigate some of the challenges posed by the pandemic.

A survey found that 42% of US working adults were more stressed or anxious in the past year about taking a sick day to care for themselves or someone else compared with years past, with 1 sick day currently associated with a $227 earnings loss.

The Midwest Business Group on Health's program this week on behavioral health will explore strategies that employers have implemented to address rising anxiety and financial stressors in the workforce amid the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

An article by Willis Towers Watson discusses how employers are supporting their respective workforce amid the pandemic, with education of approved vaccines and effective communication channels with state and local health departments referenced as key actions to be taken at this time.

In addition to coronavirus disease 2019, several other factors will play a major role in health care policy reform for federal and state-level health officials this year, including the transition to value-based care and containment of high health care costs.

Humana and IBM Watson Health collaboration to streamline access to accurate information on benefits and health care costs for Humana employer group members, agents, and employers.

Several initiatives help to provide free clinical research and education to promote diversity and inclusion in clinical trials, as well as to spotlight and destigmatize mental health issues, noted Angela Colon-Mahoney, MS, Otsuka America Pharmaceutical Inc.

A survey by Willis Towers Watson found that nearly half of employer onsite and near-site health centers expanded virtual care services during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, including in chronic condition management and behavioral health.

Through an organizational commitment to diversity and inclusion initiatives, the biopharmaceutical industry can better serve historically underserved populations and cultivate a more diverse workforce and inclusive culture.

A 9% year-over-year increase was observed in the number of US Medicare beneficiaries who enrolled in a Medicare Advantage health plan in 2020, with the increase in enrollment influenced by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and its related effects.

Several factors will have a significant impact in the health care industry in 2021, such as management of disparities in vaccine administration and greater investment in telehealth, said Gurpreet Singh, MBA, US Health Services Leader at PwC.

Findings of the Change Healthcare 2020 Revenue Cycle Denials Index indicate that since the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, medical claim denials have risen 11% nationwide, with the most denial rates found in regions with the highest first wave of outbreaks.

Based on US health insurance consumer behavior reported in the eHealth Insights: 2020 Retrospective report, notable trends of the past year to watch for in 2021 include the popularity of $0 premium Medicare Advantage plans, the rise of telemedicine, and potential hesitancy against taking a vaccine for coronavirus disease 2019.

As coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continues to drive significant change in health care delivery, physician leaders affiliated with the Council for Accountable Physician Practices have worked to increase investment in strategies to address disparities in care exacerbated by the pandemic, such as value-based care and telemedicine.

Despite limited resources to combat the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, collaborative efforts among the government, health plans, and providers in Puerto Rico exemplify how care can be better optimized in communities in the United States impacted by disparities in health care services.

Robert Baird, RN, MSA, president of the National Cancer Treatment Alliance, discusses ways that employers of all sizes can pursue direct contracting with health care providers.

The top 5 most-read employer stories of 2020 on AJMC.com focused primarily on the role of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on several issues affecting the workplace, including adverse mental health outcomes, leave-related concerns, and the rise of virtual care.