Despite increasing mergers, hospitals can stay competitive in consolidated markets by utilizing tiered or narrow networks, said Paul B. Ginsburg, PhD, the Leonard D. Schaeffer Chair in Health Policy Studies at the Brookings Institution and a professor of health policy at the University of Southern California.
Despite increasing mergers, hospitals can stay competitive in consolidated markets by utilizing tiered or narrow networks, said Paul B. Ginsburg, PhD, the Leonard D. Schaeffer Chair in Health Policy Studies at the Brookings Institution and a professor of health policy at the University of Southern California.
Transcript (slightly modified)
What tools can payers and others use in consolidated markets to make those markets more competitive despite mergers?
Probably the most powerful tool is narrow networks. Narrow networks have been very popular on the marketplace exchanges, and for good reason, because the premiums they offer are substantially lower than plans with broad networks. So in a sense, insurers have found that that’s a way they can get better prices from providers in a consolidated market, or in an unconsolidated market as well.
There’s something else that’s very much in the news now, is that tiered networks also have a lot of potential to foster competition in consolidated markets. They’ve often been blocked by anti-steering provisions that dominant hospitals have required in their contracts with insurers. Massachusetts had dealt with this by outlawing those provisions. But last week, we learned that the Department of Justice is suing a large system in Charlotte, North Carolina, as … its contracts violate the anti-trust laws. So I’m going to be very excited to watch how that develops.
Overcoming Employment Barriers for Lasting Social Impact: Freedom House 2.0 and Pathways to Work
April 16th 2024To help celebrate and recognize National Minority Health Month, we are bringing you a special month-long podcast series with our Strategic Alliance Partner, UPMC Health Plan. Welcome to our second episode, in which we learn all about Freedom House 2.0 and the Pathways to Work program.
Listen
Dr Michael Farwell on FDG PET/CT Imaging to Predict Immunotherapy Response in Advanced Melanoma
April 15th 2024Michael Farwell, MD, associate professor of radiology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, provides insights into a study on the benefits of using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT imaging to detect metabolic tumor changes in skin cancer.
Read More
Making Giant Strides in Maternity Health Through Baby Steps
April 9th 2024To help celebrate and recognize National Minority Health Month, we are kicking off a special month-long podcast series with our strategic alliance partner, UPMC Health Plan. Welcome to our first episode, which is all about the Baby Steps Maternity Program and its mission to support women throughout every step of their pregnancy journey.
Listen
Increasing Lp(a) Awareness for Better Cardiovascular Health: Dr Mary McGowan
March 24th 2024For Lp(a) Awareness Day, Mary McGowan, MD, FNLA, chief medical officer of the Family Heart Foundation, highlights how most people with elevated Lp(a) are completely unaware that they have this increased risk and calls for increased testing.
Read More
Dr Al Benson on Reimbursement for Supportive Care When Treating Patients With Cancer
March 22nd 2024Al Benson, MD, FACP, FACCC, FASCO, medical oncologist at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and associate director of the Robert E. Tillery Comprehensive Cancer Center, discussed findings from a national survey assessing barriers to comprehensive cancer care delivery.
Read More