Karen Ignagni Describes the Cascade Effect Consumers Have on the Healthcare Ecosystem

As the healthcare industry moves to a more consumerism based environment, the number one goal for health plans is to have affordable options, explained Karen Ignagni, president and chief executive officer of America’s Health Insurance Plans.

Just one of the ways health plans are leading the way is by development new payment arrangements to move toward a more holistic, comprehensive, and performance-based system, she said.

“Consumers are in the game now,” Ms Ignagni said. “They’re making the choices themselves, which is very different from the old days where someone was choosing for them. And when consumers began to make choices, then there’s a cascade effect across the entire healthcare ecosystem.”