http://commonhealth.wbur.org/harvard-pilgrim-health-care/2008/03/revisting-the-exchange-model-by-bruce-bullen/ CommonHealth Sat, 20 Mar 2010 18:13:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 http://commonhealth.wbur.org/harvard-pilgrim-health-care/2008/03/revisting-the-exchange-model-by-bruce-bullen/comment-page-1/#comment-6455 bruce bullen Tue, 18 Mar 2008 14:13:21 +0000 http://www.wbur.org/weblogs/commonhealth/?p=399#comment-6455 Peter: I agree with much of what you say about the need to control costs and would argue that health plans have addressed many areas of cost. When free choice of provider and open networks are the market norm however prices rise. All the more reason to give health plans the freedom to offer a full range of product choices. Peter: I agree with much of what you say about the need to control costs and would argue that health plans have addressed many areas of cost. When free choice of provider and open networks are the market norm however prices rise. All the more reason to give health plans the freedom to offer a full range of product choices.

]]> http://commonhealth.wbur.org/harvard-pilgrim-health-care/2008/03/revisting-the-exchange-model-by-bruce-bullen/comment-page-1/#comment-6453 Norma Tue, 18 Mar 2008 11:40:54 +0000 http://www.wbur.org/weblogs/commonhealth/?p=399#comment-6453 What we don't need is either the Commonwealth Connector or private insurance companies because they are the ones causing all the problems. What we don’t need is either the Commonwealth Connector or private insurance companies because they are the ones causing all the problems.

]]> http://commonhealth.wbur.org/harvard-pilgrim-health-care/2008/03/revisting-the-exchange-model-by-bruce-bullen/comment-page-1/#comment-6452 Peter Tue, 18 Mar 2008 08:15:50 +0000 http://www.wbur.org/weblogs/commonhealth/?p=399#comment-6452 Mr. Bullen: One might ask the same question of "health plans" (i.e., Revisit private health insurance?)if all you can offer as options for achieving more affordable products is increasing deductibles through HSAs and and axing drug benefits. And based on what I've read, the "5%" premium increase for the Connector products is really more like 8-10% once you take into account the benefit reductions in the products--not much of a cap when overall inflation is 2-3%. The Connector has certainly made it easier to buy health insurance and gotten better prices and more product choice for individuals than existed in the market before. But it's still relying on private health plans to make coverage affordable. The flaw in the model is that even big plans like HPHC seem to have little ability (or resolve) to control rising costs, other than by "innovations" like cutting benefits. So our cost problems are much deeper than the Exchange model. The question is: what can we do about the root causes of our cost problems (e.g., provider monopolies, drug prices, uncontrolled proliferation of technology, destructive competition among providers, fee for service payment, and high administrative costs), and do we have the courage to really take this on? So far, I see little evidence. And pretending like all would be well if only we had more "choice" from the Connector doesn't give me much hope for the future. Mr. Bullen: One might ask the same question of “health plans” (i.e., Revisit private health insurance?)if all you can offer as options for achieving more affordable products is increasing deductibles through HSAs and and axing drug benefits. And based on what I’ve read, the “5%” premium increase for the Connector products is really more like 8-10% once you take into account the benefit reductions in the products–not much of a cap when overall inflation is 2-3%. The Connector has certainly made it easier to buy health insurance and gotten better prices and more product choice for individuals than existed in the market before. But it’s still relying on private health plans to make coverage affordable. The flaw in the model is that even big plans like HPHC seem to have little ability (or resolve) to control rising costs, other than by “innovations” like cutting benefits. So our cost problems are much deeper than the Exchange model. The question is: what can we do about the root causes of our cost problems (e.g., provider monopolies, drug prices, uncontrolled proliferation of technology, destructive competition among providers, fee for service payment, and high administrative costs), and do we have the courage to really take this on? So far, I see little evidence. And pretending like all would be well if only we had more “choice” from the Connector doesn’t give me much hope for the future.

]]>