Feb/March 2009 Edition
In this historic political year, we are fortunate to be on the cutting edge of health care reform and debate. The political attention placed squarely on health care reform is an opportunity many of our long-term readers, solution provider partners, and advisors have been hoping for.
We may come with different philosophies, but those interested in consumer-directed health care know that the system has to improve and making health care more responsive to consumers is key.
President Barack Obama has rightly said that health care reform and economic recovery go hand in hand. In a recent press conference he described the high cost of COBRA payments for laid-off workers, which is especially true for lower-income workers. Some employers are laudably giving generous severance packages that include continued health benefits.
What we’re seeing at CDHC Solutions is what we predicted: health care reform will take the form of continued employee-sponsored insurance benefits. All the fear-mongering about a giant government program is just that, and as enlightened readers, you are aware that there are many, many ways to improve health care in the United States that harness ingenuity and efficiency.
As we’ve heard, employers do not want to be left out of the planning. An awful lot of people, and the number is growing, are not insured under superior group coverage, which is particularly problematic for women in many states (their premiums are higher) and for people with preconditions, including pregnancy. How the country decides to cover these groups will likely affect you as employers more overtly than in raised premiums from increased emergency room expenses. Therefore CDHC Solutions will continue to provide you with up-to-date policy information, best practices, and innovative program opportunities.
We predict that you will continue to stay ahead of the curve, looking to implement innovative health and benefit solutions for your employees and clients. President Obama is stressing prevention and wellness, ideas you have been studying for quite some time. Your lessons learned will surely impact the direction of health care for the future.
In this issue, you will find more ideas for wellness programs in the cover feature and for pharmacy benefits management. We take a look at evidence-based medicine that improves the outcome of birth and labor, and also reduces medical costs. Improvements in vision care trends also are reducing major medical problems and costs.
This issue delves a little deeper into the ongoing confusion of choosing a CDHP plan versus a traditional health plan. We also tackle lagging consumer-friendly health plan websites with a few prescriptions for improving them.
Sadly, we say goodbye to our editorial director, Alison Amoroso, who has worked hard these last few years to bring you quality information that is also quick and easy to read in your busy lives. Deeply committed to these topics, she will bring her expertise to a think tank dedicated to improving health and well-being.
Please join us in welcoming Matt Bolch, a longtime business writer and magazine professional, as the new editor of CDHC Solutions. Feel free to contact Matt at mbolch[at]fieldmedia.com.
Log-in and tell us what you think, welcome our new editor, rate articles, join a forum, read past issues, start a blog, and join a community of industry professionals invested in improving health care.
Sincerely,
Doug Field CEO/Publisher
dfield[at]fieldmedia.com
Alison Amoroso, M.Ed. Editorial Director
aamoroso[at]fieldmedia.com