Early findings from the Vitals for Change Scorecard, a guide for employers from Mercer and Catalyst for Payment Reform
Frustration with the US health care system is mounting. There’s a disconnect between what we spend and what we get in terms of high-quality outcomes and a good patient experience.
Employers have the power to change that. They provide health care to a majority of Americans and their combined influence and purchasing power could move the market toward higher quality and less waste. Mercer’s Vitals for Change framework calls on employer health plan sponsors to demand more for their employees and their families in four key areas that target systemic problems in the health care system and drive positive disruption and innovation. To amplify this message, Mercer and the nonprofit organization Catalyst for Payment Reform partnered to create the Vitals for Change Scorecard, a free assessment and benchmarking tool that takes 20 minutes and helps employers identify how to optimize their health benefits programs.
More than 30 employers have completed the Scorecard since it launched last month. Although the database is still small (but growing fast!), we reviewed the early responses for a first snapshop of how things stand in each of the four Vitals for Change areas. While these findings are preliminary and can’t be considered representative, they suggest that some employers are starting to shake up the status quo. Here are some highlights.
Vital 1: Pay for value - Reimburse providers based on quality and outcomes, not volume
Vital 2: Drive to quality - Steer members to high-quality care using data, technology and user insights
Vital 3: Personalize the experience - Build engagement by providing choice and customizing member interactions
Vital 4: Embrace disruption - Seek out opportunities in the rapidly changing health care ecosystem to work together to change the status quo
We are just beginning to delve into the data to understand how employers today are serving as change agents. Taking the Vitals for Change Scorecard will give employers a quick tutorial on transformative health care strategies. Many of the practices listed are only just now becoming actionable, so employers, be forewarned: If you take the Scorecard, don’t expect to check most -- or even many -- of the boxes! But you will come away with a better sense how your organization’s approach fits with where the market is going – and how you compare with your peers.
Click here for more information and to preview the Scorecard questions in a PDF.
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