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Survey results show physicians, employers have differing opinions about health care
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There was agreement among physicians, consumers and employers who participated in a national survey about the need for fundamental changes to make the U.S. health care system work better, but survey results showed these groups disagreed on the payments, responsibility and barriers associated with health care reform.
In a white paper that reported results of a Leavitt Partners Health Intelligence Partners survey performed between May and July 2017, researchers found 10% of physicians, 26% of employers and 17% of consumers believe the U.S. health care system works reasonably well and must undergo only minor changes. In comparison, results showed 90% of physicians and about 70% of employers and consumers believe either fundamental changes or a completely rebuilt health care system is needed.
Researchers found the groups surveyed placed most of the responsibility for problems in the health care system on insurance companies and the government vs. hospitals (3% to 6%), physicians (1% to 6%) and patients (3% to 4%).
Physicians and employers both believed health care costs could be contained through cost transparency tools and an increased emphasis on wellness and prevention, based on the results.
Similarly, 52% of physicians and 54% employers believed better management of heavy utilizers of care and of behavioral and mental health may help curb health care costs. There was disagreement between physicians and employers regarding the efficacy of some measures to contain costs with 46% of employers stating bundled payments can lower spending vs. 21% of physicians who agreed that was the case. Researchers found 48% of employers and 22% of physicians believed accountable care organizations are a promising way to lower costs.
Researchers found little consensus about the responsibility to drive reform and no agreement on barriers to reform. Physicians surveyed cited regulatory burden as the major barrier to payment reform, 26% of employers believed regulatory burden is too high and 27% of employers believed providers’ unwillingness to participate is a major obstacle in payment reform.
The intent of the survey was to identify differences in thought between stakeholders in the health care system. The hope is the results will aid recognition of these differences and improvements in health care, according to David Muhlestein, PhD, JD, chief research officer at Leavitt Partners.
“When people recognize different relevant stakeholders view the problem in a different way, it allows the conversation to focus on how you improve it, as opposed to assuming we are on the same page,” Muhlestein told Orthopedics Today. – by Casey Tingle
- Reference:
- The state of health care today: How physicians, consumers and employers view health care costs, outcomes and reform efforts. Available at: https://leavittpartners.com/2018/01/state-health-care-today-physicians-consumers-employers-view-health-care-costs-outcomes-reform-efforts/. Accessed Feb. 9, 2018.
- For more information:
- David Muhlestein, PhD, JD, can be reached at email: jordana.choucair@leavittpartners.com.
Disclosure: Muhlestein reports no relevant financial disclosures.