March 15, 2016
Why Healthcare Costs Soar (Part 6) Summary: A fundamental problem: 8% of employees represent 80% of healthcare costs -- and the 8% changes every 12 to 18 months. By: Tom Emerick
Part 5 of this series, the marketing around value-based contracts/ACOs has also positioned that concept as a solution, when, in reality, performance contracts with provider have also been around for 25-plus years. Employers continue to be faced with this problem: About 8% of their population consumes 80% of the total healthcare spending, and that 8% changes every 12-18 months. Is it time to get back to the basics? Should the focus be on finding the right physicians committed to delivering evidence-based healthcare, and then ensuring that patients are accessing care from these providers? When providers see that employers are truly committed to supply chain management, we can expect the process of care to change significantly, and there will be a commitment to removing the waste from the system. As with many other industries, the ultimate purchaser has the ultimate power, by working with the interested suppliers to improve the process and to increase quality and lower costs. Tom Emerick
[email protected] Tom Emerick is partner and chief strategy officer in Chicago-based Laurus Strategies and president of Emerick Consulting. Emerick's years with Wal-Mart Stores, Burger King, British Petroleum and American Fidelity Assurance have provided him with an excellent blend of experience and contacts.
