Page 31 - Inspire Health January/February 2016
P. 31
lth care in America is “St. Luke’s is leading the region’s health radiologist; anesthesia services; and
changing. Health‑plan care providers by providing affordable post‑op visit at the physician office.
deductibles, co‑payments health care options and by offering For imaging studies, the bundled price
and other out‑of‑pocket costs are rising, easily understandable pricing options for includes the study and the radiologist
placing a greater strain than ever before patients,” said Joel Fagerstrom, executive reading the study and providing a report.
on the average family budget. vice president and chief operating officer,
In fact, a recent cost index survey by the St. Luke’s University Health Network. All St. Luke’s hospitals and outpatient
private foundation, Commonwealth Fund, “In fact we believe we are the first full locations are participating in the bundle
showed 30 percent of working age people service hospital and health system in pricing program except for the New Jersey
with moderate incomes and 53 percent the nation to offer this type of price locations. Those expected to get the
with low incomes have unaffordable transparency program.” greatest reward from the program are
health care costs. The index also showed patients with high‑deductible health plans
people who had high health‑care costs For surgical procedures, the bundled who aren’t on Medicaid and Medicare.
relative to their incomes were the most price on PriceChecker includes the
likely to skip or delay needed care or leave use of the operating/procedure room; Under the program, patients need to
prescriptions unfilled. the physician; any image/X‑ray and the pay in cash or by credit card in full before
But what if there was a way to services are provided. St. Luke’s plans to
comparative shop for procedures? ST. LUKE’S add more procedures in the future, too.
In an effort to clearly show patients what PRICECHECKER
they can expect to pay, St. Luke’s University PROGRAM SHOWS The program comes at a time when
Health Network has set up the St. Luke’s THE BUNDLED consumers are paying more than ever for
PriceChecker program, which shows the PRICE FOR CERTAIN health care, according to the consulting
bundled price for certain procedures and PROCEDURES AND firm Aon Hewitt. A recent Aon study
testing — giving patients the option of paying TESTING — GIVING showed the average health care premium
in advance for the services. The prices are PATIENTS THE rate increase for mid‑size and large
listed online at pricechecker.slhn.org. OPTION OF PAYING companies was 3.2 percent in 2015,
The web portal provides patients with IN ADVANCE FOR marking the lowest rate increase since Aon
an option to pay a single, bundled price THE SERVICES. began tracking the data in 1996. However,
in advance of an outpatient procedure. the report also showed employees at
No hidden fees or surprises once the those companies contributed $2,490
procedure is complete. toward the premium and another $2,208
in out‑of‑pocket costs, such as copayments,
coinsurance and deductibles in 2015.
“The sluggish growth in the economy
has deterred many individuals from using
medical services, and there’s also been
modest price inflation — both factors
have been primary drivers for the low
rates of premium increases over the past
few years,” said Mike Morrow, senior
vice president of Aon Health.
January § February 2016 INSPIRE HEALTH 31
changing. Health‑plan care providers by providing affordable post‑op visit at the physician office.
deductibles, co‑payments health care options and by offering For imaging studies, the bundled price
and other out‑of‑pocket costs are rising, easily understandable pricing options for includes the study and the radiologist
placing a greater strain than ever before patients,” said Joel Fagerstrom, executive reading the study and providing a report.
on the average family budget. vice president and chief operating officer,
In fact, a recent cost index survey by the St. Luke’s University Health Network. All St. Luke’s hospitals and outpatient
private foundation, Commonwealth Fund, “In fact we believe we are the first full locations are participating in the bundle
showed 30 percent of working age people service hospital and health system in pricing program except for the New Jersey
with moderate incomes and 53 percent the nation to offer this type of price locations. Those expected to get the
with low incomes have unaffordable transparency program.” greatest reward from the program are
health care costs. The index also showed patients with high‑deductible health plans
people who had high health‑care costs For surgical procedures, the bundled who aren’t on Medicaid and Medicare.
relative to their incomes were the most price on PriceChecker includes the
likely to skip or delay needed care or leave use of the operating/procedure room; Under the program, patients need to
prescriptions unfilled. the physician; any image/X‑ray and the pay in cash or by credit card in full before
But what if there was a way to services are provided. St. Luke’s plans to
comparative shop for procedures? ST. LUKE’S add more procedures in the future, too.
In an effort to clearly show patients what PRICECHECKER
they can expect to pay, St. Luke’s University PROGRAM SHOWS The program comes at a time when
Health Network has set up the St. Luke’s THE BUNDLED consumers are paying more than ever for
PriceChecker program, which shows the PRICE FOR CERTAIN health care, according to the consulting
bundled price for certain procedures and PROCEDURES AND firm Aon Hewitt. A recent Aon study
testing — giving patients the option of paying TESTING — GIVING showed the average health care premium
in advance for the services. The prices are PATIENTS THE rate increase for mid‑size and large
listed online at pricechecker.slhn.org. OPTION OF PAYING companies was 3.2 percent in 2015,
The web portal provides patients with IN ADVANCE FOR marking the lowest rate increase since Aon
an option to pay a single, bundled price THE SERVICES. began tracking the data in 1996. However,
in advance of an outpatient procedure. the report also showed employees at
No hidden fees or surprises once the those companies contributed $2,490
procedure is complete. toward the premium and another $2,208
in out‑of‑pocket costs, such as copayments,
coinsurance and deductibles in 2015.
“The sluggish growth in the economy
has deterred many individuals from using
medical services, and there’s also been
modest price inflation — both factors
have been primary drivers for the low
rates of premium increases over the past
few years,” said Mike Morrow, senior
vice president of Aon Health.
January § February 2016 INSPIRE HEALTH 31
