The Solution

It is easier to define the problem than to implement a solution, but there is much more that a typical employer can do. RMP will help you control your future healthcare costs. The key to success is to become a smart purchaser of health insurance, and much depends upon the size of the purchasing group.

For most purchasers, these are the parameters of what you can control:

• Which Carrier To Offer
• Which Plan(s) To Offer (PPO, HMO, HSA)
• Contribution Levels For Each Plan
• Your Choice of An Advisor/Broker

Larger employers/purchasers have more options and opportunity to apply good risk management principles to their purchasing decisions. If possible, obtain claims data from medical, pharmacy, and other vendors in order to analyze spending patters, identify wasted dollars, and develop strategies to capture that waste. ALL purchasers should strive to implement the following risk management principles:

• Improved Quality (Leading to Reduced Costs)
• More Patient/Consumer Information and Education
• Greater Patient Involvement in their Healthcare Decisions
• Lifestyle Incentives (e.g., smoking, weight, exercise)
• Increased Adherence to “Best Practice” Care

We recommend that purchasers take the time to better understand Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and how consumer driven healthcare supports a multi-year strategy for controlling cost. Only by bringing the economics of healthcare back into your decision-making can you get a handle on your costs. More care is not better care. When you improve quality of care, you reduce costs. RMP can help.