Diving Profile:
- employer In a report released Thursday, the Leapfrog Group gave their health plans a “C” when evaluating their ability to provide high-quality health care to their employees.
- While results varied, health plans scored lower on average in the latest ranking than in previous years, with a GPA of 2.29 compared with 2.57 in 2020, the report said.
- Finally, employers say they prioritize quality of care over other factors like cost when evaluating health plan options for employees.
Dive Insights:
The Leapfrog survey asked more than 100 employers to assign an “A” to “F” letter grade to their health plans based on overall quality, cost-effectiveness and value. The “C” grade reflects employers’ belief that their health plans “have significant room for improvement in all categories surveyed,” the report said.
Findings present challenges for employers, especially in Passage of the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2020 places greater onus on employers to ensure health benefits are cost-effective and high-quality for workers, the report said.
Respondents were asked to rate their health plans on four metrics: responsiveness to employer concerns, transparency in helping members find the best provider, payment reform initiatives, and value strategy.
According to the Leapfrog report, among employers surveyed, quality of care was the most important factor when deciding which health plans to choose for their employees.
Some 57% of employers say their health plans care about quality, and 53% say their plans are Working to reduce unnecessary costs, 59% said their plans allow employees to access available data.
The survey found that employers were less likely to be satisfied with their plans to share quality data to help members choose the best suppliers and alternative payment model offerings.
“We were somewhat surprised by the survey results, which clearly showed that employers cared first and foremost about quality of care,” Leapfrog CEO Leah Binder said in a release. “They want results. The report identifies specific issues that seem to be disappointing employers, and how successful health plans earn their trust.”
Leapfrog report doesn’t address executives’ concerns about inflation, but employers are expected to face Health plan costs can quickly add up dramatically.
Employer health expenses are Expected to rise 6.5% This year, compared to 3.7% in 2021-2022, Aon report found.
