Tag Archives: health care costs

Using data to move toward transparency: Six things health care providers can do

In our previous blog, “RISK now matters to health care providers”, we introduced the RISKMATTERS publication from Optum and touched on the latest conversation in the spring edition—health care providers managing financial risk becoming data-rich and insight-strong. And a new trend report in the spring edition, Transparency becoming health care’s new normal, kicks off the […]
Read More »

RISK now matters to health care providers

For the past several years, the U.S. health care industry has undergone a significant transformation in its payment structure, with many organizations evolving from supporting the current fee-for-service to a value-based payment model. A 2015 U.S. Department of Health & Human Services news release articulated its support for a new model when it set a […]
Read More »

Transparency provides competitive edge for health care providers

As high-deductible health plans become increasingly popular, cost may become a primary deciding factor for consumers seeking medical providers. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that consumers want the cheapest price. Instead, they want to spend their dollars wisely by understanding pricing and seeing clear accountability for outcomes. In a word, they want transparency. “The future […]
Read More »

Three important tips for high-deductible plans

In 2014, the average person with a single-coverage, employer-sponsored plan had a $1217 deductible.1 According to a recent Commonwealth Fund study, more than 20% of insured adults ages 19-54 spend at least 5 percent of their income on out-of-pocket medical costs – not including premiums. Of that same group, 13% spend at least 10 percent […]
Read More »

Four steps to population health management: Step four— Expand chronic disease management to the full attributed population

In our last blog post, we talked about high-acuity patients, such as those with chronic conditions, who are at high risk for admissions and readmissions. These patients, who drive a disproportionate amount of health care costs, need to be closely monitored post-discharge and targeted for intervention to keep them on the road to recovery. Using […]
Read More »

Companies succeed in engaging employees in their health and wellness

One of the world’s largest global airlines, Delta has approximately 76,000 employees and 170,000 health plan members. And, due to the nature of its business, reaching all those employees poses a significant challenge. Delta looked to Optum’s Personal Health Support (PHS-TP) solution for an innovative approach including: Comprehensive activation strategy that drives engagement across multiple, […]
Read More »

Promoting employee health? Don’t forget finances.

According to the 2013 Milliman Medical Index, annual medical costs for a family of four are now higher than a year of groceries. And you likely feel the pressure: at home and at work. As you’re thinking about how to drive health ownership among employees, it’s important to focus not just on physical and behavioral […]
Read More »

Using advanced analytics to improve quality and cost for COPD patients

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, represent a huge chunk of the nation’s health care costs. In 2010, COPD-related costs totaled $49.9 billion, including $29.5 billion in direct health care expenditures, $8 billion in indirect morbidity costs and $12.4 billion in indirect mortality costs. It is a major cause of hospitalizations in the […]
Read More »

Data analytics optimize providers’ management of value-based contracts

Providers who manage value-based contracts are looking for ways to improve clinical outcomes and reduce costs. And they’re doing this by acquiring care management strategies and an ability to build better predictive risk models for high-risk populations. With a just small sliver of the U.S. population accounting for a bulk of health care costs, provider […]
Read More »

Where you retire could make a big difference in your health care costs

Baby boomers have different retirement dreams than their parents had. They’re looking for dynamic downtowns, culture and arts, and opportunities to explore nature and practice active lifestyles in top-quality sports facilities. One item they may want to add to their must-have lists: quality health care at an affordable cost.