Healthcare Trends in America
The 2009 edition of Healthcare Trends in America: A Reference Guide from BCBSA – formerly called the Medical Cost Reference Guide – is a resource that provides information on trends in the healthcare industry from nationally recognized sources. The Reference Guide is organized around four goals that BCBSA believes will demonstrate fundamental improvements in our healthcare system.
- Increasing Access to Health Coverage – Health insurance coverage trends, including employer-sponsored coverage, government-sponsored coverage and the uninsured.
- Keeping Healthcare Affordable – Global and national healthcare spending trends, with specifics on use of funds and how growth of spending compares with relevant macroeconomic trends.
- Promoting Quality and Safety –Initiatives aimed at increasing quality of healthcare delivery, including the reduction of variations in care, adherence to evidence based care and provider incentive models.
- Improving Consumer Health – Factors affecting consumer healthcare decisions and engagement, as well as the impact of disease, preventive care and poor lifestyle choices.
In addition to sections on each of the four goals, the 2009 edition also features a section on changing care delivery model trends, including alternative provider settings and the use of online interfaces to connect healthcare practitioners to patients and other providers.
1 Increasing Access to Health Coverage
Highlights: 250 million Americans have health insurance, but more than 45 million are uninsured.
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2 Keeping Healthcare Affordable
Hightlights: The U.S. spends more on healthcare than any other nation, and premium increases outpace CPI. Employers continue to bear most of employee premiums.
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3 Promoting Quality and Safety
Highlight: Variations-in-care account for more than $10 billion in avoidable hospital costs and lost worker productivity. Variations may be reduced by adherance to evidence-based care.
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4 Improving Consumer Health
Highlights: 5% of the U.S. population accounts for nearly 50% of total healthcare expenditures. Obesity continues to rise, leading to increased diabetes diagnoses. Preventive care and screening are receiving increased focus.
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5 Changing Care Delivery Models
Highlights: Potential cost savings from patient centered medical homes. Consumers find medical tourism and retail clinics increasingly appealing. Use of telemedicine, e-prescribing, and electronic medical records is rising.
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