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New Booz Allen Hamilton Study Finds Consumers Are Taking More Responsibility for Health-Care Decisions, but Physicians Face Increasing Competition (BUSINESS WIRE, 4/14/07)

As consumers take on greater cost responsibility in their health-care, they are beginning to act like true retail customers. A new study by the management consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton found that many health-care consumers are shopping for products and services, and expecting competition among providers and suppliers--but they still lack the information they need to make informed choices in critical areas. In many cases, consumers expect physicians to provide information on cost and quality. However, physicians are often unwilling or unable to assume that role and unaware of other changes needed in the traditional physician-patient relationship. The gap between emerging patient needs and what providers are supplying has opened up a need for new trusted sources of health-care information.

Booz Allen commissioned a Harris Interactive poll of almost 3,000 consumers and 600 physicians in the U.S. to examine how the transition to a retail market in health-care is impacting decision-making and influencing behavior. Consumers surveyed included individuals enrolled in traditional health plans, as well as patients with greater cost responsibility enrolled in high deductible health plans (both those with and without associated savings vehicles like Health Savings Accounts and Health Reimbursement Arrangements). Key findings of the study include:

Consumers with greater cost responsibility are more aware of cost and quality differences, but are only beginning to act upon this information to “shop” for value. These consumers are more likely to substitute lower-cost options for products or services; nearly 40 percent reported being very or extremely likely to use a primary care doctor instead of a specialist for advice and treatment, or to change prescription drugs to secure a lower price. In fact, 68 percent were willing to switch from a branded prescription drug to a generic to save money, and 34 percent would change from one branded drug to another for the same purpose.

Although only a minority of consumers in this group appear to be active in managing their health-care costs, they are clearly more active than consumers with traditional health plans.

Company Launches Health Savings Account Website (InsideIndianaBusiness.com Report, 4/11/2007)

A new Web site, www.HSAcenter.com, offers consumers a convenient, one-stop location to find comprehensive, straightforward information on health savings accounts (HSAs) and how they work.

Among its features are an extensive question-and-answer section and five key questions that help individuals determine if an HSA is the right choice for them and their families.

Launched by UnitedHealthcare's Golden Rule Insurance Company, an HSA pioneer and leader in the individual and family health insurance market, www.HSAcenter.com provides consumer-friendly information presented in multiple formats including text, video, flash and audio. Additional and updated content, including an HSA calculator, will be added on a regular basis.

Posted by Orrin Judd at April 15, 2007 6:11 AM