Studies show
more engagement in personal health care on the part of Western New Yorkers and
underline need for collective responsibility to drive health care reform
BUFFALO, N.Y.
(October 10, 2011) - Western New York consumers appear
well-prepared to continue their role in the national health care reform effort
by taking charge of their personal health, based on two recent studies.
The DSS Health Care
Engagement Indexä (www.dssresearch.com) finds Western New
Yorkers are more fully engaged or involved in their health care than typical
health plan members nationally by approximately 38 percent. Further, the DSS
findings indicate the proportion of Independent Health customers designated as
“engaged” or “involved” in their health care is larger than competitive
carriers’ customers by about 19 percent and 10 percent, respectively.
Another study on
health care reform, sponsored by Independent Health and conducted by
Thoroughbred Research Group, found Western New Yorkers increasingly realize the
impact of unhealthy behaviors on overall health care costs. Of commercial
consumers polled, 65.3 percent cite unhealthy lifestyles as having an impact on
rising costs. One year earlier, 58.2 percent believed unhealthy lifestyles
affected costs.
“These findings are
very encouraging,” said Michael Cropp, M.D., president and CEO, Independent
Health. “As the health care law continues its role in the national discussion
leading up to the November 2012 elections, Western New Yorkers have shown an
increased understanding of the responsibility every consumer has in changing
the course of health care costs.”
The survey results
also draw parallels between Western New Yorkers’ understanding of health care
reform and their understanding of the role of consumers in the health care
system. Those who say they understand the Patient Protection and Affordable
Care Act (PPACA) provisions are also more likely to acknowledge the
responsibility of consumers to maintain their own health – a key component to
lowering health care utilization and costs. Of commercial consumers who
understand the health care reform law, 70.5 percent believe consumers arepartly responsible
for “fixing” health care, compared with 43.5 percent among those who say they
don’t know much about health care reform.
This annual survey
aims to gauge Western New Yorkers’ reactions to health care reform and their
perceptions on the role of various participants within the reform effort.
Other key findings
include:
▪ Western New
Yorkers who understand PPACA are more likely to have a favorable opinion of
reform. Of those who rated their knowledge of health reform at the seven to 10
level, 64.8 percent had a favorable opinion of reform, compared with 36.8
percent who rated their knowledge in the one to six range (with 10 being the
highest and one being the lowest).
▪ Health insurers
continue to be seen as the party most responsible for “fixing” health care
among commercial consumers (74.3 percent) and Medicare beneficiaries (64.6
percent), followed closely by government (73.4 percent and 62.6 percent,
respectively).
▪ Commercial
consumers in particular are increasingly looking to businesses/employers,
doctors and pharmaceutical companies to “fix” health care. Perception of the
responsibility of these groups increased from the 2010 survey by an average of
about 22 percent.
▪ Of those who
understand the health reform law, 79.5 percent say it’s important to use
electronic medical records, compared to 60.1 percent among those who aren’t
confident in their knowledge of health care reform.
▪ Sixty-one percent
of all survey respondents say they want to know more about PPACA. The top three
topics of interest include the Medicare prescription coverage gap, access to
preventive screenings and financial help to low-income individuals who don’t
have insurance through their job.
Survey
results also indicate Independent Health is seen as taking the lead to deliver
affordable, quality care and the health plan offering the most health promotion
and fitness activities to better the community.
“We
continue to focus on empowering consumers by offering products, services and
programs that enable them to become more engaged in their health. We’re also continuing to partner with
physicians on programs that reward quality outcomes, rather than volume of
services, thus changing the health care paradigm from reactive care to
proactive care. In essence, we’re moving from health insurance to health
assurance,” said Dr. Cropp.
“While national
reform efforts remain a vital part of reshaping health care, the most
sustainable solutions will take place at the local level. Western New York must
continue to make progress toward improving the health and wellness of our
community by engaging in collaborative initiatives that improve the quality of
health care and reduce cost,” said Dr. Cropp. “We all have a role to play in
creating a culture of health in Western New York.”
DSS Research is a
national marketing research firm specializing in health care. Over the past 27
years, DSS has conducted research and provided insight for health insurance
organizations, hospitals and other health care providers across the country.
The firm’s services include product development services, satisfaction
research, brand analysis and strategy research, ad testing and tracking, market
segmentation research and health risk assessment, giving DSS a high-level view
of the evolving health insurance business. DSS employs more than 200 health
care market research specialists. More information is available at www.dssresearch.com.
The Independent
Health-sponsored survey included 500 telephone interviews, conducted by
Thoroughbred Research Group of Louisville, Ky., of local consumers of
commercial and Medicare health plans, with the data weighted to better
represent the local population. The interviews were conducted from April 28
through May 2, 2011.
Thoroughbred
Research Group is an employee-owned company headquartered in Louisville, Ky.
For more than 30 years it has worked with clients in a collaborative spirit to
deliver Preemptive, Proactive and
ProjectiveTM business critical research to a wide range of public and
private enterprises. National in scope, personal in delivery, Thoroughbred
Research Group has expertise in all types of data collection, web-enabled
research, qualitative and quantitative methodologies, analysis and consulting.
More information is available at www.torinc.net.
Headquartered in
Buffalo, Independent Health began operations in 1980 and has consistently been
rated among the top health plans in the country for customer service and member
satisfaction. Independent Health’s comprehensive portfolio of product and
service offerings include HMO, POS, PPO and EPO products, Medicare and Medicaid
plans, traditional indemnity insurance, consumer-directed plans, coverage for
self-funded employers, plus health savings account (HSA) and pharmacy benefit
management (PBM) services. Independent Health’s extensive provider networks
include more than 846,000 physicians, 3,700 hospitals, and 53,000 pharmacies
nationally. Combined, the company provides health benefits and services to
nearly 375,000 individuals in Western New York and throughout the country. For more information, visit Independent
Health’s website at www.independenthealth.com.
