The high and unreasonable price of healthcare — and the burden those prices are putting on employers — is finally getting attention in Washington. The Trump Administration has warned over 500 hospitals, including 42 here in Texas, that they need to comply with price transparency laws or face massive penalties. And Congress is holding hearings on the foundational nature of price transparency in healthcare.
But actually lowering healthcare expenses starts with us.
Healthcare prices have been rising too fast for too long. We can’t wait for Washington to take action — and we don’t have to.
» Texas Employers can use the member resources we make available for free to identify opportunities to improve the efficiency, value, and price of their own health plans right now.
» Texas Lawmakers can continue to advance common sense solutions that correct the market dysfunction and perverse incentives driving healthcare prices up.
Texans aren’t ones to sit around waiting for someone to save them. That’s why we work with employers and lawmakers to identify root causes and develop policies to set things right.
“Until and unless states, employers and physicians coalesce around transformational changes that solve healthcare’s glaring problems, not much will change (until the system collapses).”
—Paul Keckley, Ph.D.
HEADLINE NEWS
Prices are up, but satisfaction is down when it comes to health plans
Fifty-three percent of commercial health plan members experienced a monthly premium increase this year, which was associated with a 116-point decline in member satisfaction, JD Power found. Another 34% of members experienced an annual deductible increase, which was associated with a 111-point decline.
Tackling healthcare consolidation through ownership transparency
CFOs want to understand volatility and predictability. Bringing them a clear breakdown on price, utilization, and mix helps move the conversation from “our costs are up again” to “here’s what is driving it, and here’s where we can act.”
Dozens of Texas hospitals could face fines over lack of price transparency
The Trump administration has warned more than 500 hospitals, including 42 in Texas, that they are failing to provide the public with basic pricing information — arguing that the lack of disclosure is keeping healthcare costs higher than they should be.
Small-and-Mid-Sized Businesses want better healthcare options
Nearly one-third (30%) of small-and-mid-sized businesses with fewer than 50 employees report that health insurance costs are worsening their business situation. 85% of SMBs believe there may be valuable options they haven’t explored, and 78% say more information could change their choices.