WASHINGTON, May 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Collaboration among a broad set
of industry stakeholders is vital to tackling many of the largest issues
facing the health care and preferred provider organization (PPO) industries,
according to a report released today by the American Association of Preferred
Provider Organizations (AAPPO).
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060126/CLTH062LOGO )
The annual report, OutlookConnect - 2008 Market & Industry Trend Report, found
that while competition, consolidation and consumerism are trends that continue
to be prominent in the PPO industry, the focus in the next several years needs
to be on collaboration. The report is based on interviews with key industry
stakeholders as well as data from AAPPO's research partner, Mercer.
"Our report found that stakeholders believe the PPO industry is at a pivotal
point where issues demand profound and potentially uncomfortable solutions --
and that these solutions require us to work with nontraditional allies in
order to improve the flow of needed information among preferred provider
networks, payers and providers in order to improve the health care experience
for all consumers," said Karen Greenrose, CEO and president of AAPPO. "I am
proud of the work AAPPO has accomplished to forge relationships with groups
like the American Medical Association, and believe similar collaborations will
only benefit consumers and the health care industry as a whole."
Key findings from the report include:
-- Politics, both at the state and national level, will have a
significant
impact on the PPO industry in 2008. The presidential election will
continue to shine a spotlight on national health care policy, while
increased activity in state legislatures to reform health care will
require the industry to be even more politically active, especially in
regard to the AMA model act reforming PPO contracting.
-- Technology continues to offer the most promise, as well as the most
frustration in the PPO industry. While PPOs are identifying
innovative
ways to implement technology and health IT solutions, lack of adoption
of technology by physicians and other industry stakeholders stymies
the
full benefits technology could reap.
-- Disease management and wellness programs will remain popular as more
research emerges highlighting the benefits -- both health and
financial
-- of preventing chronic diseases versus providing long-term
treatment.
-- Enrollment in PPOs held steady in 2007, with 61 percent of all covered
employees enrolled in PPOs. Enrollment in PPO-based consumer directed
health plans (CDHPs) rose to 5 percent in 2007 from 3 percent in 2006.
-- More employers are using incentives to encourage employees to
participate in health management programs, such as health risk
assessments and behavior modification programs. The use of incentives
rose significantly among large employers in 2007 -- 23 percent up from
13 percent in 2005.
-- Large employers (those with over 10,000 employees) plan to utilize new
strategies for cost management over the next five years. Eighty-one
percent are interested in pursuing evidence-based design strategies,
and
63 percent are interested in pursuing the creation of personal health
records.
"PPOs are chosen by more than 165 million Americans, which represents nearly
67 percent of all insured Americans," said Allen Karp, AAPPO chairman and vice
president for Health Care Delivery for Aetna. "The popularity of PPOs, we
believe, is due to our industry's dedication to preserving the hallmarks of
the PPO delivery system for consumers and employers -- choice, quality and
flexibility."
About the American Association of Preferred Provider Organizations (AAPPO)
Founded in 1983, AAPPO (www.aappo.org) is the leading national association of
preferred provider organizations (PPOs). PPOs put control for medical
decisions in the hands of the physician and patient, resulting in easy access
to the right care, provided by the right doctor, at the right time. AAPPO
creates a forum for discussion and dissemination of PPO best practices.
SOURCE American Association of Preferred Provider Organizations
Teresa Schofield of American Association of Preferred Provider Organizations,
+1-202-347-7516, tschofield@theheraldgroup.com
