ISCEBS 18700 W. Bluemound Rd P.O. Box 209 Brookfield, WI 53008-0209 Phone: (262) 786-8771 Fax: (262) 786-8650 iscebs@iscebs.org

2nd Quarter 2001

Executive Summaries

• The History of Employment-Based Health Insurance: The Role of Managed Care by Paul Fronstin
• Value-Based Partnering in Health Care by David W. Young, Diane C. Pinakiewicz, Sheila M. McCarthy, Diana Barrett and John Kenagy
• An Employer's Perspective on Medical Errors: Ambitious and Clear by Bruce E. Bradley
• Health Benefit Vouchers: All Talk and No Action? by John C. Erb
• The Secret to a Health Benefits Self-Service Model: A More Informed Consumer by Thomas R. Beauregard
• Depression in the Workplace: Negative Effects, Perspective on Drug Costs and Benefit Solutions by Mark Riotto
• Household Stock Investing: Inside Versus Outside the Retirement Plan by Vickie L. Bajtelsmit and Nancy A. Jianakopolos

The History of Employment-Based Health Insurance: The Role of Managed Care

by Paul Fronstin

The author describes the history of how the employment-based health benefits system has evolved. Specifically, he examines how we got where we are today, the success of managed care, the shortcomings of the managed care system and challenges that the managed care system will face in the future. He concludes that, despite substantial improvements in the quality of medical services provided, employers have a long way to go before they are truly purchasing the highest quality health care at the most efficient prices.

Value-Based Partnering in Health Care

by David W. Young, Diane C. Pinakiewicz, Sheila M. McCarthy, Diana Barrett
and John Kenagy.

Many companies are beginning to focus on value in their health care purchasing decisions, and some are going beyond value-based purchasing to value-based partnering. Value-based partnering recognizes the interdependencies among stakeholder groups in the health care system and creates a strategic reason for them to exchange information and create long-term strategic alliances. This article discusses the principles of value-based partnering, impediments to practicing it and its future role in the health care system.

An Employer's Perspective on Medical Errors: Ambitious and Clear

by Bruce E. Bradley

Health care is far behind in addressing safety when compared to other high-risk industries. In recognition of this problem, Leapfrog was created to serve as an informal action group that will leverage buying power to target patient safety issues raised by the threat of medical errors. The author describes Leapfrog's activities and goals, showing how employers are in the position to create contractual requirements, incentives and consumer expectations that can rally the medical field around a new culture that embraces patient safety.

Health Benefit Vouchers: All Talk and No Action?

by John C. Erb

This article discusses the voucher Return to Top

The Secret to a Health Benefits Self-Service Model: A More Informed Consumer

by Thomas R. Beauregard

Sageo is the first full-service e-business to deliver health, dental, vision and welfare benefits via the Internet. The author describes the health care system's problems that have led to the need for participant-driven, self service systems; describes Sageo's genesis and inaugural online enrollment; and explains how services like those offered by Sageo allow employers to "match, pace and lead" to a more informed health care consumer.

Depression in the Workplace: Negative Effects, Perspective on Drug Costs and Benefit Solutions

by Mark Riotto

Depression is a relatively common disease that has more impact on employers' health care costs and workplace productivity than many chronic medical conditions. This article describes the costs of depression, both direct and indirect, and discusses effective employer strategies for dealing with depression in the workplace.

Household Stock Investing: Inside Versus Outside the Retirement Plan

by Vickie L. Bajtelsmit and Nancy A. Jianakopolos

The percentage of U.S. households owning stock, either inside or outside of retirement plans, has increased dramatically in the past decade. This paper examines the division of stock ownership between retirement plans and direct ownership for households with at least one employed member age 18 to 62 years in 1998. The data show that those households with defined contribution (DC) retirement plans have a higher proportion of their total financial assets in stock than households without DC pensions. Moreover, households with DC pensions have a higher proportion of their outside (that is, nonpension) financial assets invested in stocks than other households.

Full text copies of these articles are available through the INFOSOURCE™ Document Delivery Service. Article reprints are also available in quantities of 100 or more. For information, call the Publications Department at (888) 33-IFEBP. You can order your subscription (reprints and back issues) online. Four issues for $100 (or $75 for CEBS registrants).