Health Insurance Daily

CDHP Users Don't Lack Preventive Care

Patients with consumer-driven health plans seek out evidence-based care and preventive care at rates equal to or higher than those in traditional health plans, according to a new study from UnitedHealth Group, a provider of CDHPs. The company compared its 2004 and 2005 patient information with national benchmark data on 10 million members in traditional health plans.

CDHP users were 16% more likely to have a cervical cancer screening, 16% more likely to receive a prostate screening and 10% more likely to get a cholesterol screening, compared to the benchmark population. In addition, CDHP users with coronary artery disease were 22% more likely to have lipid tests and equally likely to see a doctor, compared to those in traditional plans. Those in CDHPs and traditional plans shared similar rates of receiving colonoscopies and mammograms.

Critics of CDHPs say they may encourage people to skip needed care to save money, but United says these results show that’s not the case.

“Individuals [with CDHPs] are continuing to receive important health services and are not compromising the quality of their care,” says Dr. Miles Snowden, a senior vice president at UnitedHealth. “We are beginning to develop a much more compelling and fact-based view of how consumer-focused strategies are working to support both health care affordability and quality.”

Article provided by Benefit News 4-24-07

posted by Mike @ 3:05 PM