Other key findings of the survey include the following:

62 percent of employers are currently evaluating pharmacy benefit contract terms, with another 32 percent planning to or considering to by 2019.
60 percent recently adopted new coverage or utilization restrictions as part of specialty pharmacy strategy, with another 24 percent planning to or considering.
44 percent address specialty drug costs and utilization performance through medical benefits, with another 38 percent planning to or considering.
66 percent currently add choice in benefit types by offering voluntary benefits, with another 20 percent planning to or considering.
24 percent currently create a virtual shopping experience at the time of enrollment, with another 26 percent planning to or considering.
55 percent currently provide decision-support tools for health navigation, with another 26 percent considering.
19 percent currently encourage the use of mobile apps for condition management or health risk reduction to their employees, with another 28 percent planning to or considering.
26 percent currently promote wearable devices for tracking physical activity, with another 18 percent planning to or considering.

The survey also showed that despite uncertainty about the future of health care legislation, employer confidence in offering employee health care benefits has reached its highest level since the passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010. Ninety-two percent of employers said they are "very confident" their organization will continue to sponsor health benefits in five years.

Instant Insights /

Strategies employers are using to manage health care costs

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