Most employers expect return to normal by second or third quarter
Employers will be turning their focus to improving health, equity and health care value over the next few years.
After a turbulent year triggered by the pandemic, employers are looking forward to a return to smoother sailing later this year.
“Employers are working to get back to normal operations, which most expect by the third quarter of 2021,” said Michael Thompson, president and CEO of the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions. “While the vaccination efforts are currently job one, plans are shaping up now for employers to improve health, equity and health care value over the next few years.”
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The National Alliance recently surveyed employers and other private health care purchasers about a broad range of topics.
Business environment
- More than half of employers anticipate a more stabilized business environment (25% by the second quarter and 27% by the third quarter).
- More than eight in 10 will continue to allow people to work from home, three-quarters have expanded virtual meeting capabilities, 60% offer flexibility to cover employee home demands and about two-thirds will continue to restrict business travel.
Health reform
- Employer support for potential health reform continues to grow since the last survey conducted in 2020.
- 87% indicate that drug price regulation is very or somewhat helpful.
- More than seven in 10 support surprise billing regulation, hospital price transparency and hospital rate regulation.
- 44% said the Medicare public option could be somewhat or very helpful.
Health benefits strategy
- More than nine in 10 employers have expanded telehealth for both physical and behavioral health care or are considering doing so. Eighty percent are expanding virtual well-being programs and investing in other care management solutions.
- About two-thirds of employers are using value-based design approaches or considering them.
- About nine in 10 are implementing or considering delivery reform-based strategies, with the most common being virtual care delivery and improving mental health access.
Health equity
- About half of survey respondents currently integrate equity into their values and objectives.
- Only 8% of employers indicated that they have established equity metrics for health and well-being programs, but 70% have integrated or plan to integrate health equity into their organizations’ values and objectives.
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