Getting Smarter about Health Care − T O G E T H E R

1. Getting Smarter about Health Care − T O G E T H E R Developed with support from: American Institutes for Research California HealthCare Foundation

2. Quick Health Care Quiz: How smart are we? • A large national study found that Americans receive the scientifically recommended medical care for common conditions • About half the time • About 60% of the time • About 75% of the time • Since 2001, health insurance premiums (total paid by employers and employees) for a family have risen: • 113% • 78% • 47%

3. Quick Health Care Quiz How smart are we? • The percentage of U.S. adults who look for health information online today: • 80% • 70% • 40% BOTTOM LINE:  Health care is changing!

4. Health Care is ChangingA brief look • Employees • Go to local doctor • Do what the doctor says • Pay small amount • Employers • Offer multiple health plans • Enroll people in a plan • Costs are a small amount of total budget • Use internet to research best providers and treatments • Make treatment decisions in partnership with doctor • Shoulder more costs than in the past • Select plans and benefits to encourage best care • Encourage employee wellness • Costs are a large amount of total budget Past Present & Future

5. Health Care is ChangingToday we all have to do and learn more! • Why? • You want the best health care you can get—when you need it • To be healthy • To get the most for your health care dollars • We want you to get the best health care you can get when you need it • To have a healthy workforce • To get the most for our health care dollars Employees Shared GoalsEmployers

6. What’s Pushing Us From Past to Future?New findings on health care quality problems • FACT: Latest research finds big differences in doctors and hospitals and the care they provide—like screening for health care problems, medical treatments and medical errors. • The number of patients who die every year from medical errors in hospitals is equivalent to a 747 airliner full of patients crashing every day. – Institute of Medicine

7. What’s Pushing Us From Past to Future?Increasing health care costs for everyone • FACT: People and organizations are paying much more for health care than they did 5 years ago. One big reason why: subjecting people to care that cannot possibly help them—like excessive use of antibiotics, or surgery when watchful waiting is better. It's harmful to health, and costs can add up quickly for employees and employers. • A 2011 study found that the price tag for 12 commonly overused tests, such as annual electrocardiograms (EKGs) for heart disease and imaging tests for lower-back pain, was about $6.8 billion. – Consumer Reports

8. What’s Pushing Us From Past to Future?New health care information available • FACT: More research is conducted every day to identify the best treatments, doctors and hospitals. This is important: they are not all the same! Much of the data is now available and is starting to be used to hold health care providers more accountable and to make health care decisions. • www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov is a government-run website that rates most U.S. hospitals on how well they provide care. Communities across the country are starting to rate other providers, too. – www.forces4quality.org

9. Our Role in the Health Care FutureThree things you can do to be smarter • Use the best doctors and hospitals: seek and choose highly rated providers carefully • Get the right care: learn about and ask questions about your care and treatment options • Choose care that works best for you: partner with your doctor to choose the best plan of care—based on medical research and your preferences For more information, see employee tip sheet: Getting Smarter About Health Care: Three Steps You Can Take Now

10. Our Role in the Health Care FutureThree things we are doing to be smarter* • Checking out the quality of our health plans and benefits: getting reports from health plans that show they are meeting quality standards of care, making sure benefits are based on care that is proven to work • Offering wellness incentives: gym memberships, health savings accounts, smoking cessation and weight-loss programs • Providing connections to good health information: links to trustworthy health websites, access to decision support aids, health coaching or advice line through health plan or external provider *For example only: Employer add list of actions or discuss what you are doing to be smarter about health care

11. Our Role in the Health Care FutureWalking the walk − T O G E T H E R Healthy Workforce & Healthy Company Health Care-Savvy Workforce High-Value Health Benefits