Large Firms Embrace Virtual Care but Slow Delivery Reform

by Jane Anderson

Large employers, mindful of the effects of the pandemic on their workers' wellbeing, accelerated plans for virtual health care and mental health services due to COVID-19, according to the 2022 Large Employers' Health Care Strategy and Plan Design Survey conducted by the Business Group on Health (BGH).

Shift to value takes a backseat:

• The survey found that 15% of employers postponed efforts to drive care delivery reform, such as centers of excellence, accountable care organizations and high-performance networks.
• Although delivery system reform was "put on the back burner" for the pandemic, "we are hearing loud and clear from employers that in future years, they will certainly redouble their efforts around delivery system reform," Ellen Kelsay, BGH president and CEO, said during an Aug. 25 virtual briefing on the survey's findings. "So we view this as a momentary pause, and we'll see it pick back up again."

Virtual care is the future:

• BGH says that 87% of employers reported that they accelerated initiatives to improve mental health access and services, while 84% said they expanded virtual health services. Some 97% of employers said they will increase mental health care access via online resources in 2022.
• Some 85% of employers — up from 80% last year — said they believe virtual care will have a lasting impact on how care is delivered in the future, according to the survey. Large employers will offer a suite of virtual care programs in 2022, with telehealth for minor, acute services and telemental health services leading the pack. The majority of employers currently waive or have reduced cost sharing for telehealth services.

Cost growth flattened in 2020:

• Overall, the health care cost trend flattened for large employers in 2020, with many of them experiencing negative trend, BGH found.
• COVID-19 itself — including treatments for COVID long-haulers — does not stand out by itself as a major cost driver, the survey found: Just 4% of employers listed COVID-19 as one of the top three conditions impacting their health care cost trend.

From Health Plan Weekly