Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #120278

Cecilia Watkins, PhD, CHES¹, David Wyant, PhD¹, Wayne Higgins, PhD², and Teresa Lovely³. (1) Public Health, Western Kentucky University, 1 Big Red Way, STH 410C, Bowling Green, KY 42101, 270-745-4796, cecilia.watkins@wku.edu, (2) Department of Public Health, Western Kentucky University, 1 Big Red Way, Bowling Green, KY 42101-3576, (3) Wellness, Logan Aluminum, P.O. Box 3000, Russellville, KY 42276

Consumer-directed health plans combine high deductible insurance with individual health spending accounts to cover routine medical expenses. These plans are growing in response to employer concerns about rising health benefits costs, yet evidence of their ability to control costs is limited.

This study evaluates the impact of Company A's consumer-directed health plan by comparing two years of their expenditure data with two employers that do not use consumer-directed plans. Company A is a rolling manufacturing firm located in a rural area. Its health benefit costs are compared to that of a university, (Company B) in the same health service area and a similar manufacturing firm, (Company C) in another rural area. All three firms use managed care networks in their health benefit programs and the analysis adjusts for differences in age and sex differences in workforce composition.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of the session, the participants in this session will be able to describe the process and list the benefits of a consumer-directed health insurance plan. The participants will also be able to articulate the impact consumer-directed health insurance could have on worksite health care costs.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.