New Survey Highlights How Employers are Innovating in Spite of Rising Health Care Costs

WASHINGTON, Aug. 8 -- The ERISA Industry Committee issued the following statement by President and CEO Annette Guarisco Fildes on a survey highlighting how employers are innovating in spit of rising health care costs:

"Today's release of the National Business Group on Health's (NBGH) annual survey highlights the important role large employers play as innovators in the health care system, their interest in how health care is delivered and paid for, and the increased availability of telemedicine.

ERIC, the only national association that advocates exclusively for large employers on health, retirement, and compensation public policies at the federal, state, and local levels, and its members have been leading the charge to promote innovative and cost-efficient ways to provide health care and coverage to the 178 million Americans who receive health insurance through their employer. ERIC lobbies for full repeal of the 40 percent 'Cadillac' excise tax on employer-sponsored health insurance, preserving the pre-tax treatment of premium payments, and rolling back overly burdensome regulations.

ERIC has also called on the Medicare program and other government purchasers of health care to spend health care dollars smarter. Earlier this year, ERIC partnered with the Pacific Business Group on Health to launch the DRIVE Health Initiative, a campaign to accelerate economic growth by controlling health costs and improving quality through the rapid adoption of value-based health care. We recognize the impact that value-based health care can play in improving the quality of care, while reducing the cost and have reached out to President Trump and Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price urging targeted deregulation and market-based purchasing strategies. DRIVE has developed a policy blueprint with a plan of action grounded in evidence from large employers' innovations that have improved health care efficiency and effectiveness.

It comes as no surprise to ERIC that employers are rapidly adopting telehealth services. ERIC launched its telehealth initiative in 2015, in response to member interest and growing frustration with the patchwork of local and state laws that created barriers to their employees being able to access care when and where they needed it. ERIC advocates for state and local rules that promote access quality telehealth regardless of where employees may live or work.

ERIC will continue to work with federal, state, and local policymakers to improve consumer-driven health options like Health Savings Accounts, promote value-based health care's ability to improve patient care while being cost-efficient, as well as limit the patchwork of state and local laws that are keeping people from receiving the important, life-saving care they need.