Wednesday, February 10, 2010

WellNet President Voices Need for Private Sector Performance Management Strategies

In response to a report discussing increased premiums, WellNet President Keith Lemer voices the need to increase the use of performance management in the private sector.

Bethesda, MD – Monday, February 10, 2010 — Keith Lemer, president of WellNet Healthcare, released the following statement today in response to escalating healthcare costs set forth in a report released by CMS which found that premium growth in the private sector will continue to grow annually, reaching 7.1 percent by 2015.

“Ever increasing healthcare costs are having a devastating impact on the household finances of millions of Americans and the bottom line of thousands of employers across the country. The new CMS report confirms that the main drivers of escalating health costs are medical prices and utilization, including an increase in the proportion of people with high cost claims.”

”Surveys show that employer-sponsored, high-performing health plans saved companies 15 percent on health costs in 2009 by focusing on improving employee health and practicing more effective health plan management. Reliance on performance management strategies in the private sector, similar to the those endorsed in the President's 2011 federal budget for federal agencies, are showing promising results in curbing health costs.“