Summaries of Must-Read Clinical Literature, Guidelines, and FDA Actions
Impact of Patient Rewards for Lower-Cost Choices
Key clinical point: In some situations, patients will seek lower-cost options when given financial incentives to do so.
Major finding: A rewards program saw a net reduction of 2.1% in prices paid by patients.
Study details: An evaluation of a program that pays financial rewards to patients choosing lower-cost providers and services. Researchers looked at 269,875 employees and dependents from 29 companies eligible to participate in the rewards program and 131 services that they could be rewarded for price shopping for the lowest cost option.
Disclosures: The research was supported by a grant from the Laura and John Arnold Foundation.
Whaley C et al. Health Aff (Millwood). 2019 Mar;38(3):440-7.