University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Graduate School
Doi
Abstract
Employers would like employees to become more involved in managing their own health. This would not only benefit the employee but lead to decreased absenteeism and lower the healthcare costs for the employer. Employers and health plans have implemented various strategies to improve employee engagement. Value-based insurance designs (VBID) is one promising strategy that moves employees from being passive recipients of care to becoming active ones, willing to take more responsibility for managing their health and related costs, and making prudent and informed health care decisions. Although evidence exists that supports the positive impact of VBID and indicates strong interest from the employer community, adoption of VBID is far from universal. There is a need for research to generate an implementation reference for employers who are interested in using VBID to improve employee engagement. This study takes a two-step approach. A document review was conducted to understand barriers of VBID implementation. Key informant interviews were also conducted with benefit managers from employers who have implemented VBID and directors at vendor companies who have supported employers in implementing VBID. Findings provide a framework for successful VBID design and implementation - a checklist of best practices. Data suggests that senior leadership buy-in, appropriate alignment between VBID and business priories and effective communication of programs are among the keys to success.Doctor of Public Healt
