Value-based design survey to pick pros’ brains on wellness, economy, health care reform

If the e-mails I get each day are any indication, I know you all have strong opinions — to say the least — about all aspects of benefits programs. Now, here’s the opportunity to voice those opinions while contributing to research at the same time.

The Center for Health Value Innovation, an organization dedicated to educating and promoting the importance and effectiveness of value-based benefit designs, currently is commissioning its 2010 survey on value-based design and wants your help.

I recently spoke to CHVI President Cyndy Nayer for EBN’s podcast series about her goals for this year’s survey. In addition to the all-important questions on how you’re all handling health care reform, Nayer says the survey is looking to capture your thoughts on prevention and wellness components in health plans.

“We’re hearing [about] the incredible rise of prevention and wellness,” she notes. “So, I think there will be some questions around: What kind of services [are they] providing? What kind of benefit design are they putting into those services so that people will use them? And, are they seeing any results in this last year?”

Also, as with last year’s survey, Nayer says the Center plans to make the economy a focus of several questions as well — particularly around programs that may help contain costs, such as medical tourism and onsite clinics.

Download the podcast to hear more from Nayer and learn how you can get involved with this year’s survey.

Meantime, here’s my own informal poll: Are you currently using a value-based design strategy with your health benefits? If so, has it proven effective? Will health care reform encourage/deter you from implementing VBD in the future? Share your thoughts in the comments.