Consumers can control health costs

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Sept. 29 (UPI) -- People with high-deductible health plans and a health savings account or a health reimbursement arrangement reduced healthcare costs, U.S. researchers say.

Lead author Amelia Haviland, a senior statistician at the non-profit Rand Corp. research organization, found about two-thirds of the reduction in total healthcare costs was from patients initiating care less often and the remaining third was from a reduction in costs after care is initiated.

"Unlike earlier time periods, it seems that today's consumers can have greater influence on the level and mix of medical services provided once they begin to receive medical care," Haviland said in a statement. "We found that at least part of the savings in cost per episode reflects choices for less-costly treatments and products, not just a reduction in the number of services."

Researchers at Rand, Towers Watson and the University of Southern California examined the claims experience of many large U.S. employers to determine how consumer-directed health plans and other high-deductible plans affect healthcare costs.

At least three factors influenced the cost of care once the patient had initiated care -- lower use of name-brand medications, less in-patient care and lower use of specialists. Researchers speculate patients may talk to their doctors about their higher deductibles and ask them to help keep costs low.

The findings are published in the journal Forum for Health Economics and Policy.