August 2008

Findings from a HCFO-sponsored study led by Judith H. Hibbard, Dr.P.H., professor at the University of Oregon, were highlighted in the July 9, 2008 Portland Business Journal article, “Problems found with consumer-directed health plans.” The article discusses whether the underlying assumptions of consumer-directed health plans (CDHPs) are true. Jessica Greene, Ph.D., assistant professor at the University of Oregon and a member of the research team notes, “We did not see more use of health information, higher generic drug use or more comparison shopping in terms of diagnostic tests as predicted by proponents. What we did see was that people were two to three times more likely to drop off drugs that treat certain chronic illnesses.”

Stephen T. Parente, Ph.D., associate professor at the University of Minnesota, and colleagues presented “Is Consumerism at Odds with Prevention: The Indirect Effects of Consumer-Directed Health Plans on Preventive Service Utilization,” at the American Society of Health Economists (ASHE) conference on June 24, 2008. This presentation highlights findings from a HCFO-sponsored study that examines the impact of CDHPs on cost, quality—particularly for CDHP beneficiaries with chronic illnesses—and utilization of care in the long-term. 

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