October 19 - 21, 2008, Marriott Wardman Park, Washington D.C.

Louisville, Ky. (October 14, 2008) – Findings from the 2007 SHPS Health Practices Study that examined effective strategies for lowering healthcare costs will be presented by SHPS’ chief strategy officer, Chris Ryan, at the Third National Consumer Driven Healthcare Summit, October 19-21, 2008 in Washington, D.C. With this study, SHPS, a leading provider of health improvement and health benefits solutions, challenges the prevalent belief that consumer-driven health plans (CDHPs) are a solution to rising costs.

“In actuality, the study found no meaningful correlation between CDHPS and overall healthcare costs, either positive or negative,” says Ryan, whose presentation, ‘Impact of Consumer Driven Health Plans: Findings from the SHPS Health Practices Study,’ will illustrate a key misconception regarding CDHPs. “Adoption of a CDHP will not result in long-term costs savings, and this session will provide evidence that while a one-year increase or decrease in costs from implementing a CDHP is expected, it is a poor indicator of long-term impact. Ultimately, employers must find strategies for controlling expenses above the deductible – because that’s where the majority of costs occur.”

The 2007 SHPS Health Practices Study shows that to make consumerism really work in healthcare, employers must create a three-to-five year strategy to improve health and lower costs. They must understand that clinical risk drives spending, and use that knowledge to define plan designs, communications, incentives, and provider network selections.

Additionally, Ryan will discuss methodologies, drawing upon some relevant findings from the 2007 SHPS Health Practices Study and other market examples, including in-depth analyses of case examples where CDHP implementation made a difference and where it had no impact. He will also quantify the impact of a CDHP in a full-replacement setting compared to situations where the plan is one of many options.

“Only after employers manage their clinical risks – and drive positive health behaviors – will healthcare costs be controlled,” Ryan adds. “This is an ideal opportunity to share practical recommendations for reducing long-term healthcare costs, as well as to present realistic expectations for the potential impact of consumer-driven health plans on healthcare costs.”

About SHPS | Carewise Health
SHPS is a leading, independent provider of integrated health solutions that improve personal health and reduce spending. By integrating traditional health management and benefits administration services, SHPS delivers people-centric solutions that empower individuals to make wise healthcare choices. It serves large and mid-sized employers, government agencies, and third-party administrators through the company�s Carewise Health, Landacorp, and SHPS brands. Visit www.carewisehealth.com.

For More Information
LeAnn Ross
Director of Marketing
leann.ross@shps.com

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