Abstract:
Consumer-directed health plans (CDHPs) aim to reduce health spending by
increasing patientsâ cost burden. CDHPs make information available to consumers on
health conditions and providers for decision-making. There is evidence that consumers,
especially the poorer and less healthy ones, may be less motivated to seek information
and have lower ability to understand it. Using data from employees at a large
manufacturing employer, this research sought to determine: 1. whether enrollment in a
CDHP increases patient engagement; and 2. which CDHP enrollees are most likely to
seek health information. I find that there was no relationship between CDHP enrollment
and patient motivation after three years of enrollment. CDHP enrollment was associated
with increased cost information seeking. Gender and employee status (hourly/salaried)
were associated with seeking information on doctor quality among CDHP enrollees, but
there was no relationship between demographics and seeking information on cost or
hospital quality in this group.
Description:
Examining committee: Jessica Greene, chair, Judith Hibbard, Laura Leete