Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1092388
37 CFO / FINANCE $89B: The annual price tag of healthcare wait, travel times By Morgan Haefner T he time consumers spend waiting for or traveling to healthcare ser- vices costs $89 billion each year, according to an analysis from nonprofit research firm Altarum. The analysis is based on 2006-17 data from the American Time Use Survey, and considerd health services ranging from primary care and inpatient treatment to dental care and physical therapy. The $89 billion opportunity cost was calculated by quantifying and applying an individual's hourly wage as an estimate of the eco- nomic cost of time. The study found every time consumers access a healthcare service, they spend 34 minutes on travel and 11 minutes waiting, on average. When compared to other professional services, like ob- taining a license or permit, veterinary services, legal services and vehicle re- pair, healthcare wait times are more than double the average. "The findings underscore the need for the health sector to focus greater atten- tion on decreasing consumer travel and wait times to ease the burden on con- sumers," Corey Rhyan, senior analyst at Altarum, said in a news release. This could come in the form of improving technolo- gy and reducing paperwork, according to the report. n Anthem study: Employers are increasingly bundling health benefits By Morgan Haefner M ore than 71 percent of employers surveyed are integrating or consider- ing bundling their medical, phar- macy, dental, vision and disability benefits under a single employee package, according to a new study released by Anthem. The survey, which included re- sponses from 222 employers with at least 100 employees, was conducted on behalf of An- them by independent research firm TRC Insights. The analy- sis found more employers are combining their benefits due to positive effects on care, costs and workforce satisfaction. Among employers surveyed who are integrating or consider- ing integrating their health and wellness benefits, nearly 100 percent of respondents com- bined pharmacy, vision, dental and/or disability benefits with medical. That's up 11 percent from similar results recorded in a 2016 survey. n Anthem: Cigna helped kill $49B merger by dragging feet By Morgan Haefner C igna cut Anthem "off at the knees" to assuage antitrust con- cerns over a proposed $48.9 billion merger, Anthem's general counsel said during trial, according to Bloomberg. Anthem's top lawyer, Thomas Ziel- inski, told a judge Feb. 25 that Cigna officials intentionally dragged their feet on the proposed merger. Among several accusations, he said Cigna re- fused to consider spinning off some of its assets that would have helped the transaction gain regulatory approval. Mr. Zielinski also said once Cigna CEO David Cordani found out he wouldn't get the role he wanted with- in the new company, Cigna stopped cooperating and did not hand over data Anthem needed to present ef- ficiencies of the merger to Justice Department officials. The trial over whether Anthem or Cigna owes the other billions after the botched merger attempt be- gan Feb. 25. While Cigna has argued it's owed more than $16 billion as the injured party, Anthem has claimed it's owed $20 billion because Cigna sabotaged the deal. n Atrius Health, BCBS of Massachusetts ink global payment agreement: 4 things to know By Morgan Haefner A uburndale, Mass.-based Atrius Health, a provider with 32 medical prac- tices, signed a seven-year global payment agreement with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. Four things to know: 1. Under an advanced alternative payment model, Atrius will receive a global budget of more than 130,000 BCBS of Massachusetts members in commercial, preferred provider organization, health maintenance organiza- tion and Medicare plans. 2. is is Atrius Health's and BCBS of Massa- chusetts' first payment contract featuring full risk for the cost and quality of healthcare for PPO members. 3. e payment model will provide ways to make care more convenient and accessible for members, offer more population health pro- grams, use more technologies and simplify administrative tasks. 4. Atrius Health and BCBS of Massachusetts began their partnership 10 years ago. Atrius was one of the first providers to join the in- surer's Alternative Quality Contract. n