The thrust of this book is how to benefit from the rise of Patient-Centered Healthcare Consumerism and the consumerism megatrends underway. From a pure financing perspective, there are three ways to pay for healthcare: (1) premiums, (2) savings, or (3) taxes. Traditional insurance relies on premiums. Government programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) rely on tax subsidies. PCHC combines the best of all three. It can minimize premiums, maximize savings, and provide consumers with valued tax advantages. Patient Centered Healthcare Consumerism brings together two key dimensions of healthcare regulatory and market reforms. "Healthcare Consumerism" by itself could be interpreted with a focus on the purchasing of health and healthcare products. "Patient-centered" by itself could be interpreted to focus on the use of the care delivery system. If you are an Individual - this book is for you, the healthcare consumer. You will find answers to what you can do to optimize the value of your purchases. Whether you are seeking to understand your options under your employer's group plan or selecting individual coverage. This book will help you move beyond immediate health concerns to understanding how to live a long productive life. If you are a Consultant, Agent or Broker - this book will show you how to market, discuss, and sell flexible PCHC designs that will lower premiums (and future premium increases), increase coverage choices, add care convenience, and improve access to doctors, hospitals, and other medical providers. If you are a Human Resources executive - this book will illustrate how to develop a health and healthcare strategic plan unique to your organization. This book will assist you in learning whether or not your organization is ready for change and what other organizational changes will improve the health and healthcare costs of your employees. If you are a Benefit Manager, Wellness or Communications Director - we will define and explain the pros and cons of PCHC. We will show how benefits interact with the development of human capital. We will explain how work effects health and how health effects work. If you are a Solution Provider - you will see where your product fits into the rapidly evolving market of new technologies and services. You will better understand how to discuss your product/service in the language of your prospects and customers. You will see the spectrum of developing generations of PCHC and where you fit into the present and future of health and healthcare. If you are a Care Provider - you will understand how your services interact with savings options and insurance, plan design, and patient care. You will better grasp the possibilities and importance of patient involvement and engagement in wellness, well-being, treatment plans, and compliance. You will see how you can strengthen the patient-provider relationship to improve patient compliance with treatment plans. If you are an Attorney, Legal Advisor, or Compliance Officer - We will provide examples and an understanding of the need for your services at each of the four points of any reform (legislation, regulation, compliance, and litigation). If you are an elected official - this book will provide simplified insights into real market-based solutions. You will better understand how legislation can encourage or discourage free-market developments. You may be in a position to offer new legislation that will impact the evolution of consumerism and prevent the old saying, "Legislation tends to crowd out the future."
About the Author: Ronald E. Bachman has been at the center of U.S. health care transformation, advancing free market consumer-based solutions to lower the number of uninsureds, improve mental health coverage, and advance employer introductions of Patient-Centered Healthcare Consumerism. Currently he is the President and CEO of Healthcare Visions, a thought leadership firm dedicated to advancing ideas and policy initiatives that are impacting the U.S. health care market. Bachman is also a Senior Fellow of the National Center for Policy Analysis, the Wye River Group on Health, the Center for Health Transformation, and the Georgia Public Policy Foundation (GPPF). He is an Adviser to the Goodman Policy Institute. As an actuary, he has extensive experience in healthcare strategy for payers, providers and employers. Bachman is also on boards for Skyland Trail, Bryan University, the Georgia Charity Care Network, HINRI Labs, and Jacobs Ladder Autism Center. Formerly, Bachman was a principle with PricewaterhouseCoopers, where he consulted to a broad range of clients including: employers, HMOs, hospitals, physicians, indemnity carriers, BlueCross BlueShield plans, as well as State and Federal Agency clients. Over the years Bachman has worked on health policy issues and market transformation ideas. He worked closely with the Bush White House and Treasury on the language and principles of the 2002 Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) guidelines, provided policy input on Health Savings Accounts (HSA), and consulted with various government agencies on national health issues and legislative and regulatory proposals. Working across the political aisle Ron has worked with the Carter Center, Senator Kennedy, and Senator Wellstone on mental health issues. He testified on over 30 states and before Congress in support of mental health parity. He has served as a designated expert on actuarial issues to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the Department of Labor (DOL), the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and several members of Congress. Ron is a graduate of Georgia Tech with a BS in Applied Mathematics and has a M.A.S. from Georgia State University.