This report presents results of a survey by IVANS, an insurance and health care vendor, which found that 72 percent of health care entities believe that a pay-for-performance health care model would improve client outcomes; however, 79 percent believe that such a model would increase provider cost through increased reporting requirements.  The survey also found that 60 percent of health care entities believe that a national health insurance plan would either increase cost or have no effect at all.  Finally, the survey found that respondents do not believe the health IT funding in the ARRA will encourage the adoption of electronic health records. 

From the report:

Most people agree on the basic goals of healthcare reform: to make healthcare and health insurance more affordable; to provide coverage for every American; and to deliver higher quality, more cost-effective care. However, the challenge for all constituents is how to achieve these goals. A recent nationwide survey of more than 500 U.S. healthcare providers conducted by IVANS, Inc. reveals the conflict healthcare providers face between the desire to support reform and the toll it can take on their businesses and patients. With U.S. healthcare expenditures per capita 2.3 times higher than that of other developed countries and expected to increase 83% over the next years, healthcare providers understand that reform is needed and are often active proponents of change.

 The proposed approaches to healthcare reform (e.g., pay-for-performance and national health insurance) do not align with the way healthcare providers operate their businesses today, leaving providers skeptical about how they can move from point A to point B. For healthcare reform to succeed, more modern approaches to the use of healthcare information technology are essential. Healthcare providers will require additional education and resources to effectively institute healthcare reform, but they should also be preparing today to support technologies that will undoubtedly become part of the solution.

Full report: Perspectives from Healthcare Providers: How Healthcare Reform Will Affect (PDF|579KB)

IVANS, Inc. (2009). Perspectives from healthcare providers: How healthcare reform will affect their business, their patients, and their use of technology. Locurto, C.M.