As the national debate on health care reform goes on, consumers are becoming more educated about what they want in a health care provider and network.
Because health care coverage and provider networks directly impact employee satisfaction, it is in the best interest of the employers to listen to what their employees find important to make sure their needs are met.
“If you have a number of employees not happy with the performance of the network — for example, their physicians may not be included, or there are not enough providers to choose from in the right locations — this could lead to employee dissatisfaction,” says Mike Grodus, associate vice president of network strategy and provider performance with Priority Health. “You want to make sure you’re using the right organization that has the right doctors, proper customer service and quality providers to take care of your employees.”
Smart Business spoke with Grodus about how to find the right network and how doing so can lead to a happier, healthier work force.
What research should be done before choosing a health care network?
You need to make sure the network includes major hospitals, adequate primary care physicians and specialist coverage.
It’s also important to look at the network’s quality performance and how well the plan works with physicians to achieve the best quality. Review the quality rating of the plan as measured by the National Committee for Quality Assurance, which indicates the health plan’s focus and commitment to quality and to having a high-performing network.
Information regarding the network, quality programs, how physicians are measured and a directory of participating providers is usually included on a plan’s Web site. Doing this research is important to help you find the absolute best coverage and health plan that fits your employees. Due diligence will ensure that the health plan’s network of physicians, hospitals and other providers will meet your employees’ needs.
How important is employee feedback, and how can you solicit that feedback?
It’s prudent for a business to know how employees feel about their health care coverage, as this benefit is an important factor to an employee’s overall satisfaction. You need to listen to employee feedback regarding their needs and what they view as important in health care. This can make a difference in your decision on what type of coverage best fits your company.
Depending on your company’s size, an employee survey could help in getting feedback. This should include such questions as, ‘What do you like best about your health care benefits?’ and ‘What is one thing you would change within your health care coverage that you currently dislike?’
The human resources department for larger companies can also help gather input from conversations with employees during the open enrollment period. You have to be careful what you ask, though. You generally know what you’re able to afford, in terms of health care, and any major changes may not be within your limits.
