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Current Trends in Healthcare

As a resource for our member districts and participants, CVT has created this section where we post important and interesting healthcare trends documents, features and stories from time to time. Please feel free to download them. We would enjoy hearing from you about this service. You may contact us by clicking here info@cvtrust.org.

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Trend Series

As CVT enters into the coming months, our efforts will be focused and heightened on the 2009-2010 rate settings to be released in June. As a tool to provide insights to our member districts, CVT has developed a series of healthcare articles pertaining to the trends in healthcare for 2009.

Challenges for Health Care in Uncertain Times 2009

By Hewitt's Associates

This report examines data collected from Hewitt's annual health care survey. The Road Ahead - Emerging Health Trends 2009, which continued to collect directional data about cost trends, strategy, and design features of employer-provided health care and other benefits. The 2009 survey also collected information on the post-election prospects for health care reform and employer views on the economic downturn. To view the survey click here.

Two Roads Diverged: Hewitt's Annual Health Care Survey 2008

By Hewitt's Associates

Prescription drugs are vital to preventing and treating illness and in helping to avoid more costly medical problems. Rising costs and implementation of the Medicare Part D drug benefit in 2006 have highlighted the need for a better understanding of the pharmaceutical market and for new approaches to address increasing prescription costs. To view the survey click here.

Prescription Drug Trends

By The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

Surveys are often conducted for collective analyses and potential measurements in any given industry. Hewitt Associates is a well-known and credible organization that specializes in health care surveys. Most recently, Hewitt Associates completed its 2008 Health Care Survey. They've tracked health care practices, benefit programs and current trends. The survey also examines managing health care costs and improving workforce health and productivity. We encourage you to visit the following link to the survey and background information.

Learn more about:

  • Rising Expenditures for Prescription Drugs
  • Factors Driving Changes in Prescription Spending - Utilization, Price, Types of Drugs, and Advertising
  • Insurance Coverage for Prescription Drugs - Employer, Medicare, and Medicaid
  • Responses to Increasing Prescription Costs - Utilization Management, Discounts and Rebates, Medicaid, Medicare, Purchasing Pools, Consumers and more

To learn more click here

Health Care and the 2008 Elections

By The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

The high and rapidly rising cost of health care affects the financial security of families and the economic health of the nation. Although the elections are behind us, the article Health Care and the 2008 Elections from The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, examines how the candidates in the election last year proposed to address the challenges posed by the increasing costs of health care. Finding a way to address high costs and cost growth without unreasonably reducing access to new and needed services is a significant challenge.

Key Facts on Health Care Costs

  • Health spending in the United States is an estimated $2.4 trillion in 2008, an average of $7,868 per person.
  • The share of the economy (GDP) devoted to national health spending has increased from 7.2% in 1970 to an estimated 16.6% in 2008.
  • Almost one-in-four respondents in a recent Kaiser Poll reported experiencing a serious problem paying for health care and health insurance as a result of the recent economic turndown.

To learn more click here

California HealthCare Foundation Releases New Study

Appropriately titled Health Care Costs 101, the California HealthCare Foundation released its fifth annual edition of the study. It provides insights on expenditures, where funds are allocated, and facts pertaining to individuals' use for out-of pocket dollars. Highlights include:

  • Health spending nationally exceeded $2 trillion in 2006, representing 16% of the GDP.
  • About half of spending growth is due to medical price inflation the rising cost of providing existing services to patients. A far smaller portion is due to aging.
  • Nearly one in five out-of-pocket dollars is spent on prescription drugs.
  • The complete report, as well as a quick guide to the data highlights, is available for download by clicking here.