Anthem piloting plan that shares savings with consumers

In a national pilot program that includes two self-insured employer groups in CT, Anthem is giving rebates to consumers who choose lower cost providers for their care. Rebates can reach up to $250 in CT (up to $1,000 elsewhere in the US) for each procedure. The company claims that only “common, elective medical procedures and diagnostic tests” are included in the program but clinical experts dispute that. The CT State Medical Society is concerned because the rebate is based solely on cost and does not integrate quality ratings. A large employer collaboration in Maine has had great success incorporating both cost and quality into consumer incentives.
Ellen Andrews