National survey reinforces RIBGH’s call for greater transparency and value-based strategies
Providence, RI – A new national survey of 324 employers conducted by the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions finds that rising drug prices, hospital costs, and high-cost claims remain the leading threats to affordability. Employers with full access to claims data are nearly twice as likely to engage in health policy and implement value-based strategies — underscoring the Rhode Island Business Group on Health’s (RIBGH) call for greater transparency in health spending. The survey includes responses from all 50 states, including Rhode Island.
The findings highlight pressures Rhode Island employers know well. More than half of employers nationwide (53%) now say healthcare costs limit their ability to compete, up from just 35% in 2022. Employers are also moving away from traditional pharmacy benefit managers in favor of more transparent models, while larger firms are adopting centers of excellence, site-of-care redirection, and direct hospital contracting to secure better value. These strategies align with efforts in Rhode Island to rein in hospital overhead and address rising commercial insurance premiums.
“These findings reinforce what we are experiencing here in Rhode Island,” said RIBGH Executive Director Al Charbonneau. “Employer purchasers cannot remain on the sidelines. With costs rising faster than wages or economic growth, access to claims data and value-based strategies are essential if we are to achieve affordable, high-quality care for our workforce and families.”