Healthcare Technology Featured Article

August 24, 2012

Chilmark Research Report Shows Promising Results on Health Engagement Strategies Using Consumer Technologies


For years, healthy insurers have struggled to influence and change unhealthy member behaviors. But through innovative, easy-to-use consumer-based technologies, most of which are still in their infancy, some success has been achievement in member engagement.

According to the report, “Benchmark Report: Payer Adoption of Emerging Consumer Tech” by Chilmark Research, which examines over 40 different mobile pioneering programs deployed by health insurers, the growing adoption of these technologies is making it easier for health insurers to tackle health, wellness and disease management challenges.

“The passage of the Affordable Care Act is forcing a major restructuring of the healthcare sector and health insurers must innovate to demonstrate value to customers (employers) and improve margins,” said John Moore, founder and managing partner of Chilmark Research.



Moore, speaking above, said the shift toward outcomes-based reimbursement models from fee-for-service that insurers are implementing is meant to help them survive the new order. Recent health reform has exerted more pressure for health coverage to over 30 million more Americans, and 78 million baby boomers turning 65 since 2011 at 10,000, everyday.

Some of the top innovative health insurers are using anything from mobile apps to social media, text messaging and games while experimenting with third-party applications. Some are even going all out and developing their own apps in-house. While the 40 technology-enabled patient engagement strategies profiled in the report might seem to be a large number, Moore said the industry is still very much in the early-innovator, adoption stage with the vast majority of health insurers still sitting on the sidelines.

This report is expected to provide a comprehensive scan of these technology adoptions, detailed recommendations as to how to pursue these strategic initiatives and also provide insight for software and service vendors on the state and implications of current engagement strategies.




Edited by Braden Becker
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