Potential for Private Exchanges

9/29/2011

Howard Lapsley

Inside CMS (29 September) quoted Howard Lapsley in an article about the potential for private exchange models to compete in the future with SHOP exchanges. Howard notes that the health reform law is acting like a catalyst for the environment, and the movement toward exchanges will continue regardless of how health care reform shakes out. He says that employers are reacting to the reality that there is increasing consumerism in the marketplace on the part of buying health insurance, and exchanges are also being developed in recognition that health care expenses continue to be a major affordability issue for businesses. Howard concludes: "These private exchanges are enabling employers to have more predictability of cost, and allowing their employees to have choice of quality health care offerings."