title: Revisiting employee benefits managers.
abstract: This article presents a case study of health purchasing practices of a sample of Employee Benefits Managers (EBMs) in a medium-size metropolitan area who were interviewed in 1991 and again in 1998. Findings show that employers have become less paternalistic in their health benefits; shifted plan options from indemnity coverage to managed care; increased employee cost-sharing; and placed greater decision-making on employees. EBMs embrace choice in health plans, have influenced the provider networks of plans, and have specified requirements for plan performance, however, use of quality information is limited.
authors.affiliation: Health Services Administration Program, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Virginia, USA.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Draper
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Hurley
mesh_terms: D000288:Administrative Personnel; D003254:Consumer Advocacy; D003659:Decision Making, Organizational; D006264:Health Benefit Plans, Employee / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007342:Insurance Benefits; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D014481:United States