Consumer responses to health plan report cards in two markets.
BACKGROUND
Health plans can compete on quality when consumers have helpful information. Report cards strive to meet this need, but consumer responses have not been measured.


OBJECTIVE
The objectives of this study were (1) to compare consumer responses to report cards in 2 markets, (2) to determine how personal characteristics relate to exposure, and (3) to assess the perceived helpfulness of the report cards.


METHODS
A postenrollment survey was used.


METHODS
The study included 784 employees of Monsanto (St Louis, 1996) and 670 employees of a health care purchasing cooperative (Denver, 1997).


METHODS
The dependent measures were (1) exposure, specifically remembering the report card, and intensity of reading it and (2) perceived helpfulness in learning about plan quality and in deciding to stay or switch.


RESULTS
Except for remembering seeing the report card (Denver, 47%; St Louis, 55%), the 2 groups did not differ. Forty percent read most or all of the report card; 82% found the report helpful in learning about quality; and 66% found it helpful in deciding to stay or switch. Employees who used patient survey information in their plan decision were more likely to remember seeing the report card (odds ratio [OR], 4.85), to read it intensely (OR, 2.84), and to find it helpful in learning about plan quality (OR, 3.04) and deciding whether to stay or switch plans (OR, 2.64).


CONCLUSIONS
Although the 2 samples differed markedly, their responses to report cards were similar. Exposure and helpfulness were related more to employee preferences for the type of information than to their health care decision needs.
Fowles
J B
JB
Health Research Center, Institute for Research and Education, HealthSystem Minnesota, Minneapolis 55416, USA. fowlej@hsmnet.com
Kind
E A
EA
Braun
B L
BL
Knutson
D J
DJ
D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003120:Colorado; D003258:Consumer Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006264:Health Benefit Plans, Employee / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008329:Managed Care Programs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008389:Marketing of Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008923:Missouri; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires