"Consumers actually matter, and we need to fix the health care system." With those words, Michael B. McAllister, president and CEO of Humana, Louisville, Ky., kicked off a panel discussion here at the annual convention of the National Association of Health Underwriters.
During the panel, three CEOs vetted frank viewpoints on the future of health care in the United States.
McAllister repeatedly advocated for changes in the areas of costs, consumers, quality, alignment with transparency, and guidance (for consumers). "Employers have to step up to the plate," he added, explaining that the health care payers can't make the needed changes themselves.
"I believe, absolutely, that we have to go to consumer-driven health plans," McAllister asserted. He said it is a "myth" that people can't make decisions for themselves under such plans. If they have price and quality information at the time they are making the decision and a structure supporting that, they will "find a way to get the right value."
