Health Insurers Say Increased Pressure on Costs Means Tougher Talks With Hospitals

Several leaders of the nation's largest health insurers have said they plan to get even tougher in contract negotiations with hospitals as they try to reign in medical costs, according to a recent Wall Street Journal report.

Health insurers report employers are more willing to limit their employees' insurance options and consider managed care in order to create savings. Additionally, large employers increasingly want to participate in the negotiations, according to the report.

Aetna CFO Joseph Zubretsky was quoted in the report saying, "Employers are willing to limit choice to create better cost advantage and are also willing to come to the table with us in negotiating (reimbursement rates) with providers."

WellPoint CFO Wayne DeVeydt recently said his company had been more aggressive on pricing than in the past. An early 2010 Moody's Investors Service report also anticipated tougher negotiations for hospitals, according to the report.

Read the Wall Street Journal report on contract negotiations (note: this report is no longer available on the WSJ's website).

Copyright © 2024 Becker's Healthcare. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy. Cookie Policy. Linking and Reprinting Policy.

 

Featured Whitepapers

Featured Webinars