Many employers are watching rising health care costs chip away at profits and wage growth, but the consequences of reducing or dropping coverage could be just as problematic. In answer to this dilemma, a growing set of cost-control solutions and decision-making tools are getting traction in the group market.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Washington, DC – May 22, 2013 - The National Institute for Health Care Management (NIHCM) Foundation is pleased to announce the winners of the Nineteenth Annual Health Care Journalism and Research Awards. The contests are judged by independent panels of experts.

As the focus of marketplace implementation starts to shift from regulation writing to operational planning and consumer engagement, the remaining hurdles to a successful launch loom large. On May 7, 2013, NIHCM Foundation hosted a webinar to discuss the challenges facing various stakeholders and predictions for enrollment, affordability and general readiness.

NIHCM Foundation will hosted a webinar entitled "The Future of Employer-Sponsored Insurance" on May 29, 2013 from 1:00-2:30 PM EDT. The potential effects of the ACA’s new premium tax credits and employer penalties on the group market are hotly debated, but relentless increases in health care costs have already begun to drive change.

NIHCM Foundation is pleased to announce the availability of new funding under its grant program to support investigator-initiated health services research. Up to $150,000 will be available to fund two to three projects in the 2013-2014 cycle. 

As health insurers continue filing preliminary rates for plans to be offered on state exchanges, it is worth keeping in mind the factors playing into their pricing decisions as summarized by Alice Rosenblatt in a recent Expert Voices essay.