{"id":81612,"date":"2021-07-11T15:21:58","date_gmt":"2021-07-11T20:21:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/westcomm.com\/?p=81612"},"modified":"2024-01-05T20:30:07","modified_gmt":"2024-01-05T20:30:07","slug":"introducing-a-narrow-network-avoid-these-3-communication-missteps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/westcomm.com\/introducing-a-narrow-network-avoid-these-3-communication-missteps\/","title":{"rendered":"Narrow Networks: What Your Employees Should Understand"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ gutter_size=”2″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ uncode_shortcode_id=”117171″][vc_column_text]Narrow provider networks are becoming a common part of employer-sponsored medical plans. For many organizations, these networks are the best option for controlling medical costs. That\u2019s because narrow networks limit you to a select group of physicians, specialists, and hospitals. In return, you pay less for services\u2014that\u2019s true for employees and generally true for employers, too.<\/p>\n

While cost-containment may be one of your organization\u2019s leading drivers\u2014given that medical benefits are a significant part of today\u2019s expenditures\u2014be aware that employees may view these networks differently.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s important to educate your workforce on how narrow networks work and the pros and cons they\u2019ll need to consider. And the more upfront you are, the better. This allows employees to make their own informed decisions.<\/p>\n

Cost is Not Everything<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Given the high cost of healthcare, it would be easy to think that lower costs incentivize employees to use narrow networks. But that\u2019s not true for everyone. While cost is an important driver, it is only one factor considered by those seeking care\u2014and for many, it\u2019s not the top consideration.<\/p>\n

Westcomm helped a major Midwest employer conduct focus groups with their employees to gauge perception, interest, and understanding of their new narrow network. To their surprise, they learned cost was not as high on the list as they thought when employees were deciding where to seek care. Focus group participants put cost in the middle of the list, ranking considerations as follows:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Provider qualifications:\u202fReputation\/referral, certifications, quality rankings<\/li>\n
  2. Relationship:\u202fComfort with and trust in provider; established health history<\/li>\n
  3. In-network:\u202fBenefit of lower cost<\/li>\n
  4. Location:\u202fConvenience and accessibility<\/li>\n
  5. Care coordination:\u202fEase of records all being within the same system<\/li>\n
  6. Administrative ease:\u202fStay with a provider because changing is cumbersome and inconvenient<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    This feedback is further supported by a Zocdoc survey\u202fthat found that when searching for a provider, people care about:<\/p>\n