Health Care Reform: Proposals Have Potential to Reduce Administrative
Costs (Letter Report, 05/31/94, GAO/HEHS-94-158).

Americans today receive health insurance from a multitude of sources,
including more than 1,200 commercial insurers; 550 health maintenance
organizations; 69 Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans; thousands of
self-insured plans run by private employers; and government programs,
such as Medicaid and Medicare. Many believe that the complexity of this
insurance system contributes to the nation's high per capita health care
costs. One of the aims of health care reform is to enhance
administrative efficiency. To the extent that reform simplifies
insurance administration, it may be able to cut costs. Any savings in
administrative expenses could be applied to other valuable ends, such as
expanding access and improving quality. This report examines the
administrative cost implications of alternative reform proposals,
including a single-payer plan and three managed competition plans, and
compares their administrative cost savings potential.

--------------------------- Indexing Terms -----------------------------

 REPORTNUM:  HEHS-94-158
     TITLE:  Health Care Reform: Proposals Have Potential to Reduce 
             Administrative Costs
      DATE:  05/31/94
   SUBJECT:  Health insurance
             National policies
             Health care planning
             Health insurance cost control
             Administrative costs
             Claims processing
             Comparative analysis
             Proposed legislation
             Health care cost control
IDENTIFIER:  Medicaid Program
             Clinton Health Care Plan
             Health Security Act
             Managed Competition Act of 1993
             American Health Security Act of 1993
             Health Equity and Access Reform Today Act of 1993
             Health Insurance Plan of California
             Federal Employees Health Benefits Program
             CalPERS Health Benefits Program (CA)
             National Health Care Reform Initiative
             
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