Reference-Based Pricing is when a self-funded employer does not use a traditional health insurance network. Instead, the employer pays hospital facility fees as a percentage of Medicare.
Here are the top 10 facts about Reference-Based Pricing:
Employers that use Reference-Based Pricing will pay a hospital 120% to 200% of Medicare Reimbursement.
This reimbursement amount is still FAR LESS than the traditional commercial insurance discount amount, which is often 500% or more of Medicare reimbursement.
Doctor and other professional fees are typically still paid through a network, as these fees are far less than the hospital facility fees.
Reference-Based Pricing must use a Third-Party Administrator (TPA) to process the claims and make the correct payments.
Employers that have enacted Reference-Based Pricing have seen their total employee health plan costs decrease by 30% or more.
It is estimated that 2-3% of employers are already using Refence-Based Pricing.1
An employer survey found that 7-11% of employers were considering a Reference-Based Pricing plan in the future.1
Reference-Based Pricing saved the state of Montana $15 Million per year for their State Employee Health Plan.2
A major risk of Reference-Based Pricing is balance-billing of plan members by a hospital system.
Many Reference-Based Pricing plans use a navigation or advocacy service in conjunction with legal services to protect plan members from hospital system balance-billing.