A Survey Study of Patients' Reported Preferences for Episode-Based Cost-Sharing Models.

Area of Science:

• Health Economics
• Patient Preferences
• Healthcare Policy

Background:

• Episode-based cost sharing (EBCS) aims to reduce patient cost uncertainty for healthcare episodes.
• Understanding patient preferences for EBCS is crucial for its implementation.
• This study evaluated preferences for EBCS in breast cancer screening, lung cancer screening, and childbirth.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess patient preferences for episode-based cost sharing (EBCS) models.
• To compare EBCS with the current healthcare cost-sharing system.
• To determine patient preferences across three distinct healthcare episodes.

Main Methods:

• A choice-based experiment was conducted with adult participants.
• Participants evaluated nine cost-sharing models based on initial and subsequent costs.
• Hierarchical Bayesian conjoint analysis was used to analyze preferences for EBCS versus the status quo.

Main Results:

• EBCS models were significantly preferred over the status quo for all three episodes.
• Preferences for EBCS were highest for childbirth (44.5%), followed by breast cancer screening (18.1%), and lung cancer screening (12.0%).
• Cost-sharing models with uncertain additional costs were consistently least preferred.

Conclusions:

• Healthcare consumers favor cost-sharing models that prospectively guarantee out-of-pocket expenses.
• EBCS offers a preferred alternative to traditional cost-sharing with uncertain future costs.
• Patient preference for EBCS is strong across various healthcare scenarios.