Consumer-driven health plans: early evidence and potential impact on hospitals.

Consumer-driven health plans-tax--advantaged accounts paired with high-deductible coverage--represent a small but rapidly growing part of insurance offerings. Supporters believe that such plans will encourage consumers to become better-informed, more cost-conscious users of health care. Opponents worry that patients will obtain fewer necessary and nonessential services alike. Early evidence suggests that consumer-driven plans result in lower costs and increased use of preventive and chronic care services, but these findings are preliminary. The biggest effect for hospitals might be the pressure produced for increased price transparency and greater uniformity in pricing, although high-deductible plans also could reduce hospital spending by reducing use.