Willis_Towers_Watson-2017全球医疗趋势调查（英文）-2017-18页-1mb

2017 Global Medical Trends Survey Report Summary

Core Content

The 2017 Willis Towers Watson Global Medical Trends Survey Report highlights the ongoing rise in global medical care costs, with no clear signs of slowing down. The report outlines key trends, regional variations, and the factors driving cost increases, as well as employer responses to manage these costs.

Main Findings

• Global Medical Trend: The average global medical trend is projected to be 7.8% in 2017, up slightly from 7.3% in 2016 and 7.5% in 2015. This rate is still above general inflation.
• Regional Trends:
  • Latin America leads with the highest trend at 11.5% in 2017.
  • Europe has the lowest trend at 4.5%, due to extensive social security coverage.
  • Asia Pacific continues to increase, with a projected 8.6% in 2017.
  • North America sees a trend of 8.6% in 2017.
• Country-Specific Trends:
  • China has a high trend, exceeding 10%, due to modernization and increased private medical awareness.
  • India has some of the highest trends, with a projected 20.0% in 2017.
  • Singapore has seen a decrease in trend due to market competition and the introduction of Medishield Life.
  • Venezuela is excluded from regional totals due to hyperinflation, but its trend is 293.0%, making it a significant outlier.
• Employer Responses:
  • Employers primarily use traditional cost management and cost sharing strategies, such as deductibles and preapprovals.
  • There is a growing investment in preventive care and well-being programs, especially in Europe and the Americas.
  • Health risk assessments, second medical opinions, biometric screenings, and lifestyle education are on the rise.
• Mental Health and Substance Use:
  • 61% of insurers now include mental health and stress treatment in their standard plans, up from 50% in 2014.
  • However, 72% still exclude treatment for alcoholism and drug use, and 43% exclude HIV/AIDS.

Key Drivers of Cost Increases

• Hospital/Inpatient Services and Basic Medical/Outpatient Services:
  • These are the primary cost drivers, with 50% of insurers (except in Europe) expecting moderate to significant increases.
  • Asia Pacific leads with 92% of insurers attributing cost increases to hospital/inpatient services.
• Provider and Employee Behavior:
  • 74% of insurers are concerned about overprescribing by providers.
  • 74% also worry about employees seeking inappropriate care.
• New Medical Technology and Provider Profits:
  • 63% of insurers attribute rising costs to new medical technologies.
  • 40% of insurers cite provider profit motives as a key factor, down slightly from 44% in 2016.
  • Other contributing factors include limited provider networks, changing workforce demographics, and poor provider cost information.

Top Three Global Diseases

• Cardiovascular Disease, Cancer, and Respiratory Illness are the top three diseases reported by insurers worldwide.
• These are noncommunicable diseases that are increasingly prevalent in low- and middle-income countries due to urbanization and aging populations.
• No change is expected in the ranking of these diseases over the next five years.

Data and Coding

• High-level claim coding is improving, particularly for larger employers, allowing for better strategic planning.
• The ICD-10 coding system is being adopted more widely, though there is still room for improvement, especially in Europe.
• Aggregate statistics are rarely provided in Europe, limiting the depth of data analysis.

Conclusion

The report underscores the persistent challenge of rising medical costs globally, driven by a combination of factors including healthcare service utilization, provider behavior, and new technology. While traditional cost management strategies remain prevalent, there is a notable shift towards more proactive employee health programs. The Americas and Europe are seeing increased investment in well-being initiatives, while Latin America and Asia Pacific continue to experience the highest cost trends. The U.S. and Canada are also under pressure due to rising pharmacy costs and stagnant wages.