A survey of consumers and health care professionals reveals both groups are worried about the state of the U.S. health care system as it enters an election year. Patients and health care providers alike seem to agree there are serious cost and access issues, and respondents say they will support policymakers who will address these concerns. The survey results were released by Wolters Kluwer, an international technology and consulting company. The firm's report, "Mending Health Care in America 2020: Consumers and Cost," said there are both agreements and divisions in how patients and providers view health care. Related: Consumers expect big increases in college and health care costs "Leading up to the 2020 presidential election, there has been a shift in attitudes surrounding out-of-control health care costs and a complicated and opaque health care system that erodes the trust of consumers and providers," said Diana Nole, CEO of Wolters Kluwer, Health. "Our national survey echoes this dissatisfaction, but also illuminates that those on the front lines of delivering care are taking diverging, and sometimes conflicting, paths to mitigate their concerns and prioritize actions." |

A pressing concern

The Wolters Kluwer survey talked to more 1,000 consumers and 837 health care professionals, including nurses, nurse directors, physicians, and hospital executives. The survey showed clearly that respondents see addressing health care issues as a high priority when it comes to next year's elections. The study found that 73 percent of respondents said the issue of health care will be a main factor when they vote for a presidential candidate. A whopping 89 percent of consumer respondents said the U.S. health care system needs an overhaul. The report said 78 percent of all respondents said they will vote for a presidential candidate who will respond to rising health care premiums and high deductibles. And 81 percent of consumers said they believe uncertainty surrounding health care policy impacts the quality of care patients receive. |

Costs at top of mind for both groups

Both groups surveyed showed awareness of how geographical and other differences affect health care. The report said 63 percent of consumers don't believe they would pay the same for a treatment or condition regardless of where they receive care. And 98 percent of all those surveyed agreed that there are substantial differences in costs and how care is delivered, making this a national problem. For consumers, the challenge of costs has a direct impact on how they follow treatment plans. The survey showed 52 percent of consumers don't fill prescriptions due to cost concerns; 47 don't take drugs as prescribed; 38 percent said they stopped taking a medication early. Millennials in particular seemed worried about health care costs—the survey found that 61 percent of millennials did not go forward with a medical treatment because they were concerned about costs; only 31 percent of baby boomers said the same. |

Consumers, health professionals agree on some issues, disagree on others

Consumers and health executives disagree somewhat on the burden of rising drug costs. The survey found that 40 percent of consumers said a top priority for hospitals over the next few years should be medication cost increases. In contrast, hospital executives ranked medication costs last in priorities for the next few years. Transparency in health and billing data, however, was supported strongly by all respondents. The report said of 87 percent of all respondents agree there is a lack of transparency in the pricing of health care services. And 88 percent agree price transparency in health services and medications should be a priority for the next presidential administration. Read more: |