August 7, 2005 | Nashville, TN

Policy leaders and researchers joined in Nashville on Sunday, August 7, 2005 for a day-long pre-conference, Consumer-Directed Health Care: Research and State Policy Implications, sponsored by HCFO and the National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) in conjunction with NASHP’s 18th annual State Health Policy Conference.

The pre-conference highlighted updated research results from projects that examine consumer-directed health plans with an emphasis on the implications for state health policy. This was an opportunity for policymakers and researchers to debate the proposed benefits and potential pitfalls of consumer-directed care, exchange information, and identify ongoing policy and research agendas.

We had exceptional lineup of presenters and a format designed to focus on the newest research findings and states’ roles in consumer-directed care. In the morning, HCFO-sponsored researchers presented their findings with reactions from insurer and consumer perspectives. In the afternoon, state representatives discussed the potential role of consumer-directed care for state employee health coverage, Medicaid, and high-risk pools.