More than a band-aid: a cure for rising health-care costs needs a change in behavior.

• Author: Campbell, Michael
• Position: Viewpoint

WE HAVE MORE FAST FOOD restaurants per capita in the state of Indiana than any other state in the union. We have the largest cardiology practice in the country domiciled here.

These two points are connected. The cardiologists are here because they need to be here.

Statistics released in January revealed that the U.S. has topped $1.6 trillion dollars in health-care costs. In 1965, the costs for all medical-related issues amounted to 6 percent of the gross domestic product and today we're staring in the face of 15 percent. Where we are headed, we cannot go. And so comes the question, "Is there hope?"

Today, employer remedies range from "throwing in the towel" to looking at a whole new dynamic generation of cost-shifting insurance products, loosely called "defined contribution." Employers have absorbed the health-insurance increases too long and now they are faced with no other choice but to pass along more to the employee population.

More recently you may have heard it referred to as consumer-driven health plans. These plans are designed to once again shift costs from the employer to the employee. If consumer-driven health plans were offered with true incentives to change behavior, combined with other wellness initiatives, there could be some merit found here. However, consumer-driven health plans by themselves are band-aid therapy. We're trying to improve the music by polishing the instruments.

So, where is the hope? It lies first with company leaders. There are programs available today in the marketplace that when properly facilitated, promoted and administered, can truly modify behavior and empower people to make the right choices.

It must be understood that all employers, whether fully insured or self-funded, need to identify a benefit or insurance company that is...