Country: United States
Survey Organization: Harris Interactive, Inc.
Field Date: June 8, 2009–July 8, 2009
Sample: Peer-nominated experts in health care policy, finance, and delivery; select members of the Modern Healthcare database
Sample Size: 208
Interview Method: Online/E-mail
Leaders in health care and health care policy believe that Americans should have a choice of public and private health insurance plans, and two-thirds believe the public plan should incorporate innovative methods for paying providers, including global fees, according to the latest Commonwealth Fund/Modern Healthcare Health Care Opinion Leaders Survey. A large majority of opinion leaders supports the establishment of a national health insurance exchange with strong authority to enforce standards of participation, set rating rules, standardize benefits, and review or negotiate premiums. A majority thinks the standard required benefit package should be similar to the Federal Employees Health Benefit Program’s standard Blue Cross Blue Shield option, although one-third support a less generous benefit package. Whatever their views concerning the details of health reform, two-thirds of respondents (68%) agree upon the urgency of enacting comprehensive changes, including an expansion of insurance coverage, this year.
Methodology
The Commonwealth Fund/Modern Healthcare Health Care Opinion Leaders Survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Interactive on behalf of The Commonwealth Fund between June 8, 2009 and July 8, 2009 among 585 opinion leaders in health policy and innovators in health care delivery and finance. The final sample included 208 respondents from various industries, for a response rate of 35.6 percent. Data from this survey were not weighted. A full methodology is available in Appendix A.