So which benefit of reference based pricing is greater? It depends on preference. Cost control is the first benefit. True choice for plan members is the second. Reference based pricing plan members are not restricted to in-network facilities and physicians when seeking care. As a result, they can go to any facility that accepts the RBP pricing structure.

This means that plan members receive care from their own doctor rather than settling for one in-network. Similarly, employees can get a procedure from an outpatient facility. A facility with great reviews and reasonable costs rather than from an in-patient network hospital.

The company’s RBP health plan works together with employees to seek optimal care under this method and it helps cut costs at the same time. This method improves your reference based pricing plan strategy year over year.

Employers who utilize RBP are not beholden to an arbitrary discount off of a hidden hospital ChargeMaster list. Their employees do not receive care today only to be hit with a surprise bill two months down the road. Instead, the plan and its members have total transparency over what charges they will be responsible for following a treatment or procedure.