About Us
About Us
Health Options Worldwide (HOW) is a technology company that empowers companies with health intelligence to reduce spending and improve outcomes. HOW's Diagnostic Suite identifies, categorizes, and steers high risk / high cost individuals towards appropriate preventative care. Our cloud based system directs care based on national guidelines helping to manage chronic diseases and assist in facility decisions for surgery and specialized medical care. The HOW Diagnostic Suite enables better choices for when, where, and how individuals receive care, thus making healthcare more accessible, affordable, and impactful.
Our Story:
In 2008, Health Options Worldwide (HOW) started as a small company with a simple goal: To become the leader in the health information market by helping self-paying patients find affordable, high-quality healthcare options . We began by providing a network linking hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, and physicians, to self-funded employers, insurers, and pre-paid surgical patients. Our objective was to provide worry-free medical travel for patients, while expanding the global reach of healthcare providers. After further research comparing the utilization of these systems and studying patient behavior, we discovered that there were additional tools that could be offered in help deliver proactive healthcare to a diverse population.
Today, HOW offers secure benefits management and health intelligence to payors in the U.S., Australia, India, United Arab Emirates, and Canada. Our customized solutions are designed to reduce healthcare costs while improving overall health. In addition we provide secure portals that allow instant access to aggregated healthcare data, methods to help members navigate to appropriate and timely care, and personalized messaging.
What We Do:
While our comprehensive vision for the future of healthcare has evolved, our primary goal has stayed the same. HOW is dedicated to reducing overall costs while making the healthcare process seamless for all those involved. .
HOW also offers unique features for employers; providing a HIPAA compliant, statistics-based health management system to monitor the overall health of their company. Through the use of tools such as health alerts and fitness campaigns, employees become empowered and encouraged to take control of their personal health. Thereby reducing overall healthcare costs for both themselves and their employers.
Our system is highly complex, but the process is quite simple. We begin by creating a secure, personal electronic health record for each member. Next, using predictive algorithms, we analyze potential health risks. Then, by providing tools and information about relevant conditions, at-risk members are engaged and assisted in making lifestyle changes, as well as given quick access to healthcare providers in their area. This process results in the prevention or reversal of chronic diseases and a reduction in the likelihood of future surgical intervention.
Why There's a Need:
The U.S. healthcare market is in a state of crisis as costs continue skyrocketing. Compounding this is the economic downturn and a rising federal deficit which places a strain on the system. In particular, private employer-sponsored health insurance plans and public programs such as Medicare and Medicaid are especially strained. The U.S. spends 50% more on healthcare than any other country in the world, and total healthcare spending is expected to reach $4.5 Trillion, consuming nearly 20% of the U.S. economy, within the next six to seven years. This dilemma underscores the need for imminent change in the way we perceive healthcare.
Often overshadowed by the cost of prescription medications, surgical treatments account for one-third - or $700 Billion - of total healthcare spending. We estimate that 75% ($540 Billion) of all surgeries performed are medically necessary, but elective, providing patients have adequate time from the point of diagnosis to explore treatment options and make informed decisions.
Over the past eight years, employer premiums have increased over 87% and, in the past five years, employees' total out-of-pocket expenses have quadrupled. Personal health management is not only an effective strategy for saving money, but it will become necessary as a standard practice for employers, employees, and providers as healthcare changes in the future. HOW is here to make that transition easier by offering the tools necessary to lead better, healthier lives, while reducing personal expenses for medical treatments.
HOW empowers organizations to reduce healthcare costs with some of the most advanced tools in the industry. Directing healthcare into the future as it becomes more cost-efficient, higher quality, and producing a measurable ROI.
