More consumers turning to health advocacy services

There are only about a half-dozen companies in the United State that provide health advocacy services to patients, but industry experts predict that it will become a $1 billion industry within the next few years (Source: “Booming business helps patients navigate medicine,” Washington Post, July 24, 2008).

With cutbacks in corporate benefits, an overhaul of Medicare regulations and other changes to the health care industry, consumers are being asked to navigate an increasingly complicated system. Advocacy services, which are typically hired by employers, assist consumers with issues such as finding a doctor or addressing billing questions.

"We're asking consumers to make more complicated decisions, but the numeracy and health literacy skills of many consumers are not at the level needed to handle this new responsibility," said Jessica Greene, a University of Oregon health policy analyst.