The Center for Health Value Information has identified five key trends in value-based health design. Some say the trends speak to the fact that employers still believe a market economy can produce creative solutions to reduce health care costs.

"Employers and health plans that implement value-based design begin with a focus on achieving optimal health for every individual," says Cyndy Nayer, president of CHVI.

The Missouri-based center sees value-based design, in part, as a health-management tool that uses data to guide measurable investment in benefits and incentives that generate behavior change.

One emerging trend is the accelerated pace of products focusing on value-based design. For instance, more employers are favoring adherence-based contracts with health plans, and product portfolios are embracing new structures for reimbursement, rebates and shared risk, reports CHVI.

What's more, physicians and other medical providers are not only expanding their involvement with incentive-based designs, but also becoming more active in designing benefits and incentives to support better health.

"The first step [with VB design] is to identify populations that are veering toward high health and disability costs, including those with a number of expressed health risks, under-managed conditions and appropriate but ignored treatment plans," says David Hom, chairman of the board for CHVI.

"The goal is to educate patients on how to utilize the system effectively, including the management of chronic conditions and the implementation of preventive care, wellness programs and appropriate interventions. All of these will improve patient health," he adds.

Another strategy that is developing around value-based design is that familiar technologies are being used in innovative ways to link together on-time data, user-controlled messaging and social networking support to produce value-based health improvement. Benefits design is also becoming increasingly personal to support consumer health improvement, with person-centric programs becoming a critical component of health improvement.

The final growing trend is employers, pharmacy benefit managers, advisers, physician groups, health systems and other stakeholders are increasingly committed to reducing financial and personal health risks, with a measurable return-on-investment for plan sponsors.