Between AR ock And AH ard Place: Understanding The Employer Mind-Set Employers don't want to continue providing health benefits, but they don't want government intrusion, either

Large and mid-size employers are "between a rock and hard place" when it comes to health benefits: They are both unable to manage their health care costs effec- tively or simply get out of offering these benefits entirely. Although there is considerable di- versity in how employers approach health care, several goals underlie most of their deci- sions. It is unlikely that the current round of employer-based health initiatives will succeed at managing rising costs. As a result, employers are likely to become more interested than at any time in the past decade in exiting their roles as providers of health benefits. (Health