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Keeping workers healthy: Hamilton County employers explore ways to control the rising cost of health care
The costs of health care have been steadily rising for employers, and that trend is expected to continue with medical inflation anticipated to be in the double digits or close to it in the coming years. So what can companies do to cut those costs?
“We’ve continued to see people tinker with their plan designs by raising co-pays, raising deductibles and raising out-of-pocket expenses, which really doesn’t change the claims overall, it’s simply a cost shift,” said Gregg Martin, vice president for Hylant Group in Carmel. “We are seeing a huge movement for spousal carve-out. Businesses are saying, ‘I’ll be responsible for my employee, but I’m not going to be responsible for someone else’s employee.’ They are getting people off their programs that have insurance available to them elsewhere.”
Clinics for Intel workers the ‘ultimate house call’
Intel employees no longer need to leave their Chandler campuses to see a doctor. The company opens medical centers at the Chandler and Ocotillo sites on Friday.
The centers will provide primary care, urgent care, lab services, physical therapy, occupational health care, travel medicine, pharmacy services, fitness training and wellness and prevention programs.
“The center is the ultimate house call,” said Dr. Peter Vasquez, the medical director who oversees the two Chandler centers as well as occupational health in Intel in the United States.
There are 10,000 employees at the Chandler campuses.
Disney’s employee health and wellness center to open
Walt Disney World celebrated the completion of its new employee health and wellness center this morning, providing a one-stop medical clinic for up to 41,000 full-time employees and their families.
The center, to be operated by Take Care Health Systems Inc., offers primary doctor care, urgent medical treatment, behavioral health care, preventive health care, a pharmacy, a medical tests lab, and a radiology lab in a 15,000-square foot facility at Walt Disney World.
At right, Peter Hotz of Take Care Health Systems, Walt Disney World President Meg Crofton and Walt Disney World Parks and Resorts President Al Weiss wave to a gathering of employees as streamers mark the gala opening. The center won’t actually be open to treat patients for another week.
Commissioners approve health clinic
The county approved the opening of a clinic for employees and their dependents that is meant to cut costs and time lost at work during its Commissioners’ Court meeting Monday.
The county budgeted $300,000 to open and run the CareHere Clinic through its first year and are looking at different spaces to lease so the clinic could be open by the end of the year, said Midland County Judge Mike Bradford. It would serve about 530 county employees and their dependents that are under the county’s health care plan and would be evaluated a few years after opening.
Time lost at work should decrease immediately with the clinic’s opening, Bradford said, as employees will be able to see a medical professional right away rather than waiting for an extended period. Medical costs to the county should also decrease, he said, because they’ll be paying a fixed cost to run the clinic rather than the co-pays and prices on various services that are dictated by the private market.
Insurance plan, clinic come to Springfield
One of the toughest issues facing small business owners is health care.
According to the Small Business Association, about half of businesses with fewer than 10 workers offer health benefits to employees.
Those employed with no access to health care are part of the 43.1 million Americans who were uninsured in 2007, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Starting this week, Americans for Affordable Healthcare is offering a unique health-care plan available to employers and individuals in Clark County that brings with it direct access to a health clinic and other medical services.
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