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Health Care Tour: “Seeking Patient-Centered Care”
Upstate Chamber of Commerce Health Care Luncheon
The Issue:
Upstate employers are seeking new and creative ways to provide affordable health care coverage for their employees.
Findings:
- As health care costs rise, local employers realize they need to take a two-pronged approach to managing costs while maintaining quality care for their employees.
- Save money and increase overall employee health in the long term by encouraging preventive medicine and employee wellness.
- Keep company premiums low by encouraging better management of existing chronic illnesses within their workforce.
Examples:
Mitsubishi Polyester Film:
- Mitsubishi Polyester Film (MPF) has moved to a consumer-driven health care approach combined with an emphasis on wellness and preventive care.
- At its Greer plant of 600 employees, MPF offers a multi-dimensional plan.
- Health Benefits: An “Outside the Box” Approach.
- Health Reimbursement Accounts:
- Employees use company-funded accounts to pay first dollar medical care.
- When this amount is spent, the employee pays total cost of medical care for an equal amount.
- Expenses beyond this are then covered by MPF at a 90/10 rate.
- An on-site clinic provides inexpensive and efficient care by contracted non-company physicians and nurse.
- An Emphasis on Wellness and Prevention.
- MPF fully covers preventive medical procedures (mammograms, yearly physical, tobacco cessation, etc.).
- A fitness coach provides free personal training and a disease management specialist helps manage those with chronic diseases (diabetes, nutrition, obesity, heart disease).
- Established a tobacco-free plant in 2008 and applies additional employee contribution rates to smokers ($15/week).
- The Result = A Win/Win/Win Situation.
- Mitsubishi Polyester has realized health care savings of $9 MILLION over the past three years.
- Employee health care contributions have not increased since 2004.
- Employee health is measurably improving (weight loss, lower blood pressure, fewer smokers, etc.).
Michelin North America:
- Michelin views health care as an investment in the work force.
- The work force is at risk and the future doesn’t look better.
- 80% of Michelin’s employees are male with an average age of 48 and increasing.
- Future employees are younger, but appear less healthy in general (higher rates of diabetes, obesity, etc.)
- Health care coverage is a necessary part of the business process.
- Every business process requires healthy, able-bodied, and intelligent workers.
- Health insurance, wellness programs, workmen’s compensation, disability, and all productivity programs are now viewed together as a total business process rather than just costs and benefits.
- Michelin is taking a greater role providing that health care.
- Individuals’ needs are identified in order to guide their care focus.
- Those having chronic conditions are sent to those providers who treat those conditions best.
- Already healthy employees’ care focuses on prevention.
When: February 1, 2008
Where: University Center, Greenville, SC
Hosts: Upstate Chambers
Speakers: Annmarie Higgins from Mitsubishi Polyester Film and Martin Storey from Michelin North America