Healthcare Costs on the Run
From March 2005
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Using those tools, Mulqueeney, whose motto is, “He who has the data is king,” has been able, for example, to identify when members of a group with a Preferred Provider Organization were underutilizing its participating providers — meaning the provider network wasn’t the right fit for the group — and was able to find a more compatible network.
In another case, where members were using the emergency room for primary-care services, the solution was employee education. In another situation, chiropractic care was overutilized, so the employer capped those services.
One of his clients was able to flatten its healthcare costs for 2004, even decrease them by 5 percent for this year.
Mulqueeney, a firm believer in a holistic approach to well-being, says the other critical piece of the solution puzzle is a dedication by both employers and their workers to wellness, education and management of chronic conditions. The objective, he says, is to head off high-ticket claims at the pass.
To that end, he says, employers can provide disease-management coaching tools, such as the Denver-based Great-West Healthcare’s Medical Outreach, and web-based wellness and self-care platforms, such as Las Vegas-based WorldDoc.
But We’re a Small Business
Mulqueeney cautions these are not quick fixes. Although they have proven savings track records, their value builds over time. Also, employers need to provide incentives to encourage their staffs to use available tools.
So, you don’t have 500 or 1,000, or even 100 employees? Are there strategies for small businesses and the self-employed?
Continued...
In another case, where members were using the emergency room for primary-care services, the solution was employee education. In another situation, chiropractic care was overutilized, so the employer capped those services.
One of his clients was able to flatten its healthcare costs for 2004, even decrease them by 5 percent for this year.
Mulqueeney, a firm believer in a holistic approach to well-being, says the other critical piece of the solution puzzle is a dedication by both employers and their workers to wellness, education and management of chronic conditions. The objective, he says, is to head off high-ticket claims at the pass.
To that end, he says, employers can provide disease-management coaching tools, such as the Denver-based Great-West Healthcare’s Medical Outreach, and web-based wellness and self-care platforms, such as Las Vegas-based WorldDoc.
But We’re a Small Business
Mulqueeney cautions these are not quick fixes. Although they have proven savings track records, their value builds over time. Also, employers need to provide incentives to encourage their staffs to use available tools.
So, you don’t have 500 or 1,000, or even 100 employees? Are there strategies for small businesses and the self-employed?
Continued...
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