Selected news releases for today's health care executives
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Selected news releases for today's health care executives
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Considerable attention has been given during the past five+ years to international medical tourism as a tool for health care purchasers to provide a lower cost alternative for applicable targeted high-cost procedures. While international medical travel continues to experience overall growth, there remains material reluctance on the part of a significant portion of employers, health plans and consumers to participate in these international programs for various reasons. However, both due to cost and quality concerns with complex care delivered locally throughout widespread portions of the country, the concept of Domestic Medical Travel is receiving significant interest. Within the United States, increased focus on variations in quality and cost has brought new energy to the concept of channeling care to centers of excellence. Historically, its application was limited to transplants, but now some employers are adopting this concept for other complex, high-risk surgical procedures. Medical travel, even domestically, when sponsored by employers, health plans or other purchasers, still raises legal and regulatory concerns and issues that should be adequately addressed by purchasers seeking to pursue such initiatives. Medical travel legal expert Kevin J. Ryan of Much Shelist identifies and discusses potential approaches to key issues in this regard. The most prominent large employer initiative in this regard may be the Lowe's and Cleveland Clinic relationship entered into last year. Now with over a year of experience to draw upon, Bob Ihrie, Senior Vice President of Employee Rewards and Services, and Kyle Wendt, Vice President - Benefits of Lowe's Companies, and George Wagoner, FSA, MAA, Senior Partner of Mercer discuss the experience, issues and implications of their initiatives. Lowe’s full-time employees and their covered dependents enrolled in the company’s self-funded medical plan may elect to schedule qualifying heart surgery procedures at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio at an enhanced benefits coverage level. For patients approved for the qualifying heart surgery, the Lowe’s program will cover all medical deductibles and coinsurance amounts as well as travel and lodging expenses for the patient and a companion plus concierge services to make the arrangements. With fiscal year 2008 sales of $48.2 billion, Lowe’s Companies, Inc. is a FORTUNE 50 company that serves approximately 14 million customers a week at more than 1,700 home improvement stores in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Mercer worked with Lowe's to design the program and negotiate a bundled provider payment rate structure on their behalf. Mercer is also working with other national employers to implement similar programs with a small number of nationally renowned medical facilities. Mercer actively monitors emerging results and works with employers to adjust and expand these initiatives. |
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Participants will be able to:
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Individual Registration Fee: $195. Audio Conference CD-ROM: $40 for attendees; $285 for non-attendees after the event. Corporate Site licensing also available. Click here to register or call 209.577.4888 We look forward to your participation in this event! |
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