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Greetings!
This issue we will report on a stalled RFP involving major players, how to look at ROI on wellness offerings (always a challenge), and some words from the president of Pitney Bowes, which has had on-site programming for longer than some of you have been in the work force. We also report on the upcoming MBGH session for On-Site Health in Chicago (April 14, if you can make it). Read on. |
| Port St. Lucie Delay | | |
As reported on our Web site and in other newsletter issues, Florida seems to be a hotbed of activity in on-site clinic development in the public sector at least. We have noted that several school districts and cities have selected on-site vendors over the past year.
Port St. Lucie has had an on-site clinic managed by CareHere, LLC but apparently decided not to renew that contract (which expires May 1, 2011). In the open bidding process, two local medical groups and two nationally-known providers submitted proposals (Take Care Health Systems, Inc./Walgreens and First Onsite/HCA).
However, it was announced at a meeting this past week that they would delay their decision on a final vendor because there were ". . two presentations whose bottom line contract rates appeared to differ from the companies' original responses to the city's request for proposals." As a result, the city will take more time to evaluate the proposals and better understand them before making that final decision.
Stalled RFP processes are not news to vendors in this industry, but this example may be the tip of the iceberg. When the employers do not know what they are doing, they can turn to the vendor community and to consultants for help. When they don't know what they want to do, it makes sense to do some internal planning. I am sensitive to the vendors because this process of "exploration" is costly to everyone, and it damages program momentum. We will try to monitor this decision-making process and keep you informed on our Web site or in the next newsletter. |
| Pitney Bowes | | |
Brent Pawlecki, M.D., the medical director for Pitney Bowes' employee healthcare programs, spoke recently at a meeting of the Connecticut Business Group on Health. Dr. Pawlecki is highly regarded for his efforts in on-site services, and the Pitney Bowes program remains a model to be emulated.
Pawlecki had many comments, but the following statement just seemed to crystallize the scope of the problems you as employers must address: "One problem it identified [the company in their initial data mining] was the prevalence of chronic health conditions--about half the company's population had at least one." Staggering? Daunting? Opportunity?
Well, Pitney Bowes apparently saw this as the latter. They implemented many new programs-only one of which was a drug plan change in 2001 which through various financial incentives (reductions in financial barriers) improved compliance with medication regimes by 5% for hypertension, 7% for diabetes, and an astounding 42% for asthma (for the period 2001 through 2008).
Per the article in which Dr. Pawlecki's remarks were summarized, "The company estimates that two-thirds of its health care savings come from disease management programs, wellness programs, on-site clinics, and enrollees' health care choices. The rest is the result of value-based purchasing and the benefits plan design."
We repeat this here to reinforce the concept as a global, comprehensive plan and solution. We also want to reinforce that this newsletter and our Web site use the term "on-site clinics" to refer to that total program. We are fully aware that an on-site medical office, while hugely important, is only one component of a comprehensive offering. |
| For more on-site clinic news, visit our Web site at www.onsiteclinics.org |
 MBGH to Hold Meeting
April 14, 2011
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Go to the MBGH link to find out more about an important half-day session that they are sponsoring in Chicago on the 14th of April.
As background, I have watched the progress of the commercial seminars for the last couple of years, and this has been the best year (for attendance) for all of them. The recent Orlando conference, from all reports, had solid attendance as did the one in Scottsdale. The HBCE conference in Florida had significant interest in workshop offerings related to on-site and workplace health.
MBGH always sponsors quality programming, and I know that one of the most respected speakers in the on-site space, Dr. Bruce Sherman, has initially agreed to participate and share his observations and experience. Dr. Sherman is the Medical Director at Whirlpool and is an activist in the Patient-Centered Medical Home movement.
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Our closing article will refer to you the first of a two-part interview with David Chenowith, Ph.D. by David Hunnicutt of the Wellness Council of America.
The interview is about ten pages long but a fairly easy read. It is full of solid information about how to create effective wellness programs and evaluate the effectiveness and ROI. You'll be glad you read it, and we'll give you the link to the second part in our next newsletter.
Just a couple of excerpts we wanted to mention here, however. Dr. Chenowith states the obvious-you have to have data to perform any ROI. We add that in your core business you always know this, but when looking at ROI on any on-site healthcare service, we tend to forget or be thwarted by our need for data. Remember that in all of your vendor relationships, this should be a key performance element-the ability to produce and supply accurate data for analysis of program benefits.
In addition, Chenowith advises that even smaller companies can afford wellness programs by making sure that they focus on the lower cost/higher return issues.
We hope you'll read the entire interview.
Sincerely,
Mike La Penna
The La Penna Group, Inc.
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