HealthPartners co-op model makes national news

Healthcare reform is front and center, and many are citing HealthPartners model as a way to move forward. News organizations are continuing to focus on whether or not co-ops are a realistic option. As one of the only, and largest, consumer-governed nonprofit healthcare organizations in the country, HealthPartners is uniquely positioned to provide context and background for these stories.

Key points include:

Many questions remain about the viability the proposed co-op option, including details around structure, governance and regulation.
As a nonprofit, co-op model, we are very pro-consumer and can focus on providing value for our consumers, unlike for-profit plans which must focus on providing large returns for shareholders.
Our consumer-governance, coupled with low administrative costs and lower profit margin goals are key in our success and a model for reform. However, a co-op designation alone does not guarantee success or lower costs for consumers.

Watch recent segments from NBC Nightly News, Minnesota Public Radio, CNN and MSNBC and see what our leaders are saying about the topic. We have also been interviewed by the New York Times and the Washington Post.

New online Preferred Drug List (formulary) design coming soon

At the end of next month, we’re rolling out a redesigned online Preferred Drug List. This online tool is one of the most used features of healthpartners.com and averages more than 18,000 searches each month. We’re making enhancements to make this tool even easier for our members to use. Additionally, the new format will include an “Ask a pharmacist” link that members can use to securely e-mail a question to a HealthPartners pharmacist.

Watch for the updates at the end of next month at healthpartners.com/formulary.

Motivate and educate your employees with the Engage toolkit

To help you motivate your employees to make healthy lifestyle decisions, HealthPartners has launched the new Engage Toolkit. This toolkit includes creative and fun resources designed to get your employees excited about health topics. It is an easy-to-use communications strategy that is flexible and customizable to your specific needs.

The Engage toolkit has many features that make it a great choice for your organization:

A variety of tools. The Engage toolkit includes a variety of resources to help educate your employees about healthcare topics. You can use all of the materials, just a few or even add your own. Tools include:

Posters
Flyers
Table tents
Postcards
Articles
E-mails

A year of engaging topics. The HealthPartners Engage toolkit is organized on a calendar basis with one healthy theme, such as physical activity or preventative care, for every month. The messages will motivate your employees to take action and help them get the most out of their HealthPartners plan.

Three easy options. With the Engage toolkit, you choose from three easy, customizable options based on your organization’s needs:

The Basics: Start engaging your employees
Pick and Choose: Choose multiple communication tools each month
Best Practices: Take your organization’s culture of health to the next level

HealthPartners is excited to be your partner in engaging your employees to make smart healthcare and lifestyle choices. We will support you along the way to ensure you have the resources you need to be successful. For more information on the Engage toolkit, please contact your HealthPartners sales executive or your broker.

A Dental Plan with Teeth

Saving money is easy when you offer a dental plan with plenty of teeth. HealthPartners Dental Distinctions Plan can help take a bite out of your expenses.

Here's how:

Distinctions separates network dentists and specialists into two benefit levels. When your employees receive care, they pay part of the expense through an out-of-pocket charge such as a coinsurance or deductible. Out-of-pocket costs are determined by the provider they choose and which benefit level the provider is in.

Benefit Level 1 dentists collectively focus on appropriate care, and focusing on appropriate care tends to result in lower costs. By engaging employees in their care through Benefit Level 1, you are better able to control dental claims while your employees experience lower out-of-pocket costs. And because of the common care philosophy shared by Benefit Level 1 dentists, members tend to experience better outcomes. That care regimen includes:

Risk assessments and individualized care
Disease prevention and aggressive disease management
Evidence-based dentistry, leading to reduction in utilization of high cost services

While all of that sounds great, how do you attach a value to it?

	Crowns per 1000 members	Total crown cost	Difference
HealthPartners Dental Group (Benefit Level 1)	66	$49,784	$41,216 lower cost than Rest of Network
Rest of Network	145	$91,000	+45.3%

As you can see the number of crowns performed by Benefit Level 1 dentists is far less than dentists in the rest of our network. The frequency of crowns is just one example of how appropriate care and an evidence-based treatment approach will lead to savings. Therefore, if your employees are naturally steered toward care within Benefit Level 1, it follows that you will start seeing some savings

So why not help take a bite out of your expenses with HealthPartners Dental Distinctions plan? Contact your HealthPartners sales executive or your broker for more details.

Recent additions to Healthy Discounts

Just for being a HealthPartners member, your employees can get discounts on products and services that help them get healthy and stay healthy. Our Healthy Discounts programs continues to expand, here is a sample of some of the recent additions to the program:

Bikeshop.com
We've partnered with Bikeshop.com to offer members a 10 percent discount on bicycles and bicycling accessories. Visit bikeshop.com for more details.

Total Golf Store
Total Golf Store offers many products and services for members to enjoy. HealthPartners members receive 10 percent off any item and free shipping on orders over $75. View Total Golf Store Products.

Let's Dish!
Let's Dish! offers delicious, affordable, convenient meals starting at only $3.50 per serving. All HealthPartners members receive $15 off any four, eight, or 12-dish session, or free assembly on any Dish-n-Dash order up to a $45 value. Check out Let’s Dish! today.

Yoga North
Yoga North, a premier studio of the Duluth area, offers weekly group classes in Hatha, Ashtanga, Kundalini, and Therapeutic yoga, as well as weekly Meditation. HealthPartners members are entitled to:

First week free for new students
10% off new students first series of registration classes
10% off any 30 day challenge
10% off your first private individual or group customized training session

For more information about classes visit www.YogaNorthDuluth.com or call 218-722-YOGA today to get started.

View the complete list of Healthy Discounts.

Enhancements to the Frequent Fitness Web site

HealthPartners Frequent Fitness program now features an interactive Google map search that displays participating frequent fitness locations on a map. This tool makes it even easier to find the participating location that’s closest to your home, work or wherever you prefer. To find a Frequent Fitness location, try this new search tool.