HealthPartners Co-op Model Makes National News

The Obama administration has begun to back off plans for a public plan and so the focus has shifted to Senator Conrad’s proposal to create healthcare co-ops. 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.
Our key points include:

• Many questions remain about the viability of Senator Conrad’s 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.

View HealthPartners Public Policy Platform for Healthcare Reform

New Engage Toolkit For Employers

Prevention really is the best medicine! That’s why we’re introducing the Engage Toolkit to help your clients motivate, educate and engage their employees in better health. Better personal health is invaluable to your clients – and to their employees. Unhealthy employees miss more work and spend more on healthcare. And, since 70 percent of all healthcare costs are related to behavior, we can help change behavior – one employee at a time.

The Engage Toolkit includes a 12-month supply of posters, flyers, e-mails, articles and more, to help your clients promote wellness to their employees. With all of these options, employers can choose the pieces that they feel will best engage their employees in better health. There are additional resources for you too – an implementation guide, as well as suggestions for an effective campaign.
The best part is that it’s easy to use and extremely flexible with three options that can be customized to meet specific employer needs. The three options include:

• 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

We hope you’ll take a moment to review the Engage Toolkit so you can discuss it with your clients. We’ll be here along the way to support you and your clients to ensure you have the resources you need to be successful.

For more information on the Engage toolkit, please contact your HealthPartners Sales Executive.

HealthPartners QuickClinic Now Open

HealthPartners has opened a new retail clinic inside the HealthPartners Woodbury Clinic.

The new clinic, called QuickClinic, is designed to compete in the growing retail clinic market. It provides convenient walk-in diagnosis and treatment for a variety of minor conditions, such as colds and flu, headaches, skin problems and urinary tract infections. The clinic also provides immunizations.

"QuickClinic offers high-quality, convenient care that is more affordable than Urgent Care or a regular visit to the doctor," said Ricky Flatz, director, HealthPartners Urgent Care. Visit prices range from $39 to $59 for patients paying out of pocket or a reduced co-pay for patients with insurance.

The clinic is staffed by a certified physician assistant or nurse practitioner who provides evaluation, diagnosis and treatment under the supervision of a physician. If a patient arrives with a more serious medical condition, clinic staff will transfer the patient to the HealthPartners Urgent Care clinic also located at the Woodbury Clinic.

A physician is available for consultation by QuickClinic staff at all times, and to help coordinate care, HealthPartners clinic patients who use QuickClinic will have their electronic medical record automatically updated with information from their visit.

QuickClinic hours are 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends. QuickClinic accepts most insurance or cash.

Hudson Hospital & Clinics Receive State Award

Hudson Hospital and Clinics’ Healing Arts program is being recognized statewide as the recipient of a 2009 Governor’s Award in Support of the Arts. The award is sponsored by the Wisconsin Foundation for the Arts and highlights both the diversity and broad range of arts support in Wisconsin. State Sen. Sheila Harsdorf nominated Hudson Hospital & Clinics earlier this year, which, along with the Healing Arts program, will receive statewide attention beginning with an awards presentation in Madison this fall.

Hudson Hospital joined the HealthPartners family of care on January 1, 2009, to increase the availability of physicians and services to Western Wisconsin.

Healthy Discounts Update

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. With 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

Wells Fargo HSA Update

This past May, Wells Fargo hosted Health Savings Account (HSA) customer and broker advisory councils. The goal was to bring together healthcare professionals to discuss HSA trends and provide feedback on the Wells Fargo HSA.
Here are some industry trends they observed:

• Many companies are seeing significant growth in election of their HSA-compatible plans
• Many companies are undergoing full replacement of traditional plans with an HSA-compatible plan
• Companies often see cost reductions with HSA-compatible plans versus traditional plans
• When properly educated about how to use HSAs, employees tend to be very satisfied with them

Wells Fargo is one of the Nation’s largest HSA administrators. As of July 2009, they administered: 

• 13,600 employer-group HSA relationships
• 206,000 HSA accountholders
• $350 million in HSA assets

In Every Issue

Frequent Fitness Update

Frequent Fitness Update
Our Frequent Fitness program continues to grow. Members now have even more choices and chances to save money while achieving a healthy lifestyle.  Now, members who enroll or are enrolled in the Frequent Fitness program will have access to more than 875 locations in the HealthPartners service region.

The Frequent Fitness program offers fully insured members (two per household) up to a $20 reimbursement for working out 12 times a month.

New club to join Frequent Fitness effective August 1, 2009

1. New Beginnings Family Fitness – Fergus Falls
2. LA Fitness – St. Louis Park
3. Ivy Spa Club – Minneapolis
4. Premier Fitness, La Crosse

Learn more about Frequent Fitness.

Network Updates

As our client base and membership continues to expand, so does our network. In fact, we’ve recently added a large number of providers. We’re committed to providing access to the providers your clients demand – nationwide. No matter where your clients live, work or travel, we’ve got them covered. Additions last month included:

Medical – Minnesota
CentraCare Health Service of Long Prairie – Eagle Bend
Clearwater Clinic – Bagley

Medical – South Dakota
Avera Aberdeen Family Physicians – Aberdeen

Medical – Wisconsin
Bland Clinic – Westby
Hirsch Clinic – Viroqua
Kickapoo Valley Medical Center – Soldier’s Grove
La Farge Medical Clinic – La Farge

Dental – Minnesota
1st Family Dental Care – Rogers
Al-Shifa Dentistry, PA – Maple Grove
Byron Dental Group – Byron
Bremseth Family Dental, PA – Red Wing, Zumbrota
Sunrise River Dental – Wyoming

Try out our new search function to see just how easy it is to find a network provider quickly and simply. Provider Search.