EAGAN, MN – Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota is waiving co-pays for members who use retail health clinics.
“Part of the initiative is to optimize care delivery and keep premiums down for employees and employer groups by offering an alternative to seek appropriate care in a cost-efficient way,” said Laura Putnam, director of product management and development.
A co-pay waiver for retail clinic visits will help members make best use of their healthcare dollars, she said, adding, “We also encourage use of preventive services by offering 100 percent coverage for these services.”
BCBS of Minnesota members who use retail clinics can save an average of 50 percent on the visit – or an average of less than $50 for the retail clinic charge versus $100 for a primary care physician (PCP) visit, she said. For self-insured groups, the savings go straight to the employers’ bottom line, she said.
The savings accrued help keep premiums down, Putnam said.
BCBS of Minnesota estimates that employers and members saved more than $1.25 million in healthcare costs in 2007 by using these clinics.
“Consumers have embraced the concept,” said Paul Keckley, executive director of the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions. Now payers are recognizing that this trend is sticky, he said.
Convenience, price advantage and consumer comfort level of safety and quality, in that order, are the use drivers, Keckley said. “It is not consequential if there is no co-pay, but it is consequential if the visit is not covered,” he said.
Cigna has retail clinic relationships and its membership use has increased threefold over last year, but it doesn’t provide incentives for retail clinic visits over PCP visits, said Spokesman Peter Mikulec.
“Cigna’s belief is that customers should be able to make choices based on cost, quality and convenience,” he said. “We stress that these clinics should in no way take the place of the PCP, but instead be used as a supplement for minor ailments.”
James Hartert, MD, CMO of MinuteClinic, said that with the cost of healthcare on the minds of consumers co-pay waivers will make a difference and expects an increase in use. BCBS of Minnesota’s actions have validated the model of delivering quality and convenience at low cost, he said.