Retail health clinics were a disruptive threat to payers and providers when they first appeared in mid-2000.
Nearly a decade later, however, payers see them as a way to address escalating healthcare costs and expand access for routine healthcare, said Jackie Mazoway, manager of PricewaterhouseCoopers’ payer advisory practice.
They are also responding to consumer demand. According to a 2009 Health Industry Insights survey, more than half of survey respondents have used or considered using a pharmacy-based retail clinic, and nearly one in four consumers expects to increase his or her use of retail clinics, said program director Lynne Dunbrack.
Payers have been partnering with the likes of MinuteClinic, offering e-visits through health IT vendors such as American Well, establishing employee-clinic pilots or creating a hybrid of e-visits and employee clinics.
Humana, a partner with MinuteClinic, has announced plans to expand services there for chronic disease management. The payer will also open a health clinic for employees and their dependents at its Louisville, Ky., facility, which will be managed by MinuteClinic and Humana’s subsidiary LifeSynch.
Highmark opened two employee medical clinics in November, located at its headquarters and a downtown Pittsburgh site. Takecare Health Systems, a Walgreens division, will assume operations.
Highmark piloted a successful wellness program which resulted in a savings of $1.65 for every dollar spent on wellness, said spokeswoman Leilyn Perri.
“As we did with wellness, we will also pilot the clinic and offer to customers,” she said. “Studies have shown that the clinic model can deliver care for lower costs. Highmark has a number of metrics we will be tracking to demonstrate savings to customers.”
Convenience – being a part of people’s lives – is the driver behind Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota’s hybrid care model. The Blues plan is piloting an employee online clinic through American Well and also working with a local large multi-specialty provider group as part of the care continuum. “We’re trying to leverage the care team to provide quality access faster, cheaper and better,” said MaryAnn Stump, chief strategy and innovation officer.