County OKs new health service

ALBANY — After hearing the pitch for a second time, Dougherty County Commissioners voted Monday to pay a company to streamline their health services program for employees and reduce cost to taxpayers.

Billed as an out-of-the-box approach to control the county’s skyrocketing health care costs, commissioners said Quantum Health is a company that provides a service that allows and encourages county employees to call into a dedicated line before receiving medical care to ensure they are getting the right service.

It’s not a health service, but rather a service to direct employees to the proper caregiver.

Approved by the county’s insurance review committee, the service will cost $140,234 and be funded out of the internal service fund for the county’s Group Health Plan.

Originally met with skepticism by commissioners, the company claims to be able to save the county money by ensuring that employees are receiving the right level of care, rather than running to more expensive specialists or emergency rooms for illnesses that could be taken care of by a primary care physician.

The success of the plan hinges on employee participation — something that left a bad taste in the mouths of some on the commission.

Commissioner Jack Stone said Monday that he believes that spiraling health care costs are likely the county’s most important issue today. He is not convinced that employees will seek advise before getting treatment.

“They’re not going to do it. They’re going to talk to their doctors and we won’t see the savings. That’s my fear,” Stone said. “People aren’t talking to anyone now so I don’t really think they’ll do it in the future.”

Consultant Spencer Allen acknowledged that while employees don’t have to call anyone now before heading to their doctors, they do have to get pre-certified through Group Health if they are going to be hospitalized or have surgery.

According to Allen, governments which have used Quantum Health have experienced a negative first-year cost trend of 1.2 percent, with percentages around 5 to 8 percent below the national average in the years following.

Commissioner Gloria Gaines, who said Monday she supports the effort, also said that it would be vital to get employees educated and involved in the program for it work.

“I believe what we asked our staff to do was to find some way to mitigate our skyrocketing claims … and this group does that,” Gaines said. “It will be a new way of doing things, but we all acclimate to things during periods of change. The key is making sure HR notifies employees.”