Lake Health, Concord Township, Ohio, signed an agreement to provide surgical services for EmployerDirect, which works with large employers with self-funded medical plans.
As a member of EmployerDirect's SurgeryPlus network, Lake Health will receive direct referrals from EmployerDirect, and will provide elective general surgery and gynecology, orthopedic and spine surgery for participating employers in a 150-mile radius.
This will help Lake Health grow its geographical base of patients, according to a news release.
“In today's health care marketplace, consumers are willing to travel to get the best care at the best price with no out-of-pocket cost," said Glenn Sigel, director of managed care at Lake Health, in a statement. "As an EmployerDirect surgical provider, we're able to capture patients who otherwise would not seek care in our market.”
SurgeryPlus gives employers access to hospitals and doctors at a predictable cost through bundled payments, which are pre-negotiated rates for planned surgical procedures.
Since February, Lake Health surgeons have treated patients from Columbus, Toledo, Pittsburgh, Buffalo and other cities.
Employers offer full coverage for procedures, eliminate deductibles and out-of-pocket costs and cover travel costs of a companion or family member to incent employees to leave their market for care. SurgeryPlus also coordinates the care, including appointment scheduling and travel logistics management.
“All hospitals selected as a SurgeryPlus provider must meet strict benchmarks for quality and patient outcomes,” said Ryan Burke, regional director of Provider Networks for EmployerDirect, in a statement. “Lake Health was selected because it's ranked among the nation's top health systems for outstanding surgical outcomes and high patient satisfaction. Additionally, Lake Health's facilities offer the latest technology and are easily accessible.”
