Employer Direct Healthcare’s Post

The most significant challenge when it comes to comparing centers of excellence is the question of quality. While the COE model works well in theory, that’s not always the case, as not all COEs are created equal. Jennifer Cook, MD, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and co-chair of the advisory board at Employer Direct Healthcare explains that “the whole concept of a Center of Excellence is misleading—you really need to look at the surgeons who are performing surgery.” SurgeryPlus, our surgeon-first COE, screens individual physicians based on their fellowship training, sub-specialization, experience, case volume, and performance, among other areas, which ensures employees have access to quality care and will have a higher probability of an excellent outcome. “I like to think of a true COE model as a ‘surgeon of excellence’ model because if the surgeon is excellent, then they’re going to get the center to be excellent,” Cook says.

Benefits leaders, do you have a plan to tackle rising surgical costs? 🤔 Surgical costs account for 20% of employer healthcare spending and are projected to increase by 15%. We recently hosted a discussion with benefits pros Laura Wallace of ArcBest and Derek Butts of Phillips 66 to learn how they used a Center of Excellence solution to address this high-cost category. Some key takeaways from the discussion were: ✔️ Savings Opportunity: Surgery costs, which account for 20% of total spending and are projected to rise by 15% annually, haven’t been as closely examined as pharmacy costs. ✔️ High Expenses: Self-insured employers pay 250% of Medicare prices for the same procedures. Costs can vary by up to 300% across MSAs, with minimal correlation to quality or cost of living. ✔️ Reducing Costs: To cut surgery expenses, consider minimizing unnecessary procedures, ensuring access to top-quality surgeons with low complication rates, and exploring Centers of Excellence that negotiate lower rates. ✔️ Reinvesting Savings: ArcBest and Phillips 66 saved $1.8M and $2.3M, respectively, using SurgeryPlus. These savings helped manage premium costs and fund additional employee benefits like expanded PTO and financial wellness programs. You can find a link to the complete discussion in the comments 👇

At EDH, we understand the stress and confusion that comes with a complicated diagnosis, and the struggle of finding the best care. That’s why we’re committed to supporting patients and their loved ones at every step of their care journeys. Please read this thoughtful piece from our president Dickon Waterfield.

Did you know over 12 million diagnostic errors occur annually in the U.S., with one in three causing serious patient harm? Up to 11% of the five most common cancer types are misdiagnosed.   Second opinions are critically important for your employee cancer benefits.   To help control costs and ensure employees receive the best care; we must make sure the diagnosis is correct. A second opinion can spotlight overlooked details in the initial evaluation, helping employees avoid unnecessary treatments, or even worse, a misdiagnosis.   Learn more about the value of a second opinion and see if a complete cancer care solution for your company would make sense: https://lnkd.in/gCPY9e47

SurgeryPlus member Jade D. shared how she used her benefit to get no-cost surgery and support from her Care Advocate at each step. “Before finding out that I even needed surgery, there were a lot of hoops to jump through to get seen by specialists. When you all came along, it was a relief, truly.”

Suzanne Usaj, Sr. Director, Total Reward at The Wonderful Company, discusses how Cancer Care Direct supports her employees through every step of the cancer journey while also helping the company manage its cost.