OCR Text |
Show The Enterprise Review , October 20, 1976 Page 13b Group Insurance and FHP in Competition Partnerships 12509-W.E.- T. Development, Merrill L. Wilson, 215 10th Ave, SLC, Ut. g Hills Development Company, L.D. Smith - 12510-Rollin- by Mary McMillan Caber ination, immunization, therapy, mental health, drug, dental and family planning services. We want people to use doctors while they are well, instead of waiting until they are sick, Davis says, "so we offer them free physical examinations and doctor visits. Review Staff Reporter In the face of rising medical costs, a newly formed Utah company has developed a reputation for controlling the cost of medical care. Family Health ProgramUtah, formerly Utah Group Health Plan, is a health maintenance organization which competes directly with group insurance plans. Since it took over Utah Group Health nine months ago, Family Health has become an alternate plan for employees of the State of Utah and Western Air Lines, among other groups. Headquartered in Long Beach, California, the company expanded its market to the Salt Lake area in January, 1976, when it acquired Utah Group. Family Health presently operates two medical centers where a staff, ranging from general physicians to obstetricians, cares for patients. and Associates, Inc., 3688 W. 3500 S, Granger: Lloyd N. new company has been well accepted in Utah, according to general When we arrived, manager Hal Johnson. in January, Utah Group had 11,000 members. Now we have 15,000, he says. That number translates into between $5 and $6 million in premium income, he estimates. This month the firm is adding to its rolls employees of the University of Utah and, in January, employees of the federal government will choose between Family Health and a group insurance plan. Johnson says the firm plans to build or acquire an additional medical center in Ogden next year to serve federal employees there. The & Graphic Design Magnetics & Decals Convention Signage Machine Showcards 2365 So. Main Utah Machine Tools 3240 South 1 1th East Salt Lake City, Utah 84106 Phone (801) 486-355- 1 SPECIALS Lathes: Pond 30" post. Enterprise IS" tooling. American 20" high-optio- Competition Healthy think competition with group insurance keeps us both on our toes, Davis says. It forces us to keep rates down. Davis adds the firm also believes organizations like Family Health can help stem the trend toward nationalized or socialized medicine. Since it emphasizes keeping people wrell, instead of waiting for them to get ill, a health maintenance organization uses expensive medical technology only when it is needed, he says. Family Health is presently available only to employee groups of 25 or over. But underwriters are now preparing programs for groups of 10 to 25, which is expected to be filed with the Utah Insurance CommisWe expect to have this sioner soon. program available by the beginning of Drills: 1977, tavern license. His application will be the subject of a public hearing October 27 at the Building. We are looking to the future, thinking about maybe having some entertainment, City-Coun- ty 9. Taper Attachment, x & Saws: four-wa- y tool x 60". inch x 60" heavy duty, taper, apron controls. & metric x 113 threads, complete Table, 27" vertical head. 48" Turret Ram, 2hp Sharp Horz. 3. Table swivel 4S. vari-spee- d Solberga 26" Sliding gearhead, 4MT 1974. Peerless 13" downfeed. Summit 10" x x 13" Power Hack Saw, hyd. 16" Horz., 1" blade, coolent new. Shears: Canton Alligator Shear, 3" cap. 40 conveyor. Hercules Hyd. 12' x 34". B.G., squaring arm. Brakes: Chicago Apron 12' x 38", Model 227. Miscellaneous: Plate Rolls 38" x 7'. drop hammer. Rehar Bender 34". Bulldozer 100 ton and 300 ton. G&L Surface Grinder 8" x 18" hvd.. Forklift 15.000 lb. 1 Complete warehouse full of machine tools - phone for a stock list All sizes and types. J NEW AND USED ) Sell Buy Liquidate Davis says. WHATS RIGHT WITH Forward Looking Manager Applies for Tavern License AMERICA? maybe expanding, Hire, manager. Because 9" Brown We tal costs and practicing preventive medicine. We are not an insurance company, explains Davis. As a health maintenance organization, our doctors are paid to keep Members paying for a people well. n plan use Family Health clinics for free doctor, specialist, laboratory exam x Mills: Cinci 4hp vertical. 21" travel. XLO We are able to compete with group insurance by controlling medical costs, explains Doug Davis, account executive. He says Family Health controls costs by hiring its own doctors, selling its own prescription drugs, maintaining strict control over hospi- DELIVERY Paper Banners Screen Process bed-day- Keep the Lid on Costs airport Holiday Inn, 1659 West North Temple, wants a ve FREE PICKUP When it is necessary for a patient to enter the hospital, a patient care coordinator monitors costs incurred by members. "We make sure the patients are not put into the hospital until they need to be, and get only the care they need, Davis says. "In this way we are able to substantially cut back on hospital costs. Davis contrasts this method to that of insurance companies who are unable to control costs as they are incurred. Because medical technology has improved markedly over the past few years, hospital costs have risen three or four times faster than inflation, Davis says. Health maintenance organizations help limit the amount of money spent on hospital care, he says. For example, a study conducted by Kaiser Permanente of California, a similar health maintenance organization, showed its members spent about a third of the average time spent in hospitals by the average American. According to the study, Kaiser cut the average number of hospital s 1200 from to 450 per 1,000 people per Davis year, says. Membership Expanding manager of the 12511-Executi- Costs Monitored Continually 15-mem- The Hayes. 961 North 950 East, Bountiful, Ut.; Fern A. Cable, 4244 S. 4000 W.; Granger, Ut. Services, Salt Lake County, James Van Lee, 4434 La Mans Drive, SLC, Ut. said Jim LLOYD M. the tavern d would be offset from Road, the motel must apply for special permission PETE BUCHER Red-woo- " to establish the tavern within the interior of a block. Hire explained. v The question of how much a man can be expected to endure in the name of Is patriotism and how much he can withstand in the name of the message of LLOYD M. BUCHER, former skipper of the USS Pueblo seizure in North Korea. The answer may be surprising after his to some, for it contains a powerful and positive response to charges that Americas glory is behind us. self-respe-ct Twelfth Federal Reserve District 11-mon- Large Commercial Banks ($ Million) Week Ending Sept. 22, 1976 Loan Volume th SALT LAKE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ANNUAL BANQUET THURS., OCT. 28TH, HOTEL UTAH (GOV. RAMPTON, MASTER OF CEREMONIES) 1 7:30 P.M. DINNER RESERVATIONS 364-363- MU ; y x I I |