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‘Managed Health Care’ no more

Posted on | September 23, 2009 | 1,303 views |

The affiliate that administers the health coverage for OSU employees changes its name in an effort to better reflect what it does

Members of the Ohio State community have had their health plans and wellness services provided by Managed Health Care Systems Inc. for nearly 20 years.

Now the university affiliate has adopted a new name — The Ohio State University Health Plan Inc. — that officials say both better reflects its full breadth of service to the university and distances itself from an outdated idea of health care.

“‘Managed care’ is a carryover from the ’80s, when financial decisions often overruled what was best for the patient,” said Scott Streator, OSU Health Plan CEO and executive director.

“While we’ve never operated that way, it was important to move away from such an antiquated name. We spent many months identifying our brand essence and what we bring to the table in the health and wellness arena, and faculty and staff feedback suggested we use a name that was simple, to the point and built on the OSU brand.”

The Office of Human Resources contracts OSU Health Plan to provide the medical and pharmacy plans, but that’s just the beginning. The organization also manages the provider network, administers wellness and employee assistance services and consults with OHR on overall health benefits and plan design.

The OSU Health Plan expects to continue its high level of service and quality — no current services or programs will be changed or lost — while developing new offerings, including health coaching, lifestyle management and medication management programs and an expanded provider network.

“The services the OSU Health Plan provides through the Office of Human Resources — more specifically, through Your Plan for Health, will become stronger and more effective as the OSU Health Plan refines its existing offerings and develops new, innovative programs,” said Larry Lewellen, vice president for human resources.

OSU Health Plan also leads the Rx Ohio Collaborative, a pooled purchasing initiative for prescription drugs that saved the university $3.55 million in pharmacy plan expenses in 2008.
The Ohio State brand carries a lot of weight in the marketplace, Streator said, noting that its access to the significant knowledge base of OSU researchers, faculty and the Medical Center and its early adoption of wellness not only benefits faculty and staff but gives OSU Health Plan an advantage in the marketplace. OSU Health Plan is leveraging this expertise and interdisciplinary collaboration to develop cutting-edge health and wellness programming and generate revenue that eventually will help offset costs to the university. In 2009, OSU Health Plan began offering wellness services to two new clients: Columbus State Community College and The Dispatch Printing Company.

“We’ve built a very successful Wellness Program based on more than a decade of partnership with various offices around the university,” Streator said. “Four years ago, that program served as the foundation for Your Plan for Health. We’ve been practicing wellness for a long time, even though it’s just recently become the buzzword in the corporate world.”

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