News and Events
Current news stories and events are important ways to get valuable health information. Check this page periodically to get a glimpse of what is going on at FirstSolutions, and in the world of health.
News Archive
-Duluthian; March 2010; Health Care and Wellness
-Woman Today; November 2009; Managing your health
-Lake County News Chronicle; October 2009; Final end of Two Harbors HMO leads back to the future
-StarTribune; September 2009; Two Harbors health pioneer
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The April 2010 News Release below contains new and exciting information about FirstSolution’s innovative approach on health care.
NEWS RELEASE April 2010
First-of-its-kind Predictive health program targets “walking wounded” to prevent major health events before they occur
New combination of research-driven methods provides better care, and reduces costs for businesses
DULUTH, Minn – April 20, 2010 – A unique approach to health management was recently announced by FirstSolutions and BeniComp, Inc. The program, FirstPath Advantage, has been developed to close the gap on the health care continuum and dramatically impact employer claims costs. The goal is to reach people who are slipping through the cracks of the health care system, and reach them before they experience a life altering health event, which inevitably results in long-term chronic conditions and increased health care costs for employees and employers.
FirstPath Advantage combines voluntary biometric and on-line health risk screenings, incentives and personal outreach and coaching to assess health status and reduce the likelihood of major health complications in its participants. The result is the first and only predictive health program designed to immediately provide a return on company health care expenditures, while improving the health of its workers: a win-win scenario for businesses and employees. “When people are healthier they are happier and more productive, company health care costs go down, and profits go up,” says Joyce Mireault, Vice President of Health Management for FirstSolutions.
Doug Short, President of BeniComp, Inc., says FirstPath Advantage can reduce the burden on employers faced with providing mandatory preventive benefits, outlined in the new health care legislation, by providing an ROI on health care costs. In effect, says Short, “An investment in FirstPath Advantage can easily be cost-neutral in the short-term, and provide a substantial return over several years.”
A departure from traditional health care programs, HIPAA-compliant FirstPath Advantage is based on reaching out to people before they require chronic disease management and helps employees recognize dangerous, and often hidden, modifiable health risk factors. Pilot testing showed 80% – 90% of participants needing some type of active outreach for a health issue, many of whom were not even aware of a problem. RNs trained in Intrinsic Coaching ® provide coaching, education and support via phone and email.
A collaborative effort between FirstSolutions, based in Duluth, MN, and BeniComp, Inc of Fort Wayne, IN, FirstPath Advantage merges seamlessly with any existing health plan or insurance a business may already have. “The biggest difference is the integration of effective incentives, proactive outreach, and the very real ROI offered through our patented wellness program,” says Short.
FirstSolutions, established in 1944, offers health management services including: predictive health, disease management, case management, pharmaceutical management, care coordination, prenatal support, personal health advocacy, a workplace wellness program, and a utilization management program that in 2009 alone saved FirstSolutions customers over $7 million in health care costs.
BeniComp, Inc, established in 1962, has been featured in HR Magazine, Employee Benefit News, American Banker, The Wall Street Journal, Medscape and other publications for its innovative approach in providing solutions. BeniComp attacks the increasing costs in healthcare by addressing the root cause, poor lifestyles.
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News Contact:
Joyce Mireault, VP of Health Management, FirstSolutions
Phone: (877) 268-2996 Fax: (218) 727-7274
Doug Short, President BeniComp
Phone: (260) 482-7400 Fax: (260) 469-2984
