The doctor is in: Futura Industries halts escalating healthcare costs.

• Author: Kinder, Peri
• Position: Lessons Learned

Employers across the country are frustrated with the high cost of providing healthcare benefits for employees. Insurance premiums increase every year, leaving employers with no choice but to raise employees' healthcare costs--a situation where no one comes out ahead. But at Futura Industries, not only have health insurance premiums stabilized during the last four years--this year, premiums actually dropped.

Located in Clearfield, Futura Industries manufactures custom aluminum and vinyl extrusions, and it employs almost 250 people. Under the leadership of President and CEO Susan Johnson, the company decided to stop waiting for a national solution for the spiraling costs of healthcare and took an innovative approach to cutting those expenses: it created an onsite medical clinic for employees and their families.

Prescription for Change

Opened in 2007, the Futura Medical Clinic has helped the company lower costs by eliminating expensive, redundant and time-consuming medical care.

"It was our hope that we could deliver much better healthcare for our employees and their families than is generally available," Johnson says. "It was not intended as a replacement for traditional health insurance, which we still provide, along with company-supplied health reimbursement accounts. The clinic represents a large investment in the continued well-being of all of our people--and their families."

The clinic is operated by Dr. Donna Milavetz, and employees can visit at any time for any reason. From runny noses to cancer screenings, Milavetz takes care of the overall health of company workers and family members five days a week. By contracting directly for procedures such as medical imaging, strep screens and lab tests, Futura employees receive these diagnostic services at "exponentially less cost"

As a result, Milavetz says employees are getting better medical care and know the company is completely invested in their health and well-being. Sick days have dropped and morale at the company is better than ever. Futura recently hired a pediatrician to provide specialized care for the children of employees and brought on a physical therapist to assist workers with injury rehabilitation.

"I really think that this is a solution for companies to help control medical costs," Milavetz says. "People's overall health is declining. People are opting out of getting health insurance because they can't afford the medical plans. This reverses that trend."

Along with the...