Manheim Central adds optional care provider to staff health insurance | Community News
When: Manheim Central school board meeting, Nov. 13.
What happened: In an 8-1 vote, the board agreed to add Penn Medicine HealthWorks as an optional care provider for employee health insurance beginning in January. School board member Jennifer Walker cast the dissenting vote. She said she likes the concept but is not sure employees would switch from their current physicians.
Why it matters: HealthWorks would not replace the current health insurance but would be an additional option to employees enrolled in the health plan.
Background: Bryan Howett, chief financial officer, said the district has a self-funded preferred provider organization health plan that functions like a regular health care plan. There is a network of general practitioners and specialists that employees can choose from. The district offers family coverage for health insurance to qualifying employees, and employees contribute to the cost of health insurance.
Details: Keith Fox, LG Health employer relations and strategic growth director, said HealthWorks is a network of primary care providers that’s membership-based. He said there are now nine HealthWorks clinics throughout the county including four HealthWorks clinics in the Manheim-Lititz area. Members enrolled in the program may visit any of the HealthWorks facilities. Clinics are staffed over 40 hours weekly for onsite services including provider visits and an onsite medication dispensary. Flu shots and vaccines as well as lab procedures such as bloodwork are available onsite. Phone calls go directly to the practice and secure text messaging is provided. Since HealthWorks is offered by LG Health, patients also have access to the system’s health portal.
Quotable: “Your employees’ health matters. HealthWorks removes barriers to care. There is no copay for office visits and no health insurance claim since employees are members. Employees are back to work quicker since there’s an onsite medication dispensary and lab,” Fox said.
Cost: Cost to the school district is $70 per person, and the district would only pay for those enrolled in HealthWorks. Robert Drummond, executive director for corporate partnerships at LG Health, said the membership fee has not increased since HealthWorks launched in 2018.
School calendar: The board approved the calendar for the 2024-25 school year. Assistant Superintendent Amy Flannery said the first student day will be Aug. 26, and the tentative last day is June 4. June 5 and 6 are scheduled as weather makeup days.
Recognition: The board recognized outgoing school board member Pat McGeehan for his 20 years of service. He served as board treasurer for most of that time, stepping down from the position in May. McGeehan said 20 years was his self-imposed term limit.
Next meeting: The school board will hold a reorganization meeting at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 4 at the district office, 281 White Oak Road, Manheim. The meeting will also be livestreamed.
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