BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Yellowstone County is considering opening an employee health center as a way to cut down on medical costs.
The Billings Gazette reports (http://bit.ly/Va4qod) the county received three proposals from potential management groups on Tuesday. County commission staffers are evaluating the proposals.
Finance Director Scott Turner says the idea is to provide a convenient medical center staffed with a doctor or physician assistant to treat employees for minor illnesses with no co-pay required. He says the county's health care consultants have recommended employee health clinics to contain costs. The county is self-insured.
The state of Montana opened a clinic in Helena for state employees and their dependents in August. The state owns the clinic's equipment and pays a per-patient fee to CareHere, which hires staffers and provides the care.
___
Information from: Billings Gazette, http://www.billingsgazette.com
