Our commitment to offer leading care at lower costs
Parkview Health is dedicated to providing high-quality care to all patients in every community we serve. We are also committed to providing the best care at the best cost and have taken many steps to make our leading care more affordable.
In 2020, Parkview pledged to lower total cost of care, outlining a plan that would result in savings of approximately $1.1 billion by 2025. Parkview is on track to meet this goal. Parkview continues to develop new options that offer quality care at lower costs. Recent examples include:
Ambulatory surgery centers
Parkview is investing in ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), which are standalone facilities that provide outpatient surgery separate from an acute care hospital. ASCs often have lower overhead costs, which can help reduce costs for employers and patients. Parkview has existing ASCs in northeast Indiana and is expanding to include an ASC in Warsaw. A joint venture with Orthopedics Northeast, the facility is tentatively set to open in October 2025. Parkview is also working with Surgery Partners on a collaborative model to expand ASCs with a focus on increasing access outside of Parkview’s core service area.
ER/Urgent care
Parkview opened an ER/Urgent Care at Parkview Southwest, the first in the region to offer the unique care model. Depending on diagnosis or time of day, providers will determine if patients require emergency or urgent care. It provides a convenient solution when patients aren’t sure which level of care they may need and also allows many patients to receive a more cost-effective level of care.
Parkview Employer Solutions
Parkview Employer Solutions partners directly with employers to create innovative solutions that improve employee health and lower the cost of care for employers over time. Employer Solutions’ programs promote wellness and healthy lifestyles for health plan members, their spouses and dependents. This is done by focusing on early detection, treatment and management of chronic diseases through employer clinics.
Employer clinics can help health plan members manage their long-term well-being as well as take care of their immediate healthcare needs. Employer clinics enhance access to high-quality healthcare and can decrease the cost of care for both the employer and employee. In working with current employer clinic partners, Employer Solutions has seen the following outcomes:
- 87% of clinic patients managed blood pressure control, on par with the benchmark of 85%.
- 71% of clinic patients who had uncontrolled blood pressure in 2020, managed their blood pressure in 2021.
- 14% of virtual coaching participants, 18% of email coaching participants, and 18% of in-person coaching participants lost 8% or more of body weight, achieving medically impactful weight loss.
- Total cost for clinic participants living with diabetes was 25% less than non-participating employees living with diabetes.
Protecting patients from out-of-network costs
Patients have significant financial liability and often experience stress from their personal responsibility when receiving out-of-network care. We realize that a patient may not fully understand in-network vs. out-of-network providers and benefits, which creates confusion when the patient receives a bill for out-of-network care not covered by their insurance.
Parkview Health has implemented a change intended to protect patients from large bills for out-of-network care that their insurance will not pay. Parkview’s recent policy changes regarding out-of-network care are intended to help insured patients avoid out-of-network care by directing their care to in-network providers in the health plan chosen by the patient or their employer.
Parkview continues to provide care for and offer resources to patients without insurance. Parkview also provides several financial assistance options for those who meet income qualification standards.
