Pilot Project Cuts Taxpayer Costs
During its first six months of operation, the Webb County Employee Medical and Wellness Center treated 500 patients and saved taxpayers an estimated $135,000, reported Pedro F. Alfaro, M.D., director of the Webb County Risk Management Department.
All Webb County employees enrolled in the county’s health insurance plan and/or their enrolled dependents have access to free medical consultation services at the center, which opened in July 2021.
“I consider our employees to be family, and their health and well-being will always be of the utmost priority,” emphasized Webb County Judge Tano Tijerina. “The Webb County Employee Medical and Wellness Center (center or clinic) has given our employees and their dependents the comfort and peace of mind knowing that they will be medically treated with little to no wait time and at no out-of-pocket cost.”
The center is funded entirely by AETNA Insurance Wellness Funds, meaning no impact on the county general revenue fund, Tijerina shared.
When the members of Commissioners Court voted to establish a clinic, they prioritized accountability and fiscal responsibility to the taxpayer, Alfaro recounted.
The use of existing available resources and integration of a hybrid combination of staffing has led to significant savings to the employee health fund, Tijerina detailed. Projected savings for a full year of operation are expected to exceed $250,000 in averted claims.
“We are always looking for ways to save the taxpayers money. This project has proven to not only save the taxpayers money, but also our employees,” the Judge continued.
Current Services
Now in its seventh month of operation, the center offers the following:
- Annual Physicals/School Sports Physicals
- COVID Antigen Testing
- Registered Dietician Consultations
- Diabetes/Hypertension/Hyperlipidemias/Weight Loss
- Cough/Congestion/Sore Throat-Evaluation, Streptococcus Testing, Flu Testing, and Treatment for all
- Gastrointestinal Disorders/Nausea
- Diabetes Management
- Hypertension Management
- Hyperlipidemias Management
- Upper Respiratory Tract Illnesses
- Ear Canal and Middle Ear Infections
- Musculo-skeletal Disorders – Evaluations and Initial Assessments
- Testing and Treatment of Urinary Tract Infections
- Sprains/Strains
- Suture Removal and Follow-up
- Diabetes Education Program with Employee/Patients with the program providing a free glucometer, test strips, and lancets. Program will also entail Hemoglobin AlC testing with hyperlipidemia checks every three months with scheduled appointments with dietician.
- Prescription Refills for Maintenance Medications
- Mental Health Referrals Program to AETNA Insurance Therapists and/or Employee Assistance Program.
- Telemedicine consultations are also available if needed.
Future plans for the clinic include adding a registered dietician for customized diet plans to help employees tackle chronic illnesses such as diabetes, hyperlipidemias, hypertension, and or/weight loss. The addition of an Oncology Navigator Program for employees diagnosed with cancer will assist families in dealing with the special needs of treatment, Alfaro said. The clinic will also be exploring integrating a mental health program to assist employees and their dependents in dealing with the stressors of a pandemic.
“Commissioners Court firmly stands behind its philosophy of maximizing the use of existing resources and addressing the specific needs of its hard-working employees,” Tijerina underscored. “The court looks to further expand programs with innovative strategies with the specific aim of savings for all employee participants and decreasing operational costs to the taxpayers.”
