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38 | I NSIGH T • O c t o b e r 2 0 14 w w w . i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m HEALTH INSURANCE improving health and preventative care — not just treating the sick — and the still evolving impact of the Affordable Care Act, which is expected to lead to more individual health insurance policies rather than employer- sponsored plans. In many ways, health care is facing the challenge to do more with less that has led to evolution and innovation in other industries, says Dustin McClone, executive vice president-employee benefits at McClone Insurance Group, a Menasha-based insurance and risk- management firm. "ey are being pushed to produce more value and reduce costs," McClone says. "I think the collaborative approach will help them with the efficiencies that drive that." It's too early to tell what that will mean in terms of insurance products, but if the new network can produce the efficiencies, it would make sense that costs would be at least contained, McClone says. "In the long run, if the network can create more value, and the focus shis to keeping us healthier instead of reacting to illness, we should see more cost effectiveness," he says. Creating a system that would stem the increasing costs of health care and health insurance would be a major breakthrough in Wisconsin, a state that is hampered by higher costs, says Pamela Branshaw, partner in charge, employee benefit services for WIPFLi CPAs and Consultants. If the new network can foster a climate where competitive forces can drive costs down, then consumers and business should benefit. "I think the premise is a good thing," Branshaw says. "Part of the issue of health care is a lack of consistency and transparency with pricing. You can call three providers to ask the cost of the same procedure and get three different prices with no real explanation." Branshaw has high hopes the collaborative approach will produce the results of better and more cost effective care. She sees some initial opportunities with a single electronic medical records system — all the systems use the same provider — that could create more efficient health care delivery. Other possibilities include purchasing or identifying populations at risk of a particular illness and Underwritten by Dean Health Plan, Inc. prevea360.com Better insurance from the best in health care. When you offer your employees Prevea360 Health Plan, you're offering a better kind of insurance. at's because Prevea360 is a creation of Prevea Health, the region's most comprehensive health care network. With more than 60 specialties, like cardiology, cancer care, pediatrics and women's health, Prevea's network includes everything your employees need to be and stay well. And with a healthier, happier workforce, you'll see the bottom-line savings that go along with it. Reduce your company health care costs with the region's premier coordinated, wellness-focused health plan. Contact your agent or call us at 877.230.7615 for a custom quote. O N T H E W E B A new statewide network of providers will give patients access to 44 hospitals and nearly 6,000 medical providers across the state. The providers involved include: » ThedaCare, www.thedacare.org » Bellin Health, www.bellin.org » Aspirus, www.aspirus.org » Aurora Health Care, www.aurorahealthcare.org » Gundersen Health System, www.gundersenhealth.org » UW Health, www.uwhealth.org