As president of employee benefits at INSgroup, one of the nation's largest strategic risk and insurance advisors, Tommy Harris knows how important it is for employers to provide the highest-quality healthcare coverage at the lowest possible cost.

That's why KelseyCare is often at the top of his list of recommendations.

"No other model in the region has the technology, patient outreach, coordination of care, and open access to top physicians and hospitals," said Harris, a 25+ year veteran of employee benefits and human resource consulting. "We've seen downward pressure on year-over-year pricing for our clients who choose this option. If you can get better care, with better outcomes, with better pricing, without restricting the care, it's just a better, more-sustainable model."

While medical coverage inflation is often a problem with traditional fee-for-service plans, KelseyCare's approach can help keep rates consistent, or even lower them.

"Because care is coordinated in the KelseyCare model, you can eliminate unnecessary tests or duplicate treatment, and that starts to put a lid on those medical inflation numbers," Harris said. "We've actually seen KelseyCare reduce cost year over year."

Another benefit of KelseyCare, which differentiates it from an HMO, is open access to any Kelsey-Seybold physician or location, as well as most hospitals in the area. Referrals to specialists are not needed.

However, one of the biggest things that sets KelseyCare apart is a focus on a prevention-based philosophy, while providing seamless, coordinated care.

"KelseyCare's approach to healthcare is more about prevention and disease management," Harris said. "They reach out to employees who might have borderline chronic conditions and then train them on how to better manage those conditions, so they don't become bigger claims in the future."

This makes KelseyCare a smart choice, whether a company is large or small.

"Regardless of the size of your company, price is a function of premiums versus claims utilization," he said. "In a healthier population, claims will trend lower. If you have an unhealthy or aging workforce that's not maintaining wellness, your claims will increase. That's one way KelseyCare's emphasis on wellness can help lower prices."

Harris says he feels good about recommending KelseyCare to clients because of the positive reviews he gets concerning the quality of care and cost containment.

"My clients who have KelseyCare say they're not giving it up," he said. "Once people get into the KelseyCare system, they don't want to leave it."