This N.J. county to offer onsite health care for workers

Integrity Health will provide an onsite center for county employees covered under the county health plan.

SOMERVILLE -- As Congress considers a replacement of the Affordable Care Act, Somerset County has announced an innovative partnership with Integrity Health to provide services for its employees.

Under the agreement, the Princeton-based health provider will establish, manage and operate an onsite health, wellness and care coordination center for county employees, their dependents and retirees who are covered under the county's health plan.

It will be the first such partnership in the state involving a county's employees and a health care provider, said county officials.

"Somerset County does a phenomenal job in providing services in a cost-effective manner," said John G. Donnadio, executive director of the New Jersey Association of Counties. "It has always been a leader in shared services and co-operative purchases and initiatives like the health center.

"I think this health initiative is going to help contain health-care costs that seem to increase double-digits every year. It's not mandatory that employees enroll in the plan but it offers more options."

The center, which will be known as the Somerset County Partnership Health Center, is scheduled to open later this year. It will include primary care physicians, lab services and a full pharmacy. All services offered at the health care center will be provided on a no-copay basis.

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"We understand that one of the biggest factors associated with our county budget is the rising cost of health care and we have worked hard over the years to control these costs," said Freeholder Mark Caliguire. "By partnering with Integrity Health, we are going to provide better health outcomes for our employees at a lower cost to our taxpayers.

"After an exhaustive and diligent process that began over a year ago, we evaluated companies from across the country in a competitive review and chose Integrity."
 
The center will eliminate expensive and unnecessary emergency room charges and allow primary care to be coordinated with hospitals and specialists to minimize repeat doctor visits, according to county officials.

"If a county employee needs a routine procedure, check-up, blood work or a prescription filled, he or she can go to the health-care center instead of going to the emergency room or their primary physician and perhaps having to take a day off work," said Donnadio.