Comcast Corporation
Comcast strives to deliver health programs that support the company’s more than 130,000 employees, who are working at the intersection of media and technology to create the best products, content and experiences for consumers. Comcast provides its employees with access, tools and resources to make informed health care decisions. Receiving the best, most appropriate care will improve employee health and decrease unnecessary costs.
Navigating the health care system can be confusing. Comcast partners with Accolade as the central point of contact for all health-related needs. Accolade Health Assistants help with claims resolution, provider selection, appointment preparation and other health-related services. Accolade also works closely with Comcast to promote its internal wellness programs and onsite clinics. This integrated and personalized approach drives meaningful engagement. Comcast employees trust this relationship and value the support they receive.
By the end of 2014, Comcast will introduce a web-based transparency tool to its employees and the Accolade Health Assistants. This expanded resource will allow the comparison of medical providers’ practice histories, outcomes and costs before treatment or diagnostic decisions are made. Accolade and individuals will be empowered with enhanced provider quality and cost information not easily found in today’s health care environment.
Comcast believes primary care is at the core of quality health care, which can suffer in the current model. Lack of access to quality primary care can lead to overuse of specialists, increased diagnostic testing and unnecessary emergency room visits. To enhance the primary care provider- patient relationship and drive quality care decisions, Comcast is piloting a direct primary care model with Qliance in Seattle. For a monthly fee devoid of insurance billing or copays, the practice focuses on patient care with a decreased panel size and fewer patients per day. Phone appointments and e-visits offer alternative forms of communication. This practice model allows the patient greater provider access, and in turn, the provider has a more holistic understanding of the patient. Patients are active participants in their health care decisionmaking. Qliance interacts with Accolade to further the holistic approach by ensuring that employees use the full spectrum of health- and wellness-related services offered by Comcast.
Comcast continues to seek innovative health care solutions. In 2014, Comcast also plans to offer
telehealth and a second-opinion program. These solutions, alongside increased transparency, will help Comcast improve health care efficiency and quality for its employees.