Conservatively Speaking
State Senator Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin) represents parts of four counties: Milwaukee, Waukesha, Racine, and Walworth. Her Senate District 28 includes New Berlin, Franklin, Greendale, Hales Corners, Muskego, Waterford, Big Bend and parts of Greenfield, East Troy, and Mukwonago. Senator Lazich has been in the Legislature for more than a decade. She considers herself a tireless crusader for lower taxes, reduced spending and smaller government.
Wal-Mart to the rescue
By Mary Lazich
Thursday, Feb 8 2007, 04:49 PM
The issues that most concern people today are taxes and spending. Ranking near the top concerns right after fiscal-related issues is health care. Government has been unable and may very well be ill-equipped to develop and implant a system that delivers high quality health care at affordable costs. Our best hopes lie with the private sector.
Last November, Wal-Mart opened an Aurora Health Care QuickCare clinic in Sheboygan. Clinics opened in December at Wal-Mart stores in Oshkosh, Pewaukee and Mukwonago.
Certified nurse practitioners staff the clinics and treat common family illnesses such as sore throat, ear infection, seasonal allergies and bronchitis. Cholesterol screenings, TB testing and flu vaccinations are also available. Clinic service is quick and convenient, with a typical visit taking just 15 minutes. There is a flat fee of $39 and an appointment is not necessary. The Wal-Mart influence has made an impact. Other retailers like Target and CVS have opened over 150 similar clinics around the country.
About half of the patients going to the Wal-Mart clinics in Wisconsin are not Aurora patients, and Aurora says about 40 percent do not have a primary doctor.
Wal-Mart is also revolutionizing access to prescription drugs. During September 2006, Wal-Mart made over 300 generic prescriptions available to customers and their employees, referred to as associates, in 65 Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club pharmacies in the Tampa, Florida area. The cost per prescription was an incredible $4. The program is also open to the uninsured.
Needless to say, Wal-Mart’s $4 prescription drug program became so immensely popular in Tampa that Wal-Mart expanded it statewide in Florida during October 2006, four months ahead of schedule. Medications for everything from allergies to diabetes and Parkinson’s disease are available. Discount drugs are available at Wal-Mart’s in 15 states, including neighboring Illinois and Indiana.
Customers are thrilled. Kelius Guzman of Chicago said, “Four bucks for a prescription is just amazing.” Another Chicago resident, Clyde Branch who is now saving $120 per month said it’s a great program, “especially for seniors, because we have a rough time trying to keep up with the price of prescription drugs.”
Wal-Mart has taken steps to upgrade their own health care plan. The retailer has relaxed eligibility requirements for its part-time employees seeking insurance, and for the first time has expanded coverage to children of its associates.
Doing what Wisconsin government officials have only been able to talk about thus far, Wal-Mart offers Health Savings Accounts (HSA’s). Associates contribute pre-tax dollars to an HAS that can be used to pay for medical expenses. Each dollar contributed by an associate through payroll deductions is matched by Wal-Mart.
Wal-Mart has enjoyed tremendous success primarily because it has an uncanny ability to negotiate price. Better than anyone else, it created a niche of wide selection and low prices. Other keys to their success are satisfying workers so they maintain close contact with customers, defining a clear mission of providing the best price for a given quality or the highest quality for a given price, and encouraging and rewarding innovation. Does this sound even remotely like the qualities of any government service or program?
Competition breeds quality. Other retailers like Target are expected to offer similar discount drug prices. That means access to health care will increase and the cost decrease, as proven by Wal-Mart.
The best solution to provide top-notch health care at affordable prices is not going to come out of city halls, statehouses, or Washington D.C. Any talk of fixing health care in America should have Wal-Mart and other private sector executives at the discussion table.
