A new approach
Removing socioeconomic barriers like cost and access to care is an ongoing passion and goal of Nashville General Hospital. Fifteen years ago, we implemented the Nashville General Hospital Metro Healthcare Incentive Program to address these challenges. The program was designed to deliver convenient, low-cost access to high-quality care for Metro employees, their dependents, and pensioners not currently covered by Medicare as their primary insurance.
The Metro Healthcare Incentive Program eliminates copays and deductibles for those enrolled in the Metro’s Cigna PPO when they use a Nashville General facility, including Nashville General Hospital, Nashville Healthcare Center, and the Nashville Healthcare Diagnostic Imaging Center, which is scheduled to open later this spring. The incentive program also includes those enrolled in Metro’s Cigna (non-PPO), and Nashville Electric Service’s medical insurance plan. Not only is there no cost to participate in the incentive program, but members can save as much as $2,000 a year.
There is no special enrollment or application to complete, Metro employees need only to show their Cigna card when they arrive at Nashville General Hospital or a Nashville Healthcare Center location and their copays and deductibles will be waived or discounted, depending on the Cigna program in which they’re enrolled.
Results
More than 1,600 Metro employees, family members, and pensioners used the Metro Incentive Program in 2023, accounting for nearly 6,000 visits to a Nashville General Hospital facility. Their savings for 2023 alone is estimated at more than $600,000. Since the program’s inception in 2009, the Metro Incentive Program has saved Metro employees an estimate of $3.9 million in copays and deductibles while providing access to quality healthcare that’s conveniently located.
About the author: Dr. Joseph Webb is the CEO of Nashville General. The Nashville Healthcare Center opened in 2016 as a primary care practice with two family medicine providers. In 2019, Nashville General Hospital opened the first offsite location in Midtown and transitioned all primary and specialty practices under the Nashville Healthcare Center brand. Today, offering primary care and over 23 medical specialties, the Nashville Healthcare Center is here for all Nashvillians and their families. Our board-certified providers are dedicated to delivering patient-centered care with a strong focus on prevention and wellness. Other locations include Nashville Healthcare Center, Bordeaux and Nashville Healthcare Center, MetroCenter.
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