Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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KNOW INFORMATION YOU NEED TO KNOW REVIEW YOUR BILLS TO HOLD DOWN HEALTH CARE COSTS TOBY CHAFFIN VICE PRESIDENT Human Resources ■ Despite our best efforts to reduce health care costs, they still continue to soar. Through May 31, 1991, health care claims at Clinton totalled more than $2.5 million. This number is almost $761,000 higher than during the same four months in 1990. At the beginning of the year, we predicted a 21 percent to 27 percent in crease in these costs, but we are current ly more than 40 percent higher than last year. Our costs are increasing at a faster rate than the national average. The reason for this is complex. We are going to the doctor and hospital more often, the number of large claims is rising, charges from doctors and hospitals are increasing, and many health providers are conducting more tests and procedures. There are even cases where associates are being charged too much for services and being charged for services that are not even rendered. We can all help in this battle against ris ing medical costs by becoming smart con sumers of medical services. One way of doing this is to check all bills from doctors, clinics, and hospitals to make sure the charges are accurate. Listed below are several examples of how some Columbia, South Carolina area resi dents helped reduce their medical charges. • A woman was charged $283 for one stitch in her child’s head. She thought the charge was too high, so she called two competing hospitals in the area. They couldn’t quote exact prices, but estimated about $100 to $120 for a similar procedure. Armed with this information, the woman made repeated requests by telephone and sent a letter requesting an itemized bill. When she received the itemized bill, she noticed that she had been charged twice for the same item. • Another woman checked her four- page itemized bill for a two-day stay at a Columbia hospital. She looked up each medication in her Physician’s Desk Reference. She also disputed two catheter kits for which she was billed, because the nurse had failed on two attempts to insert the tube. She told the hospital she would not pay for its mistakes, and the hospital credited her account. • A patient was billed twice for the same surgery. • A man received a summary bill total ling $4,000 for a two-day stay for three heart tests. The item that really caught his eye read simply, “Other — $1,400.” The billing department clerk “agreed that $1,400 did seem to be a lot for other.” The man received an itemized bill at home the next day. As consumers of medical services, we should always request itemized bills for all services. Review these bills and if you have questions or disagree with any of the charges, see your benefits manager: Truman Owens at Clinton, Lucille White at Geneva, Shirley Weeks at EFA or Russell Vance at the New York office. Monthly Medical Costs (In Thousands) $650 $600 $550 $500 $450 $400 $350 $300 $250 $200 $150 $100 I,.i 1 i..... L,.L „ ^■■4. i i , i i i i i J FMAMJ JASONDJ FMAMJ JASONDJFMAMJ JASOND JFMAM 88 89 90 91 Average Monthly Medical Costs In Thousands I I I I I ■ I I ' Thru April MEDICAL CLAIMS COSTS Total Company Year-To-Date WM 1990 — 1991 Clinton Plant (Con'i) The team discovered that package hand ling contributed greatly to the problem of the missing ends, and it came up with an effec tive solution. Assistant warper operators received train ing to learn how to properly handle packages. They were also shown how to load “pin” tracks, detect the ends on the cones, load creels, and improve other handling techniques. Each associate was given an opportunity to see how lost ends affected the entire manufacturing process, from warping to spinning to weaving. “The program has been a great morale booster by involving associates in major decision making processes,” said Plant Manager Gregg Link. “We have been able to build a feeling of job awareness never before possible and we’re grateful to all associates who have participated.” Link said he plans to invite transportation personnel to participate in some team ac tivities so they can minimize yarn damage during transportation through improved handling techniques. Plant No. 1 Quality First Team Bennie Brewer Ricky Culbertson John Deadwyler, Jr. Gerald Littleton, Team Leader Barry McWaters Douglas Pitts Virginia Traynham Ricky Tumblin John Deadwyler, Sr. BULK RATE US. Postage PAID Permit No. 293 Columbia, S. C MS PEGGY GILMER 205 GCRDCN ST CLINTON, SC 29325