{"id":38962,"date":"2022-12-31T05:31:58","date_gmt":"2022-12-31T05:31:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.brandon.ddtest.info\/multisite-test\/how-fwcs-got-unsustainable-health-care-costs-into-shape\/"},"modified":"2022-12-31T05:31:58","modified_gmt":"2022-12-31T05:31:58","slug":"how-fwcs-got-unsustainable-health-care-costs-into-shape","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.brandon.ddtest.info\/multisite-test\/how-fwcs-got-unsustainable-health-care-costs-into-shape\/","title":{"rendered":"How FWCS got \u2018unsustainable\u2019 health care costs into shape"},"content":{"rendered":"

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FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) \u2014 In 2010, Fort Wayne Community Schools faced an annual increase of $1 million in health care costs, which Chief Financial Officer Kathy Friend called \u201cunsustainable.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t give people raises and be paying increases like that in health care,\u201d said Charles Cammack, the district\u2019s Chief Operations Officer.<\/p>\n

As a result, Cammack spearheaded a three-point plan that seems to be saving millions and, perhaps, keeping the more than 4,000 employees a bit healthier.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you are working on employee wellness,\u201d he began, \u201cworking on insurance plan design and monitoring the data, you are ahead of the game. Most people don\u2019t do that.\u201d <\/p>\n

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Employee wellness<\/h3>\n

\u201cThe number one thing I tell people is \u2018don\u2019t get sick,’\u201d Cammack deadpans. <\/p>\n

The district set up a $250 annual incentive, payable just before Christmas, for employees to participate in their own wellness. With annual doctor visits, lab work and better exercise and nutrition, employees can manage or eliminate some chronic conditions or ward off future ones, which keeps them away from costlier treatments or visits to the emergency room.<\/p>\n