Kim White, Project Manager at MWG Broker Services

Telemedicine: What’s All the Buzz?

Kim White, Project Manager at MWG Broker Services

Telemedicine is often thought of as an important way to manage and help reduce health care costs. By providing access to providers via telephone or an online video link, employers are hoping employees and their families will avoid more expensive hospital emergency rooms and routine doctor office visits. Along with cost, convenience, and managing chronic illness, Quinn Pearl shares with us more information on telemedicine and MDLIVE, one of our newest partnerships.

Interview with Quinn Pearl

Quinn, telemedicine has grown drastically in the group space over the last 5-10 years. Would you mind telling us a little bit of why you think this benefit is growing so quickly?

Here are some stats that point to why:

  • Connected Consumers: 80% of adults under 50 own smartphones and are connected
  • Must have benefit: 9 out of 10 employers offered telehealth in 2016
  • Legislative changes now allow all states to provide telemedicine services
  • According to the American Telemedicine Association, consumers are increasingly aware of the value; many consumers are interested in using this service when it is made available to them.

How do you see employers implementing telemedicine to help with cost savings?

Employer paid programs provide significant, validated Return on Investment opportunities. Expert member engagement allows for redirection savings away from employer sponsored medical plans. This redirection savings includes ER visits ($821 per visit savings), Urgent Care visits ($229 per visit savings), and Primary Care visits ($180 per visit savings). Also, telemedicine increases employee productivity by reducing time taken off work.

What sets MDLIVE apart from other telemedicine vendors?

MDLIVE is the preferred telemedicine vendor for companies like Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Humana, and many Fortune 100 companies and health systems. They provide superior mobile technology, provider availability, and customer service. The Zero-Consult program is unique and gives members unlimited access to healthcare, anywhere.

What strategy would you recommend to employers who want to get their employees to use this product/service more instead of running up the utilization in their group?

I suggest employers provide strong communication to their employees initially, with educational marketing flyers and emails educating employees on how to activate their coverage, download the mobile app, and request a consultation. I also recommend that employers hang posters throughout their facilities, provide frequent email reminders, as well as, seasonal email reminders (cold/flu, back to school, vacation time, etc.). We also provide a texting solution that allows employers to contact employees directly with messaging on how to activate and reminders of their coverage.

Personal Bio for Quinn Pearl

Quinn Pearl

Quinn Pearl

Vice President of Sales, Competitive Health

As Vice President of Sales, Quinn Pearl is responsible for driving national sales for Competitive Health, with a focus on broker and third-party administrator client bases. Under Quinn’s leadership, Competitive Health has seen steady year-after-year growth and has been named one of the Inc. 5000, Fastest Growing Companies. Quinn is driven to maintain a culture of growth for Competitive Health and encourages a team focus on providing value, innovation, and customer service to clients.

Quinn brings to the position a successful track record of more than 18 years in the employee benefits industry. Prior to Competitive Health, Quinn was Senior Development Director for Hear in America and oversaw national business development, provider credentialing, and call center operations. Quinn has held leadership positions and recognized achievements for multiple national insurance carriers, enrollment firms, multi-specialty insurance agencies, and third-party administrators. Quinn has received multiple Leaders Conference awards for recruiting and business development.

Quinn now resides in Louisville, Kentucky. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy at the University of Louisville and currently holds a Life, Health, Property, Casualty, and Administrators license. He is a member of the National Association of Health Underwriters, Self-Insurance Institute of America, and the University of Louisville Alumni Association.