Politics & Government

Joint Health Care Clinic Could Become a Reality in Waukesha

Health clinic for city, county and school district employees could save $8 million in five years.

A joint health care clinic for employees of the Waukesha School District, City of Waukesha and Waukesha County could soon move forward, saving an estimated $8 million over five years among the three government agencies.

The proposal stalled earlier this year after Healthstat was selected as the preferred vendor. Then Mayor Jeff Scrima wanted the city to enter into an alternative agreement with Pro Health Care after the Waukesha-based health care provider was not given the bid – instead of joining with the school district and the city.

But after Scrima lost the election, it appears the city is ready to approve the intergovernmental agreement for the health care clinic. Members of the city’s Finance Committee and Human Resources Committee recommended Tuesday night that the joint clinic move forward when the agreement is presented to the Common Council, according to Mayor Shawn Reilly.

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“The clinic is a first point of contact for routine and non-urgent medical care,” states a memo from City Administrator Ed Henschel. “The medical staff will have the capability of electronic transfer of medical care information to primary care physicians and specialist. The use of the clinic is voluntary/optional for employees, however, those who use it would have a much lower co-pay. It will also be the primary provider of the annual health assessment that employees currently participate in.”

The city expects to save $250,000 per year in insurance premiums by participating in the joint health clinic over the next five years.

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The county will pay for building improvements and start-up costs with the city and school district reimbursing the county starting next year. The agreement also calls for an advisory council that will have one member from each government agency.

The county is to cover 40 percent of the costs, the school district 44 percent of the costs and the city 16 percent of the costs.


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