By Steven Lash, President & CEO of Satori World Medical

Last week in South Lake Tahoe, California, Satori World Medical was proud to sponsor The California Association of Joint Powers Authorities (CAJPA) 27th Annual Fall Conference and Training Seminar.  CAJPA, founded in 1981, is the premier organization setting standards for cooperative and fiscally responsible governance enabling California local agencies to work together in the area of risk management.  CAJPA represents public entity Joint Powers Authority’s (JPA) that provide risk management services and insurance programs to cities, counties, school  districts and special districts.  A JPA, is a government-regulated public entity formed by two or more public agencies.  CAJPA members employ over 800,000 people and provide local government services to nearly all California residents.  Despite the current economic climate CAJPA’s annual conference continues to be the largest educational meeting for the risk management pooling industry in the nation.

Today’s skyrocketing costs of healthcare in the U.S. continue to place a tremendous financial burden on California’s public sector entities and their workforce.  At Satori World Medical, we believe in providing innovative solutions to lowering the cost of healthcare for both private and public entities.  Based in San Diego, California, our company was excited to present our global healthcare program to the key decision makers for California school districts, fire agencies, housing authorities and other entities.

Medical travel benefit options are becoming increasingly appealing to more employers, especially within the public sector space.  With the rising cost of healthcare, especially for early retiree populations and the need to lower GASB 45 liability coupled with the current budget crisis in California, there is now more than ever a greater need to find ways to lower healthcare expenses without eliminating choice, quality or benefits.  Through our program, public entities can offer their workforce a 100% new medical benefit at no cost to the organization.  The employer saves real dollars on their claims expense and the employee gets an additional choice as to where to obtain their healthcare and receive an economic benefit.

Through Satori’s Health & Shared Wealth Program™, the individual who selects to go internationally for a covered non-emergent surgical procedure has no out-of-pocket expenses, all co-pays and deductibles are waived.  Additionally, their employer will fund between $5,000-$10,000 into a Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) which the employee can then use to offset future medical expenses.  What’s unique about a HRA is the funds deposited are tax-free to the employee and tax-deductible to the employer.  HRA funds roll over annually and can be used toward future out-of-pocket expenses such as co-pays, deductibles, premiums, prescriptions, and more.  Our program is so novel, that we have filed a patent around the business model and method.

The response from the public sector community has been extremely positive.  Employers love our quality programs, our patient centric philosophy and being empowered to give their workforce an additional healthcare option with a direct financial reward to the consumer that ultimately makes the decision.  Our membership with CAJPA and our sponsorship of their annual conference, demonstrates our commitment to providing high quality, innovative healthcare solutions to the public sector space.  We are very excited to be a part of this organization.