Houston Endowment funding allows early '08 launch of pilot Galveston County 3-Share Plan, electronic medical record system

For immediate release: Oct. 4, 2007
GALVESTON, Texas - The Houston Endowment has awarded the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston a $1.6 million, two-year grant to help implement a pilot project designed to improve access to health care for the working uninsured in Galveston County.

The pilot project will allow UTMB to implement the Galveston 3-Share Plan health benefits program, develop an electronic medical record system for the uninsured in Galveston County, and expand on UTMB's care management program, said Dr. John D. Stobo, immediate past president of UTMB. Stobo is now the John P. McGovern, M.D., Distinguished Chair in Oslerian Medicine and executive director for academic programs for the University of Texas System.

"This support from the Houston Endowment will allow UTMB, along with the various chambers of commerce and other business organizations, to pilot a very important program that may have a significant positive impact on providing health care to the uninsured in Galveston County," Stobo said.

The 3-Share Plan has been a focus for Stobo and the Center to Eliminate Health Disparities headed by Barbara Breier since 2003. The pilot project is the first of its kind in Texas and the results of this program will be used to determine its effectiveness as a statewide approach for small businesses.

"This generous grant from the Houston Endowment will allow UTMB to begin enrolling qualified small businesses and their employees in the 3-Share Plan by early 2008," Breier said. "In addition, the electronic medical record system will further enhance health care delivery throughout Galveston County by allowing the major ‘safety net' health providers - including UTMB, the Galveston County Health District, Mainland Medical Center and the Gulf Coast MHMR Center - to understand how patients are accessing care in Galveston County and how resources can be better shared."

The 3-Share Plan will provide small employers (those with at least two but fewer than 50 employees) based in Galveston County the opportunity to offer affordable, comprehensive health benefits to their employees.

In order to qualify, employers must not have offered health insurance, and employees must not have had such coverage, for 12 months prior to enrollment. The total cost of the health benefit plan is expected to be $180 per month shared equally by the employer, employee and UTMB with support from Houston Endowment. Only employees and no family members will be covered in the pilot phase of the plan.

Benefits provided under the plan will include primary and specialty care, hospitalization, limited help with prescription drugs, and mental health coverage.

"This benefit package was designed based on surveys and focus groups with employers and employees who are interested in having an affordable health plan," Breier said. "Interest has been very high, as small employers understand that a major cause of employee turnover is lack of health benefits. Since it is estimated that it costs at least 150 percent of an employee's base salary each time a business has to recruit and train a new employee, being able to afford to offer these benefits will be a tremendous economic benefit to small employers in Galveston County."

"We want to thank all the small businesses and their employees who have participated in the feasibility study and continue to indicate an interest in the Galveston 3-Share Plan," Breier said. Employers and employees with questions about the program may call (409) 772-8864, (866) 450-8032 toll-free, or e-mail fhdevine@utmb.edu for more information.

The Houston Endowment is a private philanthropic foundation, originally endowed by Mr. and Mrs. Jesse H. Jones. The Endowment's mission is to improve life for people of the greater Houston area through its contributions to charitable organizations and educational institutions. In 2006, the Endowment awarded more than $83 million on 883 grants.

The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
Public Affairs Office
301 University Boulevard, Suite 3.102
Galveston, Texas 77555-0144
www.utmb.edu