Recent News & Press
A recent article in the NY Times titled Hospital Billing Varies Wildly, Government Data Shows written by Barry Meier,
ELAP's Director of Marketing, Steve McGilvery took some time out from his busy schedule to participate in a cause near and dear to his heart. Steve's greatniece Celia lives each day with Cerebral Palsy (CP).
"Waste not, heal not"
US health care system wastes $750 billion a year
"More than 18 months in the making, the report identified six major areas of waste: unnecessary services ($210 billion annually); inefficient delivery of care ($130 billion); excess administrative costs ($190 billion); inflated prices ($105 billion); prevention failures ($55 billion), and fraud ($75 billion). Adjusting for some overlap among the categories, the panel settled on an estimate of $750 billion."
With a giving mission of commitment to charitable causes, non-profit organizations and community, ELAP Services continues to make a positive impact on the communities across the country. Specifically, the Coweta Samaritan Clinic, the Angelman Syndrome Foundation (ASF) and National Walk and Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) have all recently benefited from ELAP's generosity.
This week’s Time Magazine cover story author, Steven Brill, investigates why health care costs so much. Medicine has become a huge profitable business in recent years. By simply following the money, Brill looks into how it happened, where the money is coming from and where the money is going.
A recent article describing hospital markups in the LA Times points out the disparity in pricing for patients who pay hefty insurance premiums only to be penalized with higher rates for treatment. The lowest price is usually available only if patients don't use their health insurance. In one case, blood tests that cost an insured patient $415 would have been $95 in cash.
On Saturday, August 4, 2012, Eagles Fly for Leukemia hosted their annual “Night at the Zoo” for children in our community who are battling pediatric cancer. ELAP was a sponsor along with Hatfield Quality Meats and Fox Rothschild. The event was covered by several local news stations. Clips from all of the coverage can be seen by clicking the links below.
ELAP Services was proud to sponsor the 26th annual International Visitors Center (IVC) BBQ held on July 19th. The BBQ started 25 years ago as a way for the IVC to show a few Japanese business men the "American Experience". This meant grilling some burgers and hot dogs and drinking cold beers while mingling with IVC professionals. Since then the BBQ has grown to a catered event for over 500 participants at the College of Physicians.
We invite you take a moment to watch this short video that highlights the systemic incoherence associated with pricing of healthcare services. As the commentators stress, there is no objectivity associated with how providers charge for their services, and, indeed, charges are widely variable based on their assessment of who is footing the bill.
We see the Order Granting Motion for Summary Judgment, in favor of ELAP, GPA and Farmers Home Furniture Employee Benefit Plan, as a big win for employers struggling to provide affordable health care to their employees. The judge recognized the right of the plan to set rational standards of reimbursement in their plan document.
