 Mercy Health Partners joins the Initial Group PPO Network more 
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 Knoxville, Tennessee - July 1, 2003 - The Initial Group, a regional Preferred Provider Organization, has designed a complimentary and alternative medicine program and network that offers employers discounts on chiropractic, acupuncture and massage therapy services. It also offers wholesale discounts on high quality vitamins, supplements and nutriceutical products. To put an additional focus of fitness and overall wellness, the network offers discounts on wellness and fitness related products including treadmills and lifecycles, as well as yoga and other exercise products. In addition, The Initial Group is partnering with The Baptist Heart Institute and Wellness and Rehabilitation Center offering discounts on fitness testing, fitness evaluations, and cholesterol screening. This program also offers individuals the opportunity to exercise independently in the facility or have an initial program designed by highly qualified staff from the cardiac rehabilitation department, currently including ACSM certified personal trainers. The program can be utilized as a voluntary benefit or layered on to the current benefit plan as a covered service. Using the network, participants can access chiropractors, massage therapists and acupuncturists at substantial discounts or co-pays. Mark Field, Vice President of The Initial Group says "during this age and time, consumers are interested in trying an alternative approach to their healthcare and preventive needs. The Complimentary and Alternative Medicine Program will allow employees to take control of their health and enjoy alternative forms of treatment." "The program is being promoted to employers as an additional way for their employees to improve their health and control the cost of their own healthcare. Additionally, it also helps the employers stem the tide of rising healthcare costs" said Field. The Initial Group recently enrolled the program, with great success, at Baptist Health System of East Tennessee. Baptist Health System of East Tennessee has been progressive in their wellness approach to their employee's ehalth as they became a non-smoking facility November, 1994. Currently the Baptist no smoking policy prohibits smoking and the use of tobacco products on the hospital campus. Additionally, Baptist Health System offers their employees a healthy lifestyle credit that can reduce their health plan premiums up to 25% if they take the healthy lifestyle pledge. The pledge includes undergoing a health risk appraisal, exercising for 20 minutes, 3 times per week, agreeing to wear seat belts, and abstain from drinking alcohol to excess. It also asks employees to not smoke or use tobacco products during the next plan year. "Since very little is known about the cost effectiveness in general, most employers are careful about offering the same levels of coverage for alternative medicine as they have for conventional medicine, yet a discount program of this type gives employers an opportunity to see how their employees utilize services and analyze the overall good will of the program through surveys to employees" said Field. "It is refreshing and encouraging that local employers are showing interest in these services as an alternative cost saving measure." For more information about The Initial Group or the Complimentary Alternative Medicine Network, contact Mark Field at mfield@initialgroup.com, or 865-342-2230. - END -
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East Tennessee's fastest growing managed healthcare network |
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| For over 13 years, The Initial Group has been providing healthcare products and services to employees throughout East Tennessee |
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