HEALTHSHARE INC
130 WEST SUPERIOR STREET NO 700, DULUTH, MN 55802

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Organizations Filed Purposes: DEMONSTRATE THAT A CAREFULLY COORDINATED COVERAGE PROGRAM CAN PROVIDE BASIC HEALTH CARE AND WELLNESS SERVICES FOR UNINSURED EMPLOYEES OF SMALL BUSINESSES ON A COST-EFFECTIVE BASIS.

HEALTHSHARE IS AN AFFORDABLE, COMMUNITY-BASED, HEALTH COVERAGE PROGRAM THAT EXPANDS ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE, REDUCES THE NUMBER OF UNINSURED, AND IMPROVES THE HEALTH STATUS OF THOSE WORKING IN SMALL BUSINESSES IN NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA.

HEALTHSHARE IS A COMMUNITY-BASED HEALTH COVERAGE PROGRAM THAT EXPANDS ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE TO A POPULATION THAT IS MOST LIKELY TO BE UNINSURED - THOSE WORKING FOR LOW-WAGES IN SMALL BUSINESSES. HEALTHSHARE PROVIDES AN AFFORDABLE OPTION FOR BUSINESSES AND THEIR EMPLOYEES WHO TRADITIONALLY DO NOT PURCHASE COMMERCIAL INSURANCE PRODUCTS DUE TO THE HIGH PRICE. PROGRAM COSTS ARE SHARED BY THE EMPLOYER, EMPLOYEE, AND A COMMUNITY FUND WHICH INCLUDES CONTRIBUTIONS FROM LOCAL FOUNDATIONS AND HEALTH CARE ORGANIZATIONS. A FULL RANGE OF HEALTH SERVICES IS PROVIDED AT AFFORDABLE RATES UNDER CONTRACTS WITH LOCAL HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS IN FOUR COUNTIES IN NORTHEASTERN MN. IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING ACCESS TO NEEDED HEALTH CARE, HEALTHSHARE FOCUSES ON IMPROVING THE HEALTH STATUS OF ITS MEMBERS AND EDUCATING THEM TO BE WISE CONSUMERS OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES.THE ENTIRE CREATION AND OPERATION OF HEALTHSHARE IS DEPENDENT ON THE COMMUNITY GETTING TOGETHER TO RECRUIT LOCAL HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS TO PROVIDE SERVICES AND TO FIND SOURCES OF REVENUE TO COVER THAT PORTION OF THE COST OF PROVIDING AND ADMINISTERING CARE THAT IS NOT COVERED BY COVERAGE PROGRAM FEES TO EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES. HEATHSHARE IS AN EFFORT BY LOCAL CITIZENS TO ORGANIZE AND FIND A WAY TO PROVIDE HEALTH SERVICES TO THE WORKING POOR. SAFETY NET EXPANSION - ACTIONS OF THE FEDERAL, STATE AND COUNTY GOVERNMENTS IN FUNDING COMMUNITY CLINICS, PROVIDING MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS AND MANY OTHER EFFORTS ARE CLEAR EVIDENCE THAT GOVERNMENTS TAKES SOME RESPONSIBLITY FOR THE UNINSURED BY CREATING WAYS FOR THEM TO GET HEALTH SERVICES. HEALTHSHARE IS AN EXTENSION OF THOSE EFFORTS, BUT GOING FORWARD WILL DEPEND ON THE LARGESS OF THE PROVIDERS IN STEEPLY DISCOUNTING THE PAYMENTS THEY RECEIVE FOR SERVICES RENDERED, THE GENEROUSITY OF LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS WILLING TO GRANT MONEY TO SUBSIDIZE OPERATING EXPENSES AND VERY LOW FEES THAT EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES PAY; WITH NO FUNDING FROM THE GOVERNMENT. COST OF CARE - IT IS WELL DOCUMENTED THAT THE UNINSURED COMMONLY DO NOT SEEK TREATMENT FOR ILLNESSES UNTIL THEY ARE SO SICK THEY CANNOT FUNCTION. OFTEN THIS RESULTS IN AN EMERGENCY ROOM VISIT THAT RESULTS IN A PROLONGED AND EXPENSIVE INPATIENT STAY FOR THINGS LIKE DIABETIC COMA. USUALLY THE INABILITY TO WORK AND LACK OF ASSETS MAKES THE MEDICAL COSTS INCURRED AND ENSUING PROBLEMS ELIGIBLE FOR SOME TYPE OF GOVERMENT PAYMENTS. BY PREVENTING THESE SITUATIONS, HEALTHSHARE IS LESSENING THE BURDEN OF GOVERMENT. IN ITS SHORT LIFE, HEALTHSHARE SERVICES HAVE FOUND EARLY DIAGNOSIS OF SEVERAL CANCERS, MAKING THEM TREATABLE, DIABETES, RENAL FAILURE AND OTHER VERY SERIOUS DISEASES THAT IF NOT DISCOVERED EARLY AND SUCCESSFULLY TREATED WOULD HAVE PLACE A COSTLY LONG-TERM BURDEN ON GOVERNMENT MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.HEALTHSHARE SCREENS ALL PROSPECTIVE MEMBERS FOR ELIGIBILITY FOR PUBLIC PROGRAMS AND ASSISTS THEM IN GETTING THE BENEFITS THEY ARE ELIGIBLE FOR. THIS LESSENS THE BURDEN OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT WHICH IN MINNESOTA IS CHARGED WITH THE TASK OF ENROLLING AND MANAGING ELIGIBLE CITIZENS.THE STATE'S BURDEN IS LESSENED BY OPERATION OF THE HEALTHSHARE PROGRAM AND THERE IS NO CORRESPONDING FINANCIAL RISK TO THE STATE. THE STATE PROVIDES NO CURRENT SUPPORT FOR HEALTHSHARE AND EXPECTS ANY COMMUNITY-BASED HEALTH COVERAGE PROGRAM TO BE SELF-SUSTAINING WITH COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTIONS.HEALTHSHARE HAS A DIRECT EFFECT ON 849 LIVES AS TO WHETHER THEY HAVE A COMMUNITY BASED HEALTH COVERAGE PROGRAM TO AID THEM IN THE TIME OF NEED. THESE 849 PEOPLE INCLUDE PEOPLE ON CHEMOTHERAPY, PREGNANT WOMEN AND PEOPLE RECEIVING MEDICATIONS TO MANAGE CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITIONS.

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