JEFFERSON CITY – Gov. Jay Nixon today joined leaders from the Missouri Consolidated Health Care Plan (MCHCP) to announce that the Strive for Wellness Health Center which will provide convenient health care to MCHCP-enrolled state employees will be open on March 17 on the fourth floor of the Truman Building in Jefferson City. The center will be staffed by an Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner and two Medical Assistants.
“We want to ensure that all Missourians have access to quality, affordable health coverage, and that includes our state employees,” Gov. Nixon said. “This health center will provide better outcomes for patients and better returns for Missouri taxpayers by keeping our state employees’ overall health care costs in check, while keeping state services running effectively and efficiently, each and every day.”
“We know that our members’ time is valuable and their days are hectic,” said Judith Muck, Missouri Consolidated Health Care Plan Executive Director. “The Strive for Wellness Health Center can save enrolled state employees time and money by bringing health care right to where they work. It is our hope that after proving successful at our pilot location, this venture can be replicated at other locations.”
“I applaud the progress made by Missouri Consolidated Health Care Plan. They identified a need, developed a plan, and worked to bring our state employees a health center that can be used for years to come,” Gov. Nixon said.
The plan for the Strive for Wellness Health Center was conceptualized by MCHCP in 2013 as a way to offer convenient health care as a timely, comfortable and affordable alternative to emergency room and after hour urgent care.
At an affordable low rate, the center will provide health care services such as treatment for common injuries and illnesses, as well as preventive care appointments. Reserved parking spots are available to patients visiting from buildings outside the Capitol Complex. Employees can access their health information, schedule appointments, print a reserved parking pass, and request refills securely through the MCHCP online portal.
Missouri Consolidated Health Care Plan has contracted with Cerner Corporation to operate the Strive for Wellness Health Center. The pilot expected cumulative five-year return-on-investment is projected to be 2.2:1, or approximately $5 million. Construction was managed by the Office of Administration Facilities Management, Design and Construction Division, which contracted with River City Construction to complete the build-out of the clinic.
Gov. Nixon’s Fiscal Year 2015 budget proposal also includes a three percent cost of living adjustment for each state employee starting January 2015 and up to a $75 deferred compensation match beginning July 2014. Additionally, under the Governor’s proposal, state employees who are members of the Missouri Consolidated Health Care Plan will not see a premium increase in 2015, the fourth year in a row that we have provided employees a pathway to a flat premium.