Creative health-cost cuts aired during Pittsburgh symposium

When Westinghouse Electric recently conducted a health assessment of its employees, most of the highest risks related to food. So Westinghouse revamped its food offerings, from vending machines to the cafeteria line, making sure employees had a selection of healthy foods to choose. Marriott officials found that as pharmacy co-payments rose along with other healthcare costs, employees stopped taking needed medications. So they instituted a program which halved the cost of brand-name medications and made generic drugs free. These were among the ideas shared at the annual Pittsburgh Business Group on Health symposium, where businesses discussed ways to reduce their healthcare costs.