Rush Health, Oswego School District 308 form innovative partnership

Oswego Community Unit School District 308, in Oswego, Illinois, announced today that it has entered into an innovative partnership with Rush Health to improve the access and affordability of health care for its employees without increasing costs to the district and local taxpayers. This innovative agreement will help District 308 compete for and retain top talent, enhance employee wellness and provide access to Rush University System for Health, which includes the No. 2 ranked hospital in Illinois, according to U.S. News & World Report.

Under the agreement, Rush Health, the health network of Rush Copley Medical Center, Rush University Medical Center and hundreds of independent physicians, will provide District 308’s self-funded health plan with discounted rates for services across its network, which will allow District 308 to cover deductibles and co-pays for employees. The partnership also enhances District 308 employees’ access to Rush’s specialists and its cutting-edge telemedicine services.

“SD 308 is proud to be at the forefront of this new and exciting partnership that brings together a public school district and health care system, working together to offer comprehensive health care services to our workforce,” said Oswego SD 308 Superintendent of Schools John Sparlin. “We hope that this program will make access to care easier for our staff, removing cost barriers and refocusing concentration on receiving the health care they and their families need, when and where it is most appropriate.”

SD 308 employees enrolled in the district’s preferred provider organization or health care account benefit package who receive care from Rush Health providers will be reimbursed for most out-of-pocket expenses, like co-pays and deductibles commonly incurred for treatments.

“We are pleased to see that the district has engaged with a trusted health care system to expand benefits of affordable health care services for our members and their families,” said Co-President Elizabeth Palatine of the Oswego Education Association. “This additional program is a great benefit to our members.”

Employees will still have the freedom to see the provider of their choice and are not required to take advantage of the program. Claims will continue to be processed as before, minimizing any administrative disruption for employees, the district or the providers who care for them.

With Rush Copley Medical Center just a few miles from Oswego, Rush Health was a natural partner for SD 308.

“Rush Health has one of the strongest networks of quality providers in northern Illinois, anchored locally by Rush Copley Medical Center. Innovative agreements like this are the future in connecting employees to the best care in a cost-effective way,” said Anthony Del Rio, President of Rush Health.

This new program was developed at the direction of SD 308 leadership and in partnership with benefits consultants at Lockton Companies, which works with employers nationally to find unique solutions to the growing challenges of providing comprehensive benefits in economically difficult times.

“Health care, in an organization as large as ours, is a significant expenditure that requires thoughtful and innovative approaches to maintain value for our employees without increasing costs,” Sparlin said. “We worked collaboratively with Lockton and Rush Health and found what we believe is a win-win for our employees and the residents of the district.”

“Rush Copley and SD 308 share a commitment to improving the quality of life in the communities we serve,” said Rush Copley President and CEO John Diederich, MA, MBA, FACHE. “This is a natural affiliation that will go beyond improved health care outcomes for district staff. It serves as an example of the public-private partnerships that are key to the kind of innovations we seek.”

“Access to an integrated network of care, including wellness services, care management, and specialty care are shown to drive much better health care outcomes for patients,” said Del Rio. “Rush is nationally recognized as one of the top providers in the nation, and, indeed the world, and we look forward to working closely with SD 308 to improve the health and well-being of its team, which, in turn benefits the students and residents of the community.”

This new program will be available to district employees starting May 3, 2021.