Originally published Wednesday, May 13, 2009 at 12:00 AM
Comments (33)
E-mail article
Print view
Share
REI CEO Sally Jewell, Microsoft exec meet with Obama on health care
REI and Microsoft are among businesses praised by President Obama for programs designed to make their employees healthier and keep down health-care costs.
Seattle Times business reporter
Local companies REI and Microsoft were among a handful of businesses praised Tuesday by President Obama for programs designed to make their employees healthier and keep down health-care costs.
"You've got terrific innovations at companies like Microsoft, where they actually have used home visits of doctors to reduce the utilization of emergency-room care and are saving themselves millions of dollars," Obama told reporters at the White House after an hourlong discussion with business leaders, including Cecily Hall, Microsoft's director of U.S. benefits, and Sally Jewell, CEO of REI.
Obama drew laughter introducing the outdoor-oriented retailer, saying REI "has to be fit since they're a fitness company."
He noted that REI provides health insurance for part-time as well as full-time employees.
"Part of the reason they're able to do it is because they put a big emphasis on prevention and wellness," he said.
Obama also singled out Safeway and Johnson & Johnson for holding down health-care costs by encouraging employees to exercise, stop smoking and lose weight.
A fact sheet from the White House mentions Microsoft's weight-management program, which assigns participants to a primary-care doctor, behavioral health specialist and nutritionist.
Blogging about her meeting afterward, Hall said participants have dropped a total 50 tons since the program began in 2003.
Microsoft's "mobile medicine" program, which sends doctors to employees' homes to prevent costly emergency-room visits for problems like a croupy cough or skin wound, has made nearly 10,000 local house calls in three years, she said.
"We save a little over $200 every time we replace what would have been an emergency-room visit with a house call," Hall said.
Kent-based REI, according to the White House, helps employees take up outdoor activities by offering discounts on gear and apparel purchases, free rentals and time off.
It also reduces the amount employees pay for health coverage if they adopt several healthful habits, such as regularly eating fruits and vegetables and exercising.
Tuesday was the second day in a row Obama highlighted health-care changes. Monday, he announced that union and health-industry groups had committed to reduce the health-care inflation rate by 1.5 percentage points a year over 10 years.
Amy Martinez: 206-464-2923 or amartinez@seattletimes.com
Copyright © 2009 The Seattle Times Company
Nintendo re-enlists Mario, savior of video-game industry
Verizon-Frontier deal stirs concern among consumers
Brier Dudley: 'Guitar Hero' founder excited about future
UPDATE - 12:46 AM
Gaps for consumers in Democrat health care bills
NEW - 11:03 PM
Hutch gets $10M from Bezos family for immunotherapy research

Raw Video | Real Salt Lake receives the MLS Cup trophy
Real Salt Lake is handed the 2009 MLS Cup trophy at Qwest Field, November 22, 2009.
nwjobs

Post a comment

Michelle Goodman blogs about work/life balance.
How to tell your office you're gravely ill
Post a comment
nwautos

Choosing a new sedan? Weigh the impact of your choice on your wallet and on the planet.
Post a comment
- 'The Road' takes Viggo Mortensen to Mount St. Helens and Astoria, Ore.
- Craigslist adoption ad: A plea by young mother-to-be? A scam?
- Tugboat sinks at Seattle waterfront pier
- Child-support error costs nearly $21,000
- Italian lead prosecutor argues Knox motive was hatred
- Italian prosecutors request life sentence for UW student
- Man shot in chest on E. Union Street in Capitol Hill
- Chase shrugs off loss of CD investors
- Washington state wines make annual best-of list
- Vikings easily beat the Seahawks
- Senate vote clears hurdle
239 - Vikings easily beat the Seahawks
133 - Child-support error costs nearly $21,000
124 - Palin excitement builds in Tri-Cities
123 - Tight Senate vote launches health care over hurdle
122 - Cutting through breast-cancer confusion
90 - Historic health care bill clears Senate hurdle
79 - Game thread
70 - New York terror trials will restore faith in rule of law
62 - Chase shrugs off loss of CD investors
53
- Washington state wines make annual best-of list
- Nonprofits get creative using Twitter and Facebook to make donation easier
- It's possible to recover a life lost to hoarding
- Lynnwood is reinventing itself — again
- Great places to cross-country ski for free (or almost) in the Methow
- 'The Road' takes Viggo Mortensen to Mount St. Helens and Astoria, Ore.
- Child-support error costs nearly $21,000
- Recipes: Sesame Pork Roast, Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes, Gingerbread with Lemon Sauce and more
- Banff: powder, peaks & purity
- Chase shrugs off loss of CD investors









