Editor’s Note: Sponsored content brought to you by Panorama Summit Orthopedics
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When your local orthopedic surgeons also live and play where they work, you can bet they understand the unique healthcare challenges that Summit County residents face.
With some of the highest insurance premiums in the country, and healthcare costs that have historically ranged from 30 to 80 percent higher than costs in Denver, Summit County stakeholders created an innovative answer to rising costs: the Peak Health Alliance.
Panorama Summit Orthopedics is the only preferred orthopedic provider under the Peak Health Alliance in 2020, meaning residents who are covered under Peak Health Alliance plans can enjoy the highest quality orthopedic care right here in Summit County.
Here’s why having premium, local orthopedic care as part of this insurance partnership is a significant improvement for Summit County residents in 2020.
What is Peak Health Alliance?
Peak Health Alliance is a Summit County-based nonprofit insurance cooperative that uses the purchasing power of the community to negotiate directly with providers and hospitals for lower, more transparent prices. Its 2020 insurance plans are offered through two carriers — Bright Health for individual plans, and Rocky Mountain Health Plans for business/group plans.
Why is this significant for Summit County?
Summit County residents face some of the highest insurance premiums in the country. In 2019, the biennial Colorado Health Access Survey reported that 14.3 percent of residents in Eagle, Summit, Pitkin, Grand and Garfield counties were uninsured, with the estimate for Summit County at about 11 percent.
Dr. Xan Courville, fellowship-trained foot and ankle surgeon at Panorama Summit Orthopedics, said many people with insurance have such high deductibles that they also risk facing financially daunting medical bills.
“By giving patients more options in health care, the Peak Health Alliance has brought more options to the county that are more affordable,” she said.
Panorama Summit Orthopedics is also a contracted provider with Centura Health plans, Medicare and Medicaid.
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What does this mean for Summit County that an orthopedic provider is part of the Peak Health Alliance?
Dr. Xan Courville: As the primary orthopedic coverage provider, patients who come to us will have less out-of-pocket fees (see factbox). This is thanks to our partnership with Centura Health, which is a partner of Peak Health.
Centura Health and Panorama Summit Orthopedics are looking to improve health care options locally so patients can receive very good local care, but also more affordable care. We’re taking care of the people who live and work here to make sure all people in our community can afford good health care without having to drive to Denver.
What makes Panorama Summit Orthopedics a great choice for orthopedic care in Summit County?
Dr. Courville: The physicians at Panorama Summit Orthopedics are all fellowship-trained in our respective specialties. Patients here want to get back to skiing, hiking, biking and other activities, which means it would be difficult to be a general orthopedist in a place like Summit County. The goals of our patients are so high that we need to have a higher level of training to get people the appropriate care and help them accomplish their goals.
Fellowship training is an extra two or more years of training with the best surgeons in the country, in addition to four years of specialty orthopedic training and four years of medical school. Fellowship-trained surgeons are skilled in the newest and most advanced techniques in their sub-specialty.
Panorama Summit Orthopedics’ surgeons are fellowship-trained in a variety of specialties including foot and ankle surgery, trauma, hand and wrist surgery, total joint surgery and sports medicine.
Panorama Summit Orthopedics’ physicians include:
- Dr. Xan Courville, foot and ankle; trauma
- Dr. Aaron Black, sports medicine; trauma
- Dr. Rick Bowles, sports medicine; trauma
- Dr. Gary Benedetti, joint replacement; trauma
- Dr. John Froelich, hand and wrist
- Dr. Sameer Lodha, hand and wrist
Panorama Summit Orthopedics physicians also provide trauma care for skiing and snowboarding patients in Summit County. After triage at one of the three ski medical clinics, a Panorama Summit Orthopedic physician will treat orthopedic trauma patients who are transferred to St. Anthony Summit Medical Center. Many of these patients are from the Front Range and can then seek follow-up care at one of Panorama’s Front Range locations.
What kind of financial impact does this have for Summit patients who need orthopedic care?
Dr. Courville: Peak Health Alliance has brought more competition to the health insurance market in Summit County, which drives down costs. Panorama Summit Orthopedics has seen the limitations that high insurance premiums place on the community and we want to be part of the solution to help patients succeed. We want to offer high-quality orthopedic care and not have patients feel like they’re going to become bankrupt because of their orthopedic problem.
Why do you think this partnership is important for the people of Summit County?
Dr. Courville: I grew up in a small ski community. My parents worked in a ski shop and the service industry throughout my childhood. I understand what it’s like to make it work in a ski community, and I also know what living in such a community did for me. It’s something I would like to give back to the next generation. I love taking care of the hard-working people who are here because they love the mountains and love to play.
It’s important to have accessible health insurance and healthcare that’s not only affordable, but has good coverage under the care of quality providers.