Free heart surgery for Lowe’s employees: a new model for reducing costs?

The national home improvement chain, Lowe’s has a new benefit for its employees with heart problems ? free surgery at one of the country’s top hospitals. The North Carolina-based chain has reached a three-year agreement with the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, which can save Lowe’s employees several thousands of dollars.

?Lowe’s were looking at costs and they were spending more than they needed to on expensive heart surgeries because too often they felt costly follow-ups were needed,? says Scott Graf, reporter at WFAE public radio in Charlotte, North Carolina, who is following the story. The company pays for the surgery, in addition to flights, hotels, food for both the patient and one travel companion. Graf tells us that the results of Lowe’s experiment could have a significant impact on the business of health care.