As Congresswoman Kathy Castor works on the most significant health care reform in decades, she is focusing on strategies that reduce the cost of care while making sure Americans have convenient access to doctors, nurses and other medical professionals. Castor is working to add a provision to the health care reform bill that will help businesses develop on-site clinics and wellness initiatives for their employees.

Castor’s amendment, which is supported by Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman, will help businesses that might not otherwise be able to afford wellness initiatives. Castor’s legislation would offer grants equal to 50 percent of the cost that an employer pays for the implementation and management of a wellness plan. The amendment is supported by several organizations, including AARP, the American Heart Association and American Cancer Society.

Castor’s legislation is another step in her effort to eliminate costly spending on chronic and painful end-of-life illnesses by helping Americans access health care on a more regular, timely basis.

“If there is easy access and no co-pay, workers are much more likely to get check ups and health care,” Castor said. “And by going to an on-site clinic, they are able to get back on the job much faster.”

Castor realizes, however, that some businesses will need some assistance to get wellness initiatives and clinics up and running.

“Not all companies can afford to pay all those start-up costs,” Castor said. “With my legislation, employers will have a healthier workforce and a stronger bottom line. Employees will have fewer healthcare costs and be healthier overall by getting the treatment they need right at their workplace.”

Castor highlighted an example of this today: Syniverse Technologies in Tampa. Hundreds of employees working for Syniverse now can simply walk downstairs to a new, on-site medical clinic and visit with a nurse practitioner to get help for their health care problems.

“Syniverse is on the cutting edge because they just opened an on-site clinic and started a wellness program for their employees,” Castor said. “I am pushing right now to add an amendment to the health care reform bill that will encourage companies in the United States to replicate what is happening right here at Syniverse. It is a great benefit. It is the wave of the future.”

Syniverse employees, their spouses and their children can visit the health clinic without paying a co-pay. The nurse practitioner can treat ailments including stomach aches, colds and sprains. The clinic plans to stock 20 of the most common prescriptions on site. As part of the company’s wellness initiative, employees and their families will be able to meet with a nurse practitioner to develop an individual wellness plan. For example, the nurse practitioner can work with employees on weight control plans.

Syniverse expects to see $1 million in savings over five years by having a clinic as well as lower rates of absenteeism and higher productivity. Syniverse expects lower corporate healthcare costs because the company’s employees will be healthier.