Lowe’s partners with Cleveland Clinic for employees’ surgery

In a segment on FoxNews.com, Lowe’s revealed that it has entered into a unique partnership where the Cleveland Clinic will provide major heart surgery for any full-time employee or dependent enrolled in the company’s self-insured medical plan. Those needing the procedure will travel to Cleveland with a companion, and Lowe’s will cover all co-pays, deductibles and travel expenses.

Lowe’s has negotiated a flat rate for various procedures with the Cleveland Clinic, which U.S. News and World Report has ranked first in the nation for cardiac care for the past 15 consecutive years.

The first employee to take advantage of the elective program, according to the news report, is Donald Roberts, a 64-year-old installed sales coordinator in Port Orange, Fla., who will have an aneurysm repaired at the Cleveland Clinic this month. His normal out-of-pocket costs for the open-heart surgery would have been $5,000, according to Lowe’s.

Bob Ihrie, Lowe's senior VP in charge of benefits, told Fox News that the home improvement retailer initially considered “medical tourism” -- sending employees for treatment to U.S.-trained doctors overseas -- but then decided to look closer to home.

Lowe's and the Cleveland Clinic may consider expanding their partnership to include back and spine treatments, company officials said. The company employs approximately 180,000 workers.