04/18/2003
When Steve Deist graduated from college with a BS in psychology 25 years ago, like many other graduates, he wasn't sure what professional direction he wanted to take. He found inspiration in a friend who had suffered a spinal chord injury and lost the use of one arm. His friend went through a successful rehabilitation and went on to get his PhD; and Deist found what he wanted to do with his life."I was impressed with the rehabilitation services my friend received, and I thought that I'd like to do that, too," Deist says.
So Deist learned the rehabilitation business by working for other companies for 14 years before striking out on his own. Like so many other small business owners, he found himself disillusioned with the direction of the company he worked for and wanted the satisfaction of "controlling his own business destiny," as he puts it.
Located in Baton Rouge, Deist and Associates provides rehabilitation services, including job placement and medical management, throughout the state. Deist has weathered a few storms during his 12 years in business, including a split with a business partner five years ago and the current tight economy.
Workers' compensation programs pay for the majority of Deist's clients, and since they are not required to send people to rehab, many of them are choosing to simply pay the disability claims instead.
"They're only looking at the front-end costs," Deist explains.
Given Deist's knowledge of the health care, the insurance industry and of course small business, it should come as no surprise that his path eventually crossed with NFIB.
"I like to stay on top of politics and found myself attending many of the same meetings as [State Director] Charlie Hodson. He introduced me to NFIB and I became a member."
Besides serving on the NFIB leadership council, Deist is part of the Louisiana Health Care Commission, an advisory group to the Department of Insurance that makes recommendations on ways to improve health care. He also serves on a 20-member Task Force for the Uninsured. Deist is interested in getting health care provided for as many people as possible -- even those who don't think they need it.
Deist is in favor of Association Health Plans as one way of doing this.
"The bigger the pool of insured people, the cheaper the rates will be," he explains. "Because of the high costs, only those who absolutely must have insurance are buying it right now. But if we have a way to get everybody in, then the premiums go down."
Taxes are another issue that concerns Deist on both a state and federal level.
"Louisiana has some insane tax laws. For example, business debt is taxed. It's considered an asset."
Deist is in favor of an overhaul of the federal tax codes, and also supports President Bush's tax cut plan that is now being debated in the Senate as the best way to stimulate the flagging economy.
"I firmly believe that the best way to get more money into circulation is to let businesses have more of it," says Deist.
Whether he's helping his clients rehabilitate or serving as an advocate for health care and tax reforms, Steve Deist is a small business owner doing his part to affect positive changes in Louisiana and the nation.
Name: Steve Deist
Company: Deist and Associates, www.deistonline.com
Location: Baton Rouge, La.
Founded: 1991
NFIB member: 5 years
