|
Health and Productivity Programs Continue to Grow in Popularity as Health Care Costs Rise Hewitt Survey Shows More Organizations Using Education, Incentives, and Disease Management Programs. |
|
July 2002 (Newstream) -- In an effort to contain rising health care costs and increase productivity, more U.S. companies than ever are offering health promotion and management programs. A new study by Hewitt Associates, a global outsourcing and consulting firm, shows that 93 percent of U.S. companies currently offer some kind of health promotion program, up from 89 percent in 1996. "Because employers are under increased cost pressures, there is a renewed interest and excitement about health promotion and medical management programs that can provide cost savings, reduce absenteeism and increase productivity," said Camille Haltom, a health care consultant with Hewitt Associates. "We expect that organizations will not only continue to offer health promotion programs but look for ways to enhance and expand existing programs for employees. Currently, disease management is the area of greatest interest because it allows employers to measure results in a shorter time period compared to traditional wellness programs, which can take up to three or five years." The following summarizes various types of initiatives that a growing number of companies are offering: Seventy-two percent of employers offer employees some kind of education or training, a 2 percentage point increase since 1996. Programs range from seminars and workshops to counseling for lifestyle habits that contribute to chronic or acute conditions. Financial incentive and disincentive programs hold steady with 42 percent of companies continuing to offer them, compared with 34 percent in 1996. The most common incentives companies offer are gifts or monetary awards for employees who participate in health appraisals or screenings. Examples of disincentives include charging employees higher medical or life insurance premiums if they smoke, or giving employees a lower medical benefit payout for not wearing a safety belt while involved in a car accident, or under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Seventy-six percent of employers currently provide disease
management programs to employees. The majority (84 percent) of
companies offer these programs through self-insured and/or fully
insured health plans.1 Online applications are making it easier to provide serial evaluations that can help participants understand the impact of changes in health habits. The questionnaires are often administered in conjunction with broader health management initiatives. Exactly three-quarters of employers use health screenings, up from 68 percent in 1996. Most administer screenings to detect high blood pressure or cholesterol through their health plans or via on-site health fairs, mobile units for mammography or other screenings. Seventy-nine percent of corporations offer employee special programs for disease and medical management, flu vaccinations, well-baby/child care, and prenatal care, compared to 63 percent in 1996. More than three-quarters (81 percent) of companies offer additional initiatives, which include a broad variety of activities or incentives designed to heighten an employee's awareness of healthy behaviors. Some examples are: smoke-free workplace (57 percent), health fairs (42 percent), on-site or employer-owned fitness facility (35 percent), employer-sponsored sports teams/tournaments (30 percent), and discounts at local health clubs (23 percent). "More companies are exploring health promotion and disease management programs as part of their health care strategy for next year," said Haltom. "Organizations have been interested in disease management programs for several years now and they're growing in popularity because the market is mature enough for health plans and specialty providers to address employer's needs and help contain costs."
|
|
