ALBANY, N.Y. and DENVER, April 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- CDPHP® and WellTok®, Inc., today announced that following a successful pilot in 2011, CDPHP is rolling out the CafeWell™ social health network to its full membership of 350,000 and integrating its Life Points® wellness rewards program.
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"As the first and only health plan in the region to offer this unique social wellness tool, we're seeing a great response," said John Demers, vice president of public affairs at CDPHP. "Combined with our Life Points rewards program, this is an exciting new tool for members to not only take charge of their health, but get paid for it!" added Demers.
Slipping employee engagement numbers are the biggest challenge for employers to improving workforce health, according to a 2011 report by Towers Watson, Employee Perspectives on Health Care. Health plans, with larger aggregation of members, are in a unique position to help.
Today, the new application of social networking technology is giving health plans and employers an effective tool to get consumers engaged in a positive and fun manner, instead of employing penalties or heavy handed tactics that employees resent.
"The application of social networking in healthcare is still new, but the results population managers are seeing are immediately proving the case," said Scott Rotermund, president and co-founder of WellTok. "Our population manager clients are seeing dramatic increases in positive consumer engagement with their brand, as well as in healthy consumer behaviors. CDPHP's proactive sponsorship of CafeWell to its members and incorporating their strong Life Points rewards program is unique in the New York market and places the company among the most innovative health insurers in the country."
CafeWell is a proven engagement and wellness driver for members. The most recent data collected shows that 68 percent of CafeWell users report running or walking more every week, 36 percent have become more health conscious about their diet and 29 percent have lost weight. That same population demonstrated a 22 percentage-point increase in positive brand affinity towards their health plan.
CDPHP's CafeWell program is open and free to all CDPHP members and their families. Information about how to join is being distributed in flights to members in the first and second quarters of 2012.
Employers and brokers are also receiving information about this new supplemental benefit, including how to encourage employee use.
About CDPHP
Established in 1984 as a physician-founded, member-focused, and community-based not-for-profit health plan, CDPHP and its affiliates are uniquely positioned to serve as a model of quality and health value, offering members in 24 counties throughout New York a full array of innovative products. Visit CDPHP at www.cdphp.com or on Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin.
About CafeWell™ and WellTok®, Inc.
For healthcare population managers, leveraging new consumer communications channels, building brand affinity, engaging consumers with their health, and increasing healthy behaviors are critical objectives, especially as reform accelerates the growth of the retail health insurance market. WellTok is pioneering Social Health Management™ (SMH), the complete consumer engagement solution for healthcare population managers, such as health plans, hospital systems, accountable care organizations and large practice groups. WellTok's SHM suite provides a complete solution, including the industry's most engaging social health network, CafeWell®, actionable member and group analytics, and integration with healthcare payers and providers' enterprise systems and Quality Improvement-qualified MLR expenses. WellTok, Inc. is headquartered in Denver, Colo. http://www.welltok.com
CafeWell is a social health network that makes getting better connected to your health and fitness more fun and more rewarding. CafeWell provides one stop for consumers' health, wellness and fitness -- including social networking; advice from experts, peers and veteran professional athletes; fun health challenges with other users; and reliable health and fitness information. Through CafeWell, population manager sponsors can offer rewards and incentives to promote activity and health improvement. Users control the degree to which their identity is shared, with complete anonymity as the default. To learn more about CafeWell, visit www.cafewell.com.
Media Contacts:
WellTok, Inc.
Brad Samson
720-222-9490 x427
[email protected]
Capital District Physicians' Health Plan, Inc. (CDPHP)
Ali Skinner
518-641-5035
[email protected]
SOURCE WellTok, Inc.
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