Industrywide consensus on use of incentives to keep people healthy aligns with HealthFitness health management approach

Dennis Richling, M.D., HealthFitness chief medical and wellness officer contributed to newly released guidance 

MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Consensus-driven guidance on use of health outcomes-based incentives in employee health and health management programs released this summer is on target, according to an endorsement today by HealthFitness, a leading provider of population health management services. HealthFitness Chief Medical and Wellness Officer Dennis Richling, M.D., was among the panel of industry experts who contributed to "Guidance for a Reasonably Designed Employer-Sponsored Wellness Program Using Outcomes-based Incentives," published July 13, 2012 in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.  

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The consensus guidance was crafted to guide employers as they seek new ways to increase engagement in health management programs. There has been an uptick in interest in outcomes-based incentives after passage of the Affordable Care Act, which raised the limit on the value of incentives that businesses can offer employees who meet health-related goals. Six nationally recognized health organizations--Health Enhancement Research Organization, American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, American Cancer Society, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Diabetes Association, and the American Heart Association—developed the consensus statement.

According to a 2012 survey by Towers Watson and the National Business Group on Health,  about 35 percent of companies use rewards or penalties based on smoking or tobacco use status, and another 17 percent of companies plan to add such incentives in 2013. Only 10 percent of companies surveyed used other outcomes-based incentives (such as achievement of weight control or target cholesterol levels), but another 23 percent of companies said they planned to implement such incentives in 2013. To find out more about employee and employer perspectives on incentives, see the infographic.

"The goal of an employer-sponsored health management program is to engage individuals so they experience better health and a culture of health takes root," Richling said. "I am delighted to have played a part in building this consensus to help guide employers, who are seeking new ways to increase engagement in health management programs and, ultimately, help employees improve their health."

The consensus guidance defines the elements of a "reasonably designed wellness program that incorporates outcomes-based incentives," providing a threshold for program design for employers who wish to leverage outcomes-based incentives to engage employees in programs to help them improve individual health. HealthFitness client NorthWestern Energy offers outcomes-based incentives to active benefits-eligible employees and benefits-enrolled spouses. The company offers up to $600 in additional employer contributions toward 2013 health premiums in an effort to build participation in its established program when employees complete a screening and health risk assessment and also meet targeted ranges for certain health measures. Additional points are earned by participating in healthy lifestyle programs and health coaching.

"The consensus guidance was developed as guidance for outcomes-based incentives, which should only be considered by employers with a well-developed program and an established culture of health," Richling said. "Experience has taught us that financial incentives are only one element of a successful worksite health management program, within the context of the right people, process and technology to support innovative program design and execution."

About HealthFitness
HealthFitness, a subsidiary of The Trustmark Companies, is an award-winning, NCQA-accredited provider of health, fitness and condition management solutions. With 30-plus years of experience, HealthFitness is a proven leader and partner for infusing a culture of health. We maximize client results through personalized interaction and a science-based approach to on-site program management, engagement, prevention, and health and lifestyle management. HealthFitness provides a portfolio of solutions, including best-in-class integration, condition management, INSIGHT® Health Risk Assessments, screenings, EMPOWERED Coaching™ and fitness facility design and management. For more information on HealthFitness, visit http://healthfitness.com.

SOURCE HealthFitness