The Health Project Recognizes Medical Mutual of Ohio for Efforts to Improve Employee Health

CLEVELAND, Aug. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- In recognition of its health promotion program that has demonstrated effectiveness in improving the health of workers while at the same time promoting efficient use of resources, Medical Mutual of Ohio was selected as one of three U.S. employers to receive the prestigious C. Everett Koop National Health Award for 2010.

Medical Mutual will be presented the award on September 29 at the Health Enhancement Research Organization (HERO) Conference in Orlando, Florida.

As the U.S. continues to struggle with both cost and quality issues in an evolving health-care system, Koop Award winners demonstrate  that employers can play a key role in promoting better health and more efficient use of resources.

"These health promotion and disease prevention programs not only improved health, they also saved money," said Ron Goetzel, PhD, President and CEO of The Health Project and Director of the Institute for Health and Productivity Studies, a partnership between Emory University and Thomson Reuters. "A common theme for all of the organizations recognized is leadership support for a healthy company culture," added Dr. Goetzel.

"I truly believe that as Ohio's oldest health insurer it is our responsibility to set an example and to promote wellness for our employees and create a culture that encourages healthy living," said Rick Chiricosta, Medical Mutual's president and CEO.

Medical Mutual of Ohio offers a comprehensive health promotion program that includes a variety of  activities ranging from health assessments, biometric screenings, and environmental initiatives focused on building a healthy company culture.

The health insurer's Wellness for Life Program, which is tied to the company's benefits structure, has strong leadership support and takes a data-driven approach to program refinement. Additionally, the company benchmarks its efforts against quality scorecards and conducts objective studies of its risk reduction programs.

Participation increased from 43 percent in 2003 to 87 percent in 2008. The program has demonstrated risk reduction for 1,632 employees. A cost analysis found that those who participate at a higher level in programs showed lower increases in healthcare costs and short-term disability.

"I am extremely proud that the vision that began under our prior CEO, Kent Clapp, and the outstanding work of our current leadership team and staff, has resulted in such a prestigious award and recognition for Medical Mutual," said Chiricosta.

Medical Mutual of Ohio joins a growing list of previous Koop Award recipients. The Health Project maintains a repository of information about these proven health promotion programs, so that employers and community agencies can draw on them for guidance on improving health care outcomes throughout the country. More information about the C. Everett Koop Award winners is available at http://www.TheHealthProject.com.

Founded in 1934 Medical Mutual of Ohio is  the oldest and largest health insurance company based in Ohio. For more than 75 years the company, a mutual health insurer, has served its customers through high-quality, affordable group and personal health insurance plans, and third-party administrative services to self-insured group customers. For more information, visit the company's award-winning Web site at www.MedMutual.com.

The Health Project (THP) is a non-profit private-public consortium dedicated to bringing about critical attitudinal and behavioral changes in the American health care system, so that providers and consumers employ its vast resources with increasing knowledge and understanding. THP's mission is to seek out, evaluate, promote and distribute programs with demonstrated effectiveness in influencing personal health habits and the cost effective use of health care services. The C. Everett Koop National Health Awards are given each year to worksite, community or provider programs which have soundly documented improved health and decreased medical costs.

SOURCE Medical Mutual of Ohio