Legislation has been proposed in the U.S. Senate that would create a tax credit for employers that offer comprehensive wellness programs. The Healthy Workforce Act (S.B. 1753), authored by Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Gordon Smith (R-OR), would provide a tax credit of up to $200 per employee for the first 200 employees, and up to $100 per employee thereafter. The credit would be available to an eligible employer for 10 years.
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Businesses whose employee wellness programs include at least three of the following components would qualify for the credit:
- Health awareness programs that include education and health risk assessment programs.
- An employee engagement component that establishes a committee to engage employees in worksite wellness programs through worksite assessments and program planning, delivery, evaluation, and improvement efforts, and that tracks employee participation.
- A behavioral change component that provides for altering employee lifestyles to encourage healthy living through counseling, seminars, online programs, or self-help materials that provide technical assistance and problem-solving skills.
- A supportive environment component.
We’ll keep you posted on the status of this legislation.
Additional Resources:
S.B. 1753, from the Library of Congress
Health Benefits: New HIPAA Nondiscrimination Rules for Wellness Programs