Yesterday’s Advisor featured consultant Karl Ahlrichs’ tips for big savings with disease management programs. Today, he shares more on successful wellness programs.
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Ahlrichs, who is a consultant with Gregory & Appel Insurance, offered his tips at BLR’s Advanced Employment Issues symposium, held recently in Las Vegas. Here is his take on current trends:
Current Health and Wellness Trends
- Worksite biometric screenings and preventive services
- Emphasis on sustainable lifestyle and behavior changes
- No longer short fix (quick diet or exercise jog)
- Focus on self-care
- On‐site clinics
- Telephonic wellness coaching
- Exercise
- Nutrition
- Weight loss
- Incentives to increase participation in wellness programs
- Cash/gifts
- Premium reduction
- Noncash gifts
- Disincentives to drive healthy behaviors
- Premium increase
- Copay increases
- Reduced benefits
- Worksite walking programs
- Self‐reporting pedometer programs
- Group walking
- Worksite exercise facilities (mostly at larger self-funded companies)
- Worksite weight loss programs
- Weight Watchers®
- Employee-supported programs
Behaviors that Impact Health Costs
Unfortunately, many “voluntary behaviors contribute to poor health. For example:
- Sedentary Living
- Poor Diet
- Obesity
- Tobacco
In addition, says Ahlrichs:
- Approximately 60% of emergency visits are clinically inappropriate.
- Approximately 30% of physician office visits are not clinically necessary.
- Approximately 25% of prescribed medications are not necessary.
- Only 45% of patients comply with the medical advice they receive.
(Larry Chapman, Wise Health/Senior VP WebMD)
What types of programs do you offer as part of your wellness initiative?
Source: MyWave Health Care Reform Survey
What sort of incentives are being offered?
Where Is Wellness Going?
Ahlrichs suggests that managers look toward the following:
- Culture of wellness
- In‐person coaching
- Mobile aps
- Device programs
- Outcome-based programs
- Clinical intervention (i.e., RN, pharmacist, dietician)
- Employee assistance programs
- Health Savings Account (HSA) incentives incorporated with High Deductible Health Plans (HDHP)
- Mental health
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Why Wellness Fails
What can reduce the likelihood of success for wellness plans? Ahlrichs says:
- Lack of senior level support of an employee health and wellness program.
- Employers question why they should pay/use company time for employee wellness.
- Companies do not have a clear health and wellness goal tied into their strategic plans.
- Lack of reliable return on investment (ROI) to demonstrate program success as it relates to healthcare savings and productivity.
Do a Wellness Strategic Plan
One activity that can be very helpful is to develop a wellness strategic plan, Ahlrichs says.
- It should be a facilitated process that you embark upon jointly with a trusted advisor.
- You should use a proven strategic planning process to explore the business and human capital management issues of your organization.
How Will You Benefit from a Strategic Plan?
- You will get a thorough road map for your benefits and wellness program spanning 3 to 5 years.
- The plan will help to build consensus on human capital management goals and the benefits program.
- The budget planning process will be easier.
- You will have contingency plans in the event of unexpected cost increases.
- Human Resources and Wellness are then emphasized as critical business partners for achieving bottom‐line profitability in the organization.
From wellness to engagement to development, the brave new world of HR is here. Are you prepared for changes that are unparalleled in scope and impact?
- Employees all over the world, many of whom you’ve never met in person
- Technological advances and big data
- Talent management challenges like Millennials managing Baby Boomers you once thought would have retired years ago
- Big data on everything from hiring strategies to retention predictions
- Sweeping regulatory changes in the areas of health care, immigration, and privacy that have necessitated massive changes in the way you do business
- And the new normal—doing more … with less
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- Recruiting and Hiring
- Onboarding
- Social Media and Technology
- Human Resources Information Systems (HRIS)
- Flexibility and Work/Life Balance
- Outsourcing
- Diversity
- Talent Management
- Employee Engagement and Retention
- Succession Planning
- Telecommuting
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One thing I worry about with on-site clinics is employees coming to work when they’re sick and should stay home (“presentee-ism”).