Developing
Wellness Programs in the
Public Sector
CCAO Second Wednesday’s Program May 9, 2012
Presented By:
Pamela Boyer, Human Resources and Benefits Manager
Developing a Wellness Program:
Wood County’s Story
Started in 1993 with Cardiovascular Risk Reduction screening offered by Health Department via grant
Expanded to offer programming to engage employee management of their health through diet & exercise, later stress reduction
Stress Confidentiality
Offer options for employees and family members
Focus on building programs that reward for positive behavior Design with employee financial “skin in the game”
Build accountability into program design for free programs Require Recreational Waiver or release of liability statement Information and referral with follow up to encourage treatment Manage in-house: communications and tracking of points system Apply Taxable Fringe benefits
Provide immediate employee recognition Like us on Facebook
Developing a Wellness Program:
Wood County’s Story
Communicate during Job Interviews and Manager
Performance Reviews
2007 Health Ohio Silver Award Winner, OHPELRA Pacesetter Award
Above 60% participation for last three years (64%, 66%, 62% based on life insurance counts approx. 800)
Workers’ Compensation Rates: Individual Retro Rating 67% credit rated for 2011 payroll period
Improved Union Negotiations
Lower Rates: 2011 SERB report (medical & prescription) medical deductible $150/$250 max co-insurance
$11,701 pepy vs. $9,130.51 pepy Annual Savings $1,884,172
Developing a Wellness Program:
Identify Your Objectives
Lower Medical & Prescription Utilization Increase Productivity & Presenteeism Reduce Absenteeism & OT costs
Reduce Workers’ Compensation Claims
Less Severe Claims with Quicker Recovery Time Recruiting Tool to Retain Quality Employees
Inspire Change or Improve Moral
Reward Positive Behavior vs. Punish Negative Create Goals to Match Objectives
Why Create a Wellness Program:
Understand Objectives & Data
Pay Now or Pay Later
Employee Costs are Largest Expenditure Employee Retention in Public Sector
Aging Workforce – Know your average age
Early Intervention & Reducing Risk Factors = Less $ Investing in Prevention – Dental vs. Wellness
Understand Data & Educate on Topic Healthy Workforce Experience
Lower Medical & Pharmacy Costs
Lower Rate of Absenteeism & OT Costs Increased Presenteeism
Lower Rate of Workers’ Compensation Claims Less Severe Claims with Quicker Recovery Time Improved Moral and Productivity
Why Create a Wellness Program:
Data – Target Group
Full or Part-time Employees
Health Insurance Enrollees vs. All Staff New Hire vs. Tenure Staff Strategies
It is easier and more cost effective to keep a healthy active workforce than to motivate those that are not active to become healthy and fit
Due Nothing, Stay the Same or Improve
Walk 10K Per Day vs. Walk 500 Steps Lower Blood Pressure vs. No Increase Lower BMI vs. No Weight Gain
Why Create a Wellness Program:
Data - Increased Life Span
Health Age - 6,900 people followed for 15 years, researchers found seven habits/practices linked to long life. Follow all 7 live 10 – 12 years longer than those who follow 3 or less.
Not smoking
Regular aerobic exercise Eat breakfast daily
Limit high fat snacking Maintain a healthy weight
Get adequate sleep, 7-8 hours Don’t drink or limit to 1-2 per day
5 Leading Causes of Death in Ohio - linked to unhealthy lifestyles
Heart Disease, Cancer, Stroke, Diabetes & Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Why Create a Wellness Program:
Data – Individual Utilization
Health & Prescription Coverage
Review Utilization DataSelf Insured – you already own it
Know top disease categories & high dollar claims Know drugs by volume & disease categories
Understand Plan Design if meets objections
Workers’ Compensation
Types of Injuries e.g. sprains/strains Average lost time claims
Sick Leave Utilization
Why Create a Wellness Program:
Data - Economic Reasons
Risk Factors Smoking * Inactivity ** Weight problems *** Depression High stress Hypertension Age Diabetes Alcohol/Drug Use • 4th highest in nation ** 9th highest in nation
*** 57% adults overweight & 72% poor nutrition
Additional Cost per High Risk Employee $ 1,429 per year * $ 865 per year ** $ 271 per year $ 889 per year $ 586 per year $ 148 per year 2–3 = $1,500 per year 6–7 = $4,500 per year
* American Cancer Society ** Center for Disease Control
How to Create a Wellness Program:
Create Initial Plan
Create a Plan with Realistic Goals
Identify Basic Needs
Identify High Utilization
Identify Budget
Develop Internally or External Vendor
Identify Programming
Identify Basic Timeline
Identify Personnel
Identify Community Resources
Identify Communications
How to Create a Wellness Program:
Appointing Authority Support
Sell Idea to Appointing Authority
Communicate need & objectives, e.g.
lower workers’ comp, less overtime
Share plan design
On or off clock ?
Determine funding stream
Authorize budget
Approve staffing resources (committee)
Get personal commitment to participate
How to Create a Wellness Program:
Management Support
Communicate Ideas to Management
Meetings, Email, Newsletter
Drip Method – Say it 3 times per day
Sell Why They Need It
Leadership Issue
As Managers - e.g. retain staff, less call-offs As Employees – what motivates them ?
How to Create a Wellness Program:
Outsource Approach
Identify Scope of Services needed –
compliment in-house staff’s skill set
Timeframe
Create RFP
Contract Cost – PEPY or fee for service
Require Reference Checks
Review Reporting & Measurement Tools
Measure Ability to Adapt to Your Needs
Initial Development or Ongoing
How to Create a Wellness Program:
Committee Approach
Create a Committee to Develop Buy In
Selection of Members – one by one
Human Resources
Marketing
Management
Labor
Medical Community
Communicate Plan and Encourage Input
Define Employer’s Limitations
Define Roles
How to Create a Wellness Program:
Employee Survey
Develop an Employee Interest Survey
Easy to answer quickly – check boxes
SurveyMonkey
Brief explanation of purpose Reward for participation
Topics to Include
Types of Programming
Measure Buy In: Financial, Time on or off clock, Willingness to participate, Willingness to help What Motives Staff: Gift card, Recognition
Newsletter, Prizes, Peer Pressure
Other Feedback Signature Optional
How to Create a Wellness Program:
Start Up/Develop Programs
Target Needs – High Utilization
Know Resources: Internal vs. External
Price Shop
Employee Liability Waiver: BWC Recreational Waiver Doctor’s Release
Start Small - Grow Program Slowly Consistent Look/Color
Stress Confidentiality
Create Employee Accountability Track Utilization
Offer Incentives
Incorporate Diverse Options Over Time Open to Family Members
Why Create a Wellness Program:
Personalize Message
Identify wants – develop commercial to sell
the “Wants”
How many of you are in the best shape of your life?
How healthy will you be in 3 – 5 years? Time is working against each of us!
What are you willing to do? What can we do to help you?
Tailor programs to motive change
Create small successes & build
How to Create a Wellness Program:
Identify Risks – Health Risk Appraisal
Conduct a Health Risk Appraisal
Coronary Risk Cancer Risk Nutrition Status Fitness Status Stress Status Substance Use Safety Status
Provide Risk Summary Report
Individual Group
Annual Follow Up
HIPAA Considerations
Business Associate Agreements
How to Create a Wellness Program:
Identify Lifestyle Risks
Tobacco Use Sedentary Lifestyle Poor Nutrition 3 or more Stress Signs >20% Overweight High Blood Pressure High Cholesterol
High Blood Sugar
Low Life Satisfaction Poor Health
Perception
No Job Satisfaction No Seat Belt Use
Poor Lifting Technique >5 Sick Days per year >21 Alcohol per week >5 years since last exam
How to Create a Wellness Program:
Types of Programming
Wellness Screenings
Schedule Appointments Online
Provide Confidential Area
Information and Referral
Health Risk Appraisal
Screenings
Interactive
– models of types of cancer, body fatSupport Other Wellness Programs
Continuum to Measure Results
How to Create a Wellness Program:
Types of Programming
Wellness Screenings
Alcohol Intake – women 1, men 2 per day
Blood Pressure - desired is less than 120/80 test 1 to 2 years damages heart, brain, kidney and eyes
Blood Sugar – under 120 mg/dl fasting blood glucose level 6.2 million undiagnosed of 20.8M total
diabetes damages arteries increased risk of heart disease, stroke, blindness
Body Mass Index – 19 to 25 recommended
Bone Density – early indicator for osteoporosis
Cholesterol – overall best below 160, high HDL protects best over 45 test one to 3 years
damages arteries and heart
Dental Screening
How to Create a Wellness Program:
Types of Programming
Wellness Screenings
Family History - heart history before 55 in men and 65 in women
Gastro Intestinal - occult screening
Hearing Screening Lung Capacity - asthma
Mammograms – every 1 to 2 years after age 40
Pap Tests – every 1-3 years
Prostate Screening
Skin Cancer – derma scan, sun screen
How to Create a Wellness Program:
Types of Programming
Disease Management Educational Topics – Lunch
Fitness Challenges/Testing
Fitness Facility – controls excess weight, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood sugar and stress levels
Nutrition -prevents heart disease, high blood pressure, certain cancers, diabetes and obesity, high fat diet promotes cancer
Open Swim – offers dependent activity
Other Risk Factors - seat belts, smoke detectors, drinking & driving, helmets, lifting, warm up
Stress Management – massages, guest speakers
Tobacco Cessation – risk is nearly the same within 2 years for a non-smoker, reduces lung, mouth, throat, bladder and breast cancer
Walking Program Weight Control
Rewards for Wellness Program
Ideas for Incentives
Small Rewards: lunch boxes, water bottles
Public Recognition: newsletter or awards ceremony Parking Space Dress Down Peer Pressure Gift Cards Cash Drawings Deductible Credit
Pay for Memberships: meet utilization
Employee Status to Receive Payments
Managing Wellness Benefits
Follow Up
Measure Effectiveness of Programs
Communicate to Insurance Carriers
including Stop Loss Carrier
Provide Ongoing Employee &
Manager Communications
Continue to Seek Feedback
Wellness Contacts
Websites
American Heart Association: www.heart.org
American Cancer Society: www.acsworkplacesolutions.com
Workers’ Compensation Grant: www.ohiobwc.com Wood County: www.co.wood.oh.us
Professional Sources
Local Health Department or Hospital
Seasoned Veterans
Healthy Ohio: www.HealthyOhio.org
Janese Diem: [email protected]
