SECTION12. HEALTHANDWELLNESSPROGRAMS Section12 HealthandWellnessPrograms Firmscontinuetoshowconsiderableinterestinprogramsthathelpworkersidentifyhealthissuesandmanagechronic conditions. Manyemployersbelievethatimprovingthehealthoftheirworkersandtheirfamilymemberscanimprovemorale, productivityandreducehealthcarecosts. Inadditiontowellnessprograms,manylargefirmsusediseasemanagement programstohelpworkersmanagechronicconditions. In addition to offering wellness programs,amajorityoflargefirmsnowofferhealthscreeningprograms,includinghealth risk assessments, whicharequestionnairesaskingworkersaboutlifestyle,stressorphysicalhealth,andbiometricscreening, whichwedefineasin-personhealthexaminationsconductedbyamedicalprofessional. Firmsandinsurersmayusethehealth informationcollectedduringscreeningstotargetwellnessofferingsorotherhealthservicestoworkerswithcertainconditions orbehaviorsthatposearisktotheirhealth. Somefirmshaveincentiveprogramsthatrewardorpenalizeworkersfordifferent activities, including participating in wellness programs or completing health screenings. Onlyfirmsofferinghealthbenefitswereaskedabouttheirwellnessandhealthpromotionprograms. Informationabout incentives is reported only for large firms (200 or more workers) because many small firm (3-199 workers) respondentsdonot knowthisinformationabouttheirprograms. Thisyear’ssurveyincludesnewquestionsabouthowafirmevaluatesitswellness programsandaboutpenaltiesforworkerswhousetobacco. Amonglargefirmsofferinghealthbenefitsin2017,62%offerworkerstheopportunitytocompleteahealthriskassessment, 52%offerworkerstheopportunitytocompleteabiometricscreening,and85%offerworkerswellnessprogramssuchas programstohelpthemstopsmokingorloseweight,orprogramsthatofferlifestyleandbehavioralcoaching. Substantial sharesoftheselargefirmsprovideincentivesforworkerstoparticipateinortocompletetheprograms. HEALTHRISKASSESSMENTS Somefirmsprovideworkerstheopportunitytocompleteahealthriskassessmenttoidentifypotentialhealthissues. Health risk assessmentsgenerallyincludequestionsaboutmedicalhistory,healthstatus,andlifestyle. Atsmallfirms,healthrisk assessmentsaretypicallyadministeredbyaninsurer. • Amongfirmsofferinghealthbenefits,38%ofsmallfirmsand62%oflargefirmsprovideworkerstheopportunityto completeahealthriskassessment[Figure12.1]. Thesepercentagesaresimilartothecorrespondingpercentagesfor 2016(32%forsmallfirmsand59%forlargefirms)[Figure12.2]. – Seventy-eightpercentoffirmsofferinghealthbenefitswith5,000ormoreworkersprovideworkersthe opportunitytocompleteahealthriskassessment,similartothepercentagefor2016(74%)[Figure12.1]. • In firmsprovidingworkerstheopportunitytocompleteahealthriskassessment,42%ofcoveredworkerscompletean assessment,similartothepercentagein2016[Figure12.3]. – Thereisconsiderablevariationacrossfirmsinthepercentageofworkerswhocompletetheassessment. Nineteen percentoflargefirmsprovidingworkerstheopportunitytocompleteahealthriskassessmentreportthatmore than75%oftheirworkerscompletetheassessment,while45%reportnomorethan25%ofworkerscompletethe assessment. • Somefirmsofferincentivestoencourageworkerstocompleteahealthriskassessment. – Amonglargefirmsthatofferahealthriskassessment,52%offerworkersanincentivetocompletetheassessment [Figure 12.4]. The Kaiser Family Foundation and Health Research & Educational Trust / Page 182