As the cost of health care continues to skyrocket with no end in sight, employers are clamoring for new and inventive ways to bring company healthcare benefits under control. As many of you have begun to recognize that healthy employees result in lower burdens on health-related benefits, wellness programs have gained in popularity.
Background...
The American Medical Association (AMA) recently passed a resolution declaring that obesity is a disease. The resolution raises questions for employers.
The resolution and your health plan
Employers are trying to figure out what the Affordable Care Act (ACA) will mean for their employees and bottom line, and the AMA's resolution raises more...
On January 25, 2013, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued final regulations implementing major amendments to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). The HIPAA amendments were enacted in 2009 by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH Act). The HITECH Act is...
Last month, the American Medical Association (AMA) officially designated obesity as a disease. In doing so, it explained that obesity is a "multi-metabolic and hormonal disease state" that leads to unfavorable outcomes like type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
The AMA's action has focused renewed attention on the so-called obesity...
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has placed an increased emphasis on employee welfare, as seen through its recent public exploration of employee wellness programs and a significant court ruling in its favor in a case involving intellectually disabled workers.
Disabled workers exploited
In a lawsuit filed in the Southern...
In an attempt to contain healthcare expenses and reduce employee absences, many employers have turned to wellness programs as a way to encourage employees to lead a healthier lifestyle and better manage their health issues. The goals associated with wellness programs are well- intentioned, and many studies have shown that wellness programs are...
For years employers have offered "wellness" programs to complement their healthcare benefits. Typical benefits include programs to encourage exercise, stop smoking, improved food choices, and avoid unsafe behaviors, among many other behavioral objectives anticipated to reduce health risks.
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act...
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has already had an enormous impact on the structure of health insurance and the provision of health care in America. However, because nearly 60 percent of the under-65 population has health insurance through their employment, employers are the ones that face pressing decisions and must respond to regulatory and...
Massachusetts recently enacted legislation that could entitle Bay State employers to an annual tax credit of up to $10,000 for implementing employee wellness programs. The wellness program tax credit is part of broader legislation aimed at improving the health of state residents and reducing the Commonwealth's healthcare costs.
Tax...
Q We've been considering adopting a smoking cessation program and reducing healthcare insurance premiums to reward employees who don't smoke or who have quit smoking. I understand that these programs are encouraged by the new federal healthcare reform legislation. I am ready to move forward, but a colleague tells me that smoking cessation programs...
