Integrated Care: Wellness & Disease Management

Health care solutions and benefits management for employers and HR teams. Providing direction on health care consumerism and population health and wellness.
Despite Escalating Costs, Employee Healthcare Benefits Aren’t on the Chopping Block
Employers Continue to Regard Healthcare Benefits Programs as Vital to Maintaining a Healthy, Productive and Loyal Workforce during a Down Economy

Give Your Benefits a Boost With Wellness
A properly designed program can create a healthier workforce while reducing absenteeism and, perhaps, benefit costs

Guardian Enhances Medical Plans with New Wellness Benefits
New Initiatives Help Plan Members Better Manage Healthcare Needs and Spending

New Research from EBRI: Many Support Lower Cost Sharing to Change Health Care System Use
Many Americans support the use of lower cost sharing as an incentive to change the way individuals use the health care system

Flu Pandemic Preparedness Resources for Employers
Mercer provides Swine Flu resources: www.mercer.com/h1n1

GenerationOne, ECHO Healthcare Education Foundation Announce Successful Diabetes Pilot Results
Program Expansion to Additional Member Employers

FieldMedia Announces Convergence of Successful Web Communities With Launch of EmployersWeb.com


Alere's Dr. Michael Taitel Provides Insights Into Reducing Health and Productivity Costs...


Companies Continue To Add Wellness Programs, Survey Finds
Companies Continue To Add Wellness Programs, Watson Wyatt/National Business Group On Health Survey Finds

Now is Not the Time to Put Wellness on Hold


Workplace Wellness Programs Fare Well During Economic Downturn


Political Support, Business Imperatives Converge for Growth in Prevention, Wellness
Political Support, Business Imperatives Converge for Growth in Prevention, Wellness

Solutions Outlook: Employers Can’t Afford to Wait for Washington to Fix Health Care
Purchasers must be the change agent for long-term, sustainable health care reform

American Specialty Health Teams With Anytime Fitness to Promote "Silver&Fit" Aging Program


Gordian Health Solutions Receives URAC Comprehensive Wellness Accreditation


Health Dialog Explores Evolution of Traditional Disease Management
New Whitepaper Outlines “What Works” in New Care Management Model

Integrated Worksite Pharmacy Saves Time and Money
Maricopa County is the first employer in Arizona too offer both an integrated onsite pharmacy and a health center. The clinic-pharmacy arrangement between Maricopa County and Walgreens drugstore chain and Take Care Health Systems, a wholly owned subsidiary of Walgreens, is believed to be the 1st of its kind for any government in the nation.

Getting People Moving
Health plans are discovering that they have a role to play in engaging people and assisting them to manage their health. Humana’s leaders have challenged the company to be consumer-oriented and the industry to be smarter about a comprehensive health strategy. Here’s what its Innovation Center is implementing and the results it is seeing.

Maternity Management: What Employers Should Know About Premature Elective C-Sections
Why should employers care about their employees or their employees’ wives scheduling a caesarian procedure to deliver their baby? After all, it’s not the company’s business. Or is it?

DataPath and My Wellchoice+ Partner to Enhance Wellness Program Incentives


Global Optimal Health Group Announces Breakthrough ‘Proactive Wellness’
Skills to Eliminate (not manage) Stress Damage, Slash Absenteeism, Produce Optimal Health

The ROI for Targeted Therapies: A Strategic Perspective Assessing the Barriers and Incentives for Ad
Produced by the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions

Disease Management and Retail Pharmacies: A Convergence Opportunity
Produced by the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions

Adoption of Personalized Medicine May Yield Significant ROI
Time to Achieve Benefit Varies Among U.S. Health Care Stakeholders, According to Deloitte Greatest ROI opportunity for consumers in shortest period of time

Preview Guide of the Integrated Care Summit
Sneak a peak at this summit hosted by the DMAA - The Care Continuum Alliance and the National Association of Manufacturers. More than 1200 human resource professionals are expected to attend the Summit, scheduled for Sept. 7-10 at the Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa in Hollywood, FL.

Health Advocate Releases Obesity White Paper
Health Advocate Releases Obesity White Paper: Strategies and Programs to Reduce Obesity in the Workplace

The Deck Is Stacked Against Your Employees but You Can Offer Effective Weight Management Solutions
Obesity management programs are easier than ever for employers to offer. Help your employees battle the bulge by implementing these simple solutions.

Reduce Costs and Improve Quality With a Myriad of Alternative Care Choices
Inside this special supplement: * Onsite Health Clinics: Not Our Parents’ Doctors’ Office. * Onsite Health Clinics: Tips for Combining With Integrated Care Solutions. * Online Doctor Visits * Second Opinions and Decision-Making Solutions

Walgreens Launches "Complete Care and Well-Being"
Program designed to reduce health care and prescription costs for large employers Leverages all Walgreens services for first transparent nationwide pharmacy, health and wellness solution

Employers Find Wellness Programs Can Cut Overall Health Care Costs


Tackling Childhood Obesity: Individualized Disease Management Empowers Children and Families


What Employers Want From Health Insurers--Now
In 2008, PriceWaterhouseCoopers' research team surveyed senior executives at more than 100 large US-based multinational companies and more than 250 privately held small companies. The large companies each have an average of 8,000 employees and revenue of about $3 billion. The small employers each have a workforce of about 200 and less than $50 million in revenue. In addition, PwC surveyed more than 500 human resources executives separately on benefit plan design issues. This white paper discusses the results of this survey.

Participatory ergonomics
Participatory ergonomics programs seek to maximize the involvement of the workers in this process based on the simple fact that a worker is an expert on his or her job.

AIPM Achieves Accreditation for URAC's Comprehensive Wellness Standards and Measures Program
Employers now have a comprehensive set of standards to judge wellness companies

What Is Walgreens Thinking?


StayWell Health Management Launches HealthVault-Compatible Health Portal


ValueOptions Wins eHealthcare Award 2nd Year in a Row
ValueOptions Behavioral Health and Wellness Web Site Wins eHealthcare Leadership Award for Best Site Design 2nd Year in a Row

Mayo Clinic EmbodyHealth Web Site Awarded eHealthcare Leadership Award
Mayo Clinic EmbodyHealth Web Site Awarded eHealthcare Leadership Award

Industrial ergonomics
Industrial Ergonomics programs seek to identify and correct factors that negatively impact the physical health of their workers.

Workplace wellness program
A workplace wellness program is offered by some employers as a combination of educational, organizational, and environmental activities designed to support behavior conducive to the health of employees in a business and their families.

Johnson & Johnson Acquires Human Performance Institute™
Johnson & Johnson Strengthens Wellness & Prevention Platform with Acquisition of Human Performance Institute™

Aetna Recognized By The National Business Coalition On Health
Aetna Integrated Health Solution® program wins eValue8 award for helping employers and their employees improve productivity and reduce health care and disability costs

Johnson & Johnson Establishes Wellness & Prevention Platform with Acquisition of HealthMedia, Inc.
Johnson & Johnson Establishes Wellness & Prevention Platform with Acquisition of HealthMedia, Inc.

Healthways Acheives Accreditation for URAC's Comprehensive Wellness Standards and Measures Program
Employers Now Have a Comprehensive Set of Standards to Judge Wellness

Discount medical card
Discount medical cards are not insurance policies, but provide access to discounts from participating health care providers.

Control Costs by Building Enrollment
Building enrollment in a health improvement program is first step to controlling health care costs.

GenerationOne to Launch Nation’s First Mobile Collaborative Care Solution
GenerationOne, Inc., is gearing up to launch the nation’s first integrated collaborative care solution that utilizes mobile phones to connect patients, physicians and other care providers.

GenerationOne, University of Miami Collaborate to Advance Mobile Healthcare
GenerationOne, Inc. and researchers from the University of Miami Miller School Of Medicine and the College of Engineering have initiated joint development to leverage mobile healthcare technologies and telemedicine to contribute to the care of individuals with chronic diseases.

GenerationOne Mobile Health Solution Selected for Connected Health Symposium Innovator Spotlight
GenerationOne, Inc. has unveiled its Mobile Health Solution, the first fully integrated, end-to-end mobile platform designed for management of chronic conditions and wellness.

Consumers/Employers Paying Almost $90 Billion Due to Under-Payments by Medicare and Medicaid
‘Hidden tax’ leads to higher premiums for families and employers

New Short-Term Health Care Coverage Offered for Unemployed
AmWINS Group Benefits’ BridgeCare makes temporary medical coverage readily available to 9.5 million unemployed Americans

Bravo Wellness Launches to Reduce Health Insurance Costs through Results-based Wellness Incentives
Bravo Wellness helps employers reduce insurance costs by an average of 10% within the first year.

OptumHealth Incentive Strategy Design
Incentive Strategy Design Best Practices by OptumHealth

Nurtur Transforms Traditional Disease Management with Work-Life Focus
New hybrid product delivers a single solution uniting work-life and health

Aetna Introduces i.Choose Voluntary Benefits
Expanded suite of offerings allows employees to choose what benefits are most important to them and gives employers an affordable way to offer coverage

LifeMasters Receives 2008 Vision Award for Business Impact
LifeMasters Receives 2008 Vision Award for Business Impact

LifeMasters Receives Full Accreditation for Disease Management Programs
LifeMasters Receives Full Accreditation for Disease Management Programs

Paying for Participation: Measuring the Results of Benefits-integrated Incentives
Benefits-integrated incentives give health, lifestyle and chronic condition coaching enrollment a shot in the arm

Health Coaching Goes High-Tech
Integrated health management experts know that a live support network is key to achieving lasting behavior change.

Managing the Obesity Problem
Gordian Health Solutions presents a case study on managing obesity.

The Past, Present and Future of Health Risk Assesment
A conversation with Geoff Alexander, the man who wrote the book on HRA tools - literally.

A Cost and Quality Solution Case Study
An increasing number of employers are focusing on helping employees get the right care as the key to address the quality and cost of medical care by utilizing second opinion specialists.

ConnextionsHealth Click-to-Chat
As consumers of all ages and demographics become more Internet savvy, their expectation of immediate issue resolution at each customer service touch point rises. In response, companies are investing heavily in multi-channel, integrated Member Acquisition Retention and Service (MARS) technologies – that can include self-service, voice, email, and Click-to-Chat, or “Chat.”

Lack of a CRM Strategy Hinders Health Insurer Growth
The Gartner 2008 healthcare payer application survey reveals slow adoption of an enterprisewide CRM strategy. Having no CRM strategy in place will cause roadblocks to business growth as health insurers struggle to increase membership.

Measuring Stress Accurately Identifies High-Risk Employees


Reality Bites: Weighing in on Binge Eating Disorder
Thanks to recent national attention, binge eating disorder (BED) is now coming out of the closet as the country’s leading eating disorder.

CDHC Superstars: Rochelle Jurgens
CDHC Solutions Recognizes the Best in Health Care Benefits Design with the 2nd Annual CDHC Superstars

CDHC Superstars: Betty-Jo Saenz & Ron Goldstein
CDHC Solutions Recognizes the Best in Health Care Benefits Design with the 2nd Annual CDHC Superstars

OptumHealth CEO Dawn Owens on Consumer-Directed Health Care
One of the most powerful women in helath care talks with Editorial Solutions Director Alison Amoroso for an interview about the nation's largest health and wellness company's efforts to make health care more accessible, affordable, and effective for millions.

CDHC Superstars: Nita Stella, Jack LeFort, Dave Pickering
"We have changed from health care solutions to really understanding, learning, empowering, and educating employees about what a healthier lifestyle looks like." Dave Pickering, CEO, Preventure

CDHC Superstars: Art Carlos & Ben Robbins
CDHC Solutions Recognizes the Best in Health Care Benefits Design with the 2nd Annual CDHC Superstars

CDHC Superstars
Here is the Highlight of CDHC innovators that have earned awards in their field

What Happened to “Prevention” in Medical Plans?


2008 CDHC Superstar Awards: Pioneers in CDHC
We've awarded top innovators in health care these coveted honors for excellence and innovation in the rapidly changing world of CDHC. Read about these outstanding companies and the people at their helm as they lead the way with innovative plan design, implementation, and leadership. Inside are the profiles of the winners and finalists in each of the 8 categories.

Health Insurance
Health Insurance: is financial protection against all or part of the medical care costs arising from disease or accidental bodily injury. Insurance may be obtained on either an individual or a group basis.

Personal Health Records
personal health records (phr) allows you to provide doctors with valuable information that can help improve the quality of care you receive. A PHR can help reduce or eliminate duplicate tests and allow you to receive faster, safer treatment and care in an emergency. In short, a PHR helps you play a more active role in yours and your loved ones' healthcare.

Childcare/Eldercare
Child care and elder care are increasingly important benefits due to growth in the number of dual-income households and the elderly population.

Topical Health Issues
Topical Health Issues: Topical health issues deal with one's overall health from the outside or surface of the body.

Health & Wellness (Retirement Benefits)
Health & Wellness (Retirement Benefits): The vision of the Health & Wellness Program is to assist employees, their families and retirees in better understanding and managing their health by creating an environment that supports positive health practices and offers opportunities for individuals to learn the skills needed to optimize their health both now and into their retirement.

Presenteeism
Presenteeism: The act of being present at work even if one's too sick to be productive, or work beyond the expected hours

Making Wellness Programs Work
WALTER S. ELIAS, Ph. D., of Elias and Associates discusses why health coaching programs fail and what can be done to help them succeed.

Engaging Employees With Wellness Coaching
Learn how wellness coaches can make employees more proactive about their health

Employers Treat Depression
A Health Intelligence Network white paper about new approaches to managing depression

Empowering Employees WIth Health Care Incentives
Learn what factors to consider when implementing a health care incentives plan.

Presenteeism—The Silent Productivity Killer
Strategies to boost presenteeism in the workplace.

Employers Lead the Way in 2008
Leadership that historically has come from the private sector will continue in coming years as dwindling health care dollars inspire proactive approaches to moderating the cost-trend line.

Choosing a Great Wellness Coach
Bottom line? Many of us are not confident that we can master physical and mental wellness. A new profession, wellness coaching, is designed to help us master the wellness game, and make changes that last.

Discover a Stress-Free World Within
Employers add meditation to stress management programs.

Wellness, Engagement, and the Future in 2008


Transforming Our Nation’s Health Care System


Wellness Programs and Disease Management Join Forces


The Carrot vs. Stick Approach to Redesigning Health Plans
If employers truly want to encourage people to do the right thing, preventive health care should be covered 100 percent by health plans, and not subject to co-pays or deductibles.

Public Policy Finally May Be Catching Up: Disease Prevention, Management and Treatment
Providers often wrestle with the distinction between treatment and prevention, that can be largely dependent on individual medical histories and a wide range of additional health and lifestyle factors.

Wellness Incentives Offer Flexible Options to Support CDHC Goals
From basic wellness rewards to integrated solutions, employers can tailor programs to meet every need.

Fending Off Weight Gain While Quitting Tobacco
According to a recent study by the University of California, Berkeley and the University of Michigan, smokers gain an average of 20 pounds when quitting tobacco.

Breaking the Downward Spiral
According to the Health and Wellbeing in America survey, most adults think they are in excellent or very good health. But this simply does not square with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's own findings...

Cutting Out the Fat: Obesity Management Solutions Offer More Than Calorie-Counting
It's official: The obesity epidemic has replaced smoking in the United States. The good news is that, as an employer, you can begin to manage obesity in your workplace.

Be Wide Awake About the Consequences of Employee Insomnia
Fatigued workers cost employers $136.4 billion annually in health-related lost productivity. This is an excess of $101 billion compared to workers without fatigue.