Feb/March 2009 Edition
A new issue brief from HealthFitness (OTC BB: HFIT) outlines the steps to success employers can take to create a comprehensive approach to integrated employee health benefits, from fitness and health coaching services to onsite primary care delivery. The brief, “Integrated Health Benefit Design Powers Florida Utility Company’s Workforce,” features insight from Andrew Scibelli, manager of Employee Health & Well-being for FPL GROUP, and presents a case example of the company’s integrated program. Bruce Sherman also contributes to the brief; he is medical director, Global Services, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, and director of health and productivity initiatives for the Employers Health Coalition of Ohio.
FPL-WELL manages health care benefits for its more than 15,000 employees that integrate five major program elements: fitness centers, primary and urgent care health centers, health promotion, nutrition and weight management services, and employee assistance programs. The program has reduced the rate of health care cost increases for the self-insured company over the years and produced a positive return on investment of 3:1. m/briefs.cfmwww.hfit.co
MidSouth eHealth Alliance (MSeHA) is transitioning from the Vanderbilt Medical Center’s technology platform to Informatics Corporation of America’s (ICA) commercial solution to support the ongoing exchange of patient data throughout 3 counties around Memphis, TN. The MSeHA has grown to encompass 15 emergency departments and more than 25 facilities across inpatient and outpatient settings. ICA’s technology is based on the Vanderbilt platform. MSeHA was established in 2004 with $12 million in combined grants from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the State of Tennessee. www.midsoutheha.org, www.icainformatics.com
The National Business Coalition on Health (NBCH) gave Aetna an eValue8tM Innovation Award for its Integrated health Solution program. Aetna’s program helps control health care and disability costs that are often difficult to measure—disability, absenteeism, and lost productivity. It is available to midsize and larger employers who offer medical and disability coverage. The program has shown improved employee health risk assessment participation and program engagement, as well as positive changes in health risk status that are beginning to make small but measurable impacts on employee productivity. www.aetna.com, www.nbch.org
URAC, an independent, nonprofit accreditation organization, recently released an issue brief to illuminate significant changes to its HIPAA Privacy and Security Standards. The brief, “Cashing in on Personal Health Information: The Importance of URAC HIPAA Standards to Protect Consumer Privacy,” features the HIPAA expert Dr. Bill Braithwaite, PhD, FACMI. Bob Poston, privacy official for Humana Military Healthcare Service, adds on-the-ground insight into application of URAC’s standards in rapidly changing technology environments. The issue brief is available at www.urac.org/press/issueBriefs.aspx.
The brief describes revisions to the standards, emphasizes the need for annual workforce training, and clarifies notice of privacy practices to consumers. URAC also requires organizations to conduct a risk assessment, which must include an analysis of the use of portable media such as USB drives and laptop computers. www.urac.org
Wellsource Inc. of Portland, or has partnered with HealthSolutions Ltd. of Sheboygan, WI to form a new company, Wellsource Health Solutions. The joint venture offers consulting for full wellness program design and logistics, health coaching, health risk assessments, outcomes analysis, and comprehensive management of an organization’s wellness program. It has contracted with Concentra, which has 321 national medical centers and 258 employer on-site facilities. Wellsource Health Solutions has also been named a provider for Concentra’s health management program, known as TotalCare, to promote engagement. TotalCare blends primary, preventive, occupational, and environmental health services designed to prevent disease and promote healthy lifestyles. Wellsource Health Solutions will provide TotalCare participants with telephonic health coaching and other health improvement essentials, including motivational enhancement, ongoing monitoring of healthy lifestyle practices, and support for program adherence. www.whs-usa.com, www.concentra.com