Wellness Legislation

Five Ways the 
 Health Care and Reconciliation Act of 2010
(H.R. 4872)
Will Affect Your Business

1. NATIONAL HEALTH PROMOTION COUNCIL - this new organization will coordinate federal prevention, wellness, and public health activities. Expect to see a national strategy from this council to improve the nation's health within a year of enactment.
What this means to you - More wellness resources will be available for employers to promote health and wellness. This will help shift the dialogue to include an emphasis on personal responsibility and accountability for one's health and lifestyle choices.

2.  PREVENTIVE SERVICES - Within six months, qualified health plans will be required to provide at a minimum, the following coverage without cost-sharing for preventive services rated A or B by the US Preventive Services Task Force, recommended immunizations, preventive care for infants, children and adolescents, and additional preventive care and screenings for women.
What this means to you - Removing barriers to preventive care is an important step in improve the overall health of employees and their families. Pro-active use of preventive services allows for early identification of potential health problems.

3.  ACCESS TO CARE - H.R. 4872 increases funding by $11 billion for community health centers and the National Health Service Corps over five years; establishing new programs to support school-based health care centers and nurse-managed health clinics (effective fiscal year 2011).
What this means to you - As financial barriers to preventive care are removed and providers try to meet increasing demands for service, access could become an issue.  This funding will help bridge the gap. Effective wellness programs will educate employees on appropriate levels of care and which level is most appropriate.

4.  EMPLOYER WELLNESS PROGRAM GRANTS - With appropriations beginning in fiscal year 2011 and extending for five years, grants will be provided to small employers that establish wellness programs. To be eligible, an employer must have 100 or less employees working at least 25 hours per week.
What this means to you - With small businesses representing 99.7 percent of all firms, this grant program opens the doors to wellness programs to a majority of American workers. As with any significant reform, the public will be watching closely, and with these funds will come increased accountability. Programs will be expected to show a return on investment in terms of measureable improvements in employee health.

5.  EMPLOYEE PARTICIPATION INCENTIVES - Employers will continue to be allowed to offer rewards to employees - in the form of premium discounts, waivers of cost-sharing requirements, or benefits that would otherwise not be provided - up to 30% of the cost of coverage for participating in a wellness program and meeting certain health-related standards starting in 2014. Employers must provide an alternative standard for individuals for whom it is unreasonably difficult or medically inadvisable to meet the standard.
What this means to you - Tangible rewards, such as premium discounts, provide a powerful motivator for behavior change when coupled with education, tools and a supportive environment. By incentivizing program participation, employers can join the effort to help employees change unhealthy behaviors and reinforce positive ones.

The Wilson Agency offers consulting services that can help your wellness program evolve and thrive in this new era. Contact Deenie Robertson at deenier@thewilsonagency.com or 907-277-1616 to find out how a highly trained wellness consultant can help your organization.