HFMA NEWS

Major U.S. employers using incentives to promote employer-sponsored health and wellness programs rose from 62 percent to 71 percent between 2007 and 2008, according to a report released June 26 by the ERISA Industry Committee, the National Association of Manufacturers, and IncentOne Inc.

The survey of 225 major U.S. companies was conducted to determine employer adoption of incentives for health and disease management programs. Responses revealed a wide range in the value of incentives offered for a host of different programs. For instance, incentives for weight management programs ranged from $5 to $500, and for smoking cessation programs from a low of $5 to a high of $600. The average value of incentives per person per year ranged between $100 and $300, with an overall average of $192 per person per year.

The survey also delved into employer expectation for ROI for health and wellness programs, finding that 83 percent of those who have measured are seeing program returns of better than break-even. Read the report.

A new report released June 30 by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) describes how HRSA-funded health centers treat more than 16 million people each year. According to the report, Health Centers: America’s Primary Care Safety Net Reflections on Success, 2002-2007, The range of services offered at health centers has increased along with the number of patients served. In 2007, almost 2.8 million patients received dental services, nearly double the 1.4 million dental patients served in 2001. Gains were also striking among patients who received mental health services. In 2007, 613,000 patients came to health centers for mental health care and/or substance abuse services, triple the number who received such care in 2001. Access the report.