IssueThe workplace provides a
unique opportunity to emphasize health promotion and offer clinical preventive
services to employees. ACPM is a strong
supporter of workplace wellness programs that help to ensure a healthier workforce.
Background
Workplace wellness programs aim to promote
health, prevent disease, and reduce injuries by making it easier to enjoy
healthy lifestyle behaviors in the workplace.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Americans spend half of their
waking hours at work and eat at least one of their daily meals there, providing
a valuable, high-yield environment for health promotion initiatives. Employers have also realized the benefits of
workplace wellness programs through lower healthcare costs, decreased
absenteeism, workers’ compensation savings, and the enhanced productivity that
result from having a healthier workforce.
A meta-review of 56 published studies of worksite health promotion
programs found an average of $5.81-to-$1
savings-to-cost ratio in reduced absenteeism and healthcare costs.[1]
Status
In response to ACPM
advocacy efforts, the Affordable Care Act included several workplace wellness
provisions aimed at expanding support for these important programs. Effective January 1, 2014, employers will be
permitted to vary premiums up to 30% of the cost of coverage for participating
in a wellness program and meeting certain health-related standards. Between 2011-2015, $200 million will be
awarded by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to small employers
to help defray the costs of implementing workplace wellness programs. In addition, the CDC is conducting a national
worksite wellness program survey to inform future recommendations to all
businesses to on how to improve wellness in their workplace.
ACPM supports further efforts to encourage
wellness in the workplace and is a founding member of the United States Workplace Wellness Alliance (www.uswwa.org).
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Dr. Aliyu is an Asst. Professor of PM & Family Medicine at Vanderbilt Univ. School of Medicine.