Changing Behavior

Miller Canfield’s “MC Fit” Program

Changing Behavior

Wellness programs used to be only viewed as “Fortune 500” benefit

- on site fitness facilities- company medical staff - available staff to perform ROI

Changing Behavior

Large company ROIs were impressive:- J&J – $8.55 million per year

- Pitney Bowes - $2.5 million per year - UNUM – cost savings plus accumulation

of knowledge about preventing disabilities

Changing Behavior

Migration of wellness programs to smaller/mid-size employers:

- Rising health costs, impacts hit harder- Aggregate claims data more available

(despite HIPAA)- More information about effectiveness

of low- cost programs/incentives

Changing Behavior

Migration of wellness programs to smaller/mid-size employers (cont’d):

- Increased community resources- Rise of online health resources

SHRM* reports that small companies typically have higher participation rates than large companies

*Society of Human Resource Management

Changing Behavior

Wellness Programs – Essential Elements - Assess Your Population - Secure Leadership Commitment- Take a “Broad Brush” Approach- Think Global/Act Local- Develop Compelling Incentives- Explore External Resources - Track and Evaluate Results/Calibrate

Changing Behavior

Assess Your Population- Examine aggregate claims data to determine

prevalent chronic conditions- Assess diversity of population – work styles, work

locations, overall cultural norms - Conduct wellness screenings

- Biometric screening- Health Risk Assessments

Changing Behavior

Secure Leadership Commitment- Provide leadership with assessment information,

sample ROI ($3/$1 preventive; $7/$1 chronic)- Engage their vigorous/visible support of initiatives - Link to firm’s strategic priorities as much as

possible - Ensure leaders regularly communicate wellness

philosophy – even easier in service industries

Changing Behavior

Take a “Broad Brush” Approach - Try to find programs, incentives that

appeal to healthy and at-risk populations- Common initiatives – flu shots, wellness

coaching, newsletters, gym membership discounts, lunch and learns on general health (nutrition, stress management)

- Customized – weight management, smoking cessation

Changing Behavior

Think Global/Act Local- While senior mgt. support is important, success

depends on local (e.g. office) participation - Local emphasis leads to greater participation

Ann Arbor – Mystery WalksDetroit – “Greatest Loser”Troy - Healthy Eating Ann Arbor/Windsor – Exercise

competition

Changing Behavior

Develop Compelling Incentives- Cash incentive for completing health risk

assessment - Discounts on gym memberships/exercise

equipment- Weight management/smoking cessation

program reimbursement - Accumulate exercise “points” and redeem

for apparel, exercise gear

Changing Behavior

Explore External Resources - Community Resources (e.g. Oakland County

Wellness Coalition)- Current Vendor Resources (e.g. Employee

Assistance Program)- Charitable Organizations (e.g. ACS, ADA,

AHA)- Community Partners (e.g. Visiting Nurse

Association)

Changing Behavior

Track and Evaluate Results/Calibrate- Wellness not the “silver bullet” to arresting

health claims costs, but what’s the cost of not forging ahead?

- Important to stay in close contact with health care providers and obtain data and narrative from them

- Internal and external “best practice” sharing important