In July 2011, The State of Kentucky launched a Statewide Fitness Challenge for its employees. See the Governors's video message.
The history of wellness programs for state employees includes:
Initiation of Wellness Care Considerations:
In February of 2008, DEI adopted a new
preventive care initiative known as “Wellness Care
Considerations” (WCCs). WCCs are written reminders
which are mailed to KEHP members on a quarterly
basis by KEHP’s medical management contractor.
Initiation of KGHIB Best Practices Committee:
In April of 2008, DEI initiated a Best Practices
Committee under the auspices of the Kentucky
Group Health Insurance Board (KGHIB). The
Committee was comprised of representatives of large
organizations like Eon, Ford Motor Company, and
the United Auto Workers, and was established so
that DEI and KEHP could learn from private sector
experiences and “best practices.”
Initiation of Wellness Vendor Summit:
In April of 2008, DEI also convened a wellness
“Vendor Summit.” For the very first time,
representatives of virtually all KEHP contractors and
subcontractors met in a single room to identify ways
to work more closely together to improve KEHP’s
medical management and other wellness efforts.
Many plan wellness and benefit design changes were
developed based on recommendations in these summit
meetings. The Vendor Summit was repeated in 2009
and has now become an annual event.
Initiation of Virgin HealthMiles Pilot Program:
In May of 2008, DEI and KEHP’s third party
administrator began evaluating a pedometer-based,
wellness program known as Virgin HealthMiles.
Kentucky is the fi rst state in the nation to implement
this program. Participants in the program earn cash
rewards by walking, bicycling, or engaging in other
forms of physical activity: the more physical activity
in which one engages, the more cash one can earn.
KEHP commenced a Virgin HealthMiles pilot
program in October of 2008, and opened the program
to all KEHP members in January of 2009.
Expansion of Participation in Consumer Driven
Health Plans:
There is evidence participants in account-based,
Consumer-Driven Health Plans (CDHPs)—such as
those involving Health Reimbursement Accounts
(HRAs)—are more likely than individuals in
traditional PPO plans to participate in wellness
programs. In October of 2008, during Open
Enrollment for the 2009 Plan Year, KEHP successfully
transitioned nearly 25% of all KEHP members from
traditional PPO plans into CDHPs. KEHP later built
upon this success during Open Enrollment for the
2010 Plan Year by increasing enrollment in KEHP
healthcare Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) by
26%.
• Almost 1,000 participants in the Step Out Fitness
program, Bike to Work Day promotion, Yoga, St.
Patrick’s Day parade at the Capitol, and special
fitness classes throughout the state
• Secured special discount rates on membership with
fitness clubs in multiple cities
• Launched Virgin HealthMiles in January 2009
Hiring of State Wellness Director:
By December of 2008, it was apparent DEI needed
a highly-qualifi ed individual to lead its burgeoning
wellness efforts. With that in mind, DEI hired a
State Wellness Director. That individual, Stephanie
Marshall, has a Bachelor’s Degree in Fitness and
Wellness Management (with a minor in Nutrition); a
Masters Degree in Exercise Physiology and Health
Promotion; a Master of Business Administration
degree; and 10 years experience running community
and corporate wellness programs in a large hospital
system.
WELLNESS INITIATIVES DURING 2009
With a solid foundation in place, DEI and KEHP have continued to build and expand upon the wellness program. Wellness initiatives developed and/or implemented during the past 12 months have included more than 18,000 wellness contacts in the following categories:
Know Your Numbers/Awareness
• Increased participation in the Humana Health
Assessment from 179 in 2007 to almost 7,000 in
the last two years
• Over 1,700 health screenings by Summit Health in
18 months
• Reached out to employees in every corner of the
state, from Hazard to Henderson to Florence,
through over 75 presentations, as well as
state-wide Wear Red Day and Wear Blue Day
celebrations
• Provided free blood pressure, BMI/Body Fat
Analysis and access to Virgin HealthMiles kiosks
at First Onsite Clinics in Frankfort
Return on investment (ROI): The Center for Disease Control estimates that as many as five years may be necessary before comprehensive workplace wellness programs show returns on investment. Nonetheless, strong wellness programs provide significant dividends. The actuary for the health plan, PricewaterhouseCoopers, estimates the changes already made over the past two years will total over $300 million in savings for KEHP plan years 2008, 2009, and 2010. These savings have come from a variety of measures, including: more effective plan designs; enhanced wellness efforts; contract negotiations; changes in billing processes; improved pharmaceutical utilization; and ActiveHealth’s estimate of over $60 million in savings from improved disease management. Read more...
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