Which companies will survive the current economic climate? Every day brings new headlines: city and state governments facing deficits and cutbacks; politicians fighting unions; companies cutting benefits. Must businesses and workers operate as adversaries, or can they succeed together? Our evidence tells us they can.
Author Archives: Wendy Lynch, Ph.D.
Americans use fewer healthcare services in 2010: What will we learn from this? Entry 1, 2011
There were fewer visits to the doctor in 2010 compared to the year before. What does this mean? It depends on whose opinion one reads. online.wsj.com
I have a Holiday wish: that we muster the courage to reign in national spending. Entry 13 – 2010
‘Tis the season to wonder how to work off the extra pumpkin pie calories and pay off those Black Friday purchases! We know that a dollop of reality isn’t anyone’s holiday favorite,, but it may be timely for all of us to acknowledge the belt-tightening our country must face as we approach the New Year….
When it comes to health, what numbers do most of us REALLY need to know? Entry 12 – 2010
In a 2009 study of a heart disease risk, low-income women were screened at baseline for hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes (1). Participants were given their biometric “numbers” by their physicians at the time of screening. One year later, researchers asked the women about their risk status. A majority of high-risk women reported that they…
One minute left in the game. Score: Patient Education 100, Patient Accountability 0. Entry 11 – 2010
There is a sad irony in new healthcare reform provisions released last week. It rewards (or at least relieves financial pressure on) health plans for virtually every bit of educating, assessing, coaching and reminding it does with patients. Then, it penalizes them for trying to give consumers purchasing power. The issue: the definition of MLR….
Mandated insurance coverage means mandated cost. What do we really want to pay for? Entry 10 – 2010
Have you ever tried to purchase cable television with just the channels you want to watch, and been told that you need to buy the ‘whole package’ to get service? Sound like your cell phone plan? We often see private companies ‘bundle’ services to boost revenue or maximize their profit margins, and as consumers, we…
No child left (with a small) behind. America’s future workforce unfit for duty. Entry 9 -2010
Obesity is now a top reason that recruits cannot qualify to serve in the military (1), along with failure to finish high school and having a criminal record. Nine million young people are too overweight to serve and each year 1200 recruits are dismissed because of persistent weight issues. One former surgeon general describes obesity…
Before employers consider dropping healthcare coverage, they may want to consider the large can of worms it will open. Entry 8 – 2010
A few weeks ago, the media announced that several large companies (including AT&T, Verizon and John Deere) are considering the implications of dropping healthcare benefits altogether and “paying the penalty” that government plans to impose as a result of healthcare reform (1). On the surface, it seems like a great deal.
Tell it like it is: why employees need to know what companies spend on healthcare. Entry 7 – 2010
A friend of mine, Sam, has worked for a very large, Fortune 100 company for over 15 years. Recently he commented that there had been some changes to their health plan options that were not popular among employees. “You wouldn’t believe what the company did!” He then recounted how the company had issued an apology…
Redefining Wellness: Giving workers more control over their day and rewards for a job well done. Entry 6 – 2010
Why do work bonuses influence exercise and smoking? In this blog space, we have written many times about the connection between performance-based pay and positive outcomes, including higher productivity (1) and fewer absences (2). We’ve also seen examples where the structure of compensation seems to influence healthy behaviors (3). We often get questions about why…