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…
Category Archives: HHCF Blog
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…
Recess, breakfast and fewer bullies: why the keys to student achievement point the way to workforce engagement and productivity. Entry 5 – 2010.
Human Capital (definition): the reservoir of capacity each human has to contribute to the well-being of his community, job and/or family. It is comprised of three types of assets: skills, health and motivation. A belated thank-you note Thirty or forty years after the fact, I’d like to thank teachers who made learning fun, coaches who…
Implementing evidence-based care? Only if consumers demand it. Entry 4 – 2010.
Three years ago, in January 2007, we wrote a blog (1) about a new “blockbuster” study, the findings of which should have revolutionized cardiology. Results showed that the common procedure of placing “stents” inside heart vessels (at a cost of $15,000 or more each) was no more effective for stable patients, and sometimes more harmful,…
Why savings estimates for improved health miss the big picture. Entry 3 – 2010
To see wonderful illustrations of why the “good health = lower cost” equation is an oversimplification of reality, take a peek at the contents of the past two issues of the Journal of Occupational and Environment Medicine. First, there are several articles reinforcing the widely-accepted direct link between health status and the cost of healthcare….