Health and productivity as a business strategy.

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study is to assess the magnitude of health-related lost productivity relative to medical and pharmacy costs for four employers and assess the business implications of a "full-cost" approach to managing health. METHODS A database was developed by integrating medical and pharmacy claims data with employee self-report productivity and health information collected through the Health and Work Performance Questionnaire (HPQ). Information collected on employer business measures were combined with this database to model health-related lost productivity. RESULTS 1) Health-related productivity costs were more than four times greater than medical and pharmacy costs. 2) The full cost of poor health is driven by different health conditions than those driving medical and pharmacy costs alone. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates that Integrated Population Health & Productivity Management should be built on a foundation of Integrated Population Health & Productivity Measurement. Therefore, employers would reveal a blueprint for action for their integrated health and productivity enhancement strategies by measuring the full health and productivity costs related to the burdens of illness and health risk in their population.