OBJECTIVE This study examines the effect of taking a health risk assessment (HRA) on health care costs, utilization, and member health risks over a 3-year period. METHODS This retrospective cohort study examined changes utilization, costs, and health risks among a random sample of 500 employees completing an HRA compared with a matched group of 500 employees who did not complete an HRA. RES...

This study uses the HERO database in which 46,026 employees met all inclusion criteria for the analysis. The purpose was to assess the relationship between modifiable health risks and total health care expenditures for a large group of employees. This study is different than Research Project Two which examined individual health care expenditures as the outcome. Here the outcome is the total cos...

Changes to the U.S. health care system are here. As we think about how individuals will pay for health care--while actively employed and while retired--our experiences with 401(k) plans provide some valuable lessons. In order to support employees in this new health care world--a challenge arguably more daunting than the 401(k) challenge we faced 20 years ago--some very different types of suppor...

The purpose of the study is to elucidate the relationship between social support, health care consciousness and mental health in developing the industrial health education aimed at improving the health habits of male employees. A questionnaire survey concerning health practices, mental health based on the General Health Questionnaire, social support from social support networks, and health care...

This paper gives an overview of the provision of health care in the Republic of Serbia. It then gives details of the system for the provision of oral health care, the education of dentists and dental staff, epidemiological data, and costs. It includes details of the state (public) and private sectors of health and dental care in Serbia. Private health and oral health care is based mainly on a n...

This study was undertaken to determine if a progressive correlation exists between body mass index (BMI), health care costs, and absenteeism and to identify an economically optimal BMI. We studied 3,066 First Chicago NBD employees by using health risk appraisals and personnel data. Analysis was completed for those employees with and without a risk for BMI. People at risk for BMI are more likely...

“Personal responsibility” has become a recurrent theme in debates about health care financing.1 In addition to asking consumers to make betterinformed choices in seeking care, many payers are focusing on individual health behaviors as drivers of health spending. In a recent national poll, 91% of employers believed that they could reduce their health care costs by influencing employees to adopt ...

There's no question that employers can no longer ignore mental health issues. Compassion and support for employees aside, it is simply good business to protect the mental health and productivity of employees. This article describes existing challenges surrounding employees with mental disorders: the link between mental disorders, disability and an employee's ability to return to work; best prac...

Employers are increasingly interested in improving employee health, with the goals of reducing health care costs and increasing productivity. As of 2010, 74% of employers who offered health insurance also offered a wellness program, and the prevalence is increasing. However, there is vigorous debate about whether employee wellness programs actually work to improve health. Although proponents as...