(19). Loeppke R, Nicholson S, Taitel M, Sweeney M, Haufle V, Kessler RC. “The Impact of an Integrated Population Health Enhancement and disease management Program on Employee Health Risk, Health Conditions, and productivity,” Population Health Management. 2008;11(6):287-296. http://alere.com/docs/Loeppke-pop.2008.5.27.pdf.

The study evaluated the impact of an integrated population health enhancement program on employee health risks, health status and productivity. There were a variety of interventions (on-line materials, coaching, etc.) with increasing intensity based on need. Program participants showed a significant reduction in risks compared to a non-participating cohort.
Peer-reviewed
Keywords: population health; health risks; productivity

(20). Naydeck BL, Pearson JA, Ozminkowski RJ, Day BT, Goetzel RZ. “The Impact of the Highmark Employee wellness programs on 4-Year Healthcare Costs,” J Occup Environ Med. 2008;50(2):146-156.
https://www.healthmedia.com/news/pdfs/articles/JOEM_HighmarkSavingsWellness.pdf.

The study objective was to determine the ROI of Highmark Inc.’s employee wellness program. The program began with administration of the HRA and biometric screening and included the following components, free to employees: on-line sessions for nutrition, weight management, stress management, and smoking cessation; telephonic smoking cessation counseling; individual nutrition coaching with a registered dietitian; on-site classes in stress and weight management; company-wide health promotion campaigns (e.g., 10,000-Step Walking Program); and fully-staffed fitness centers. Multivariate models estimated health care expenses per person per year as $176 lower for participants. Inpatient expenses were lower by $182. Four-year savings of $1,335,524 compared with program expenses of $808,403 yielded an ROI of $1.65 for every dollar spent on the program.
Peer-reviewed
Keywords: ROI; wellness program; worksite; biometric screening

(21). Nyman JA, Barleen NA, Abraham JM. “The Effectiveness of Health Promotion at the University of Minnesota: Expenditures, Absenteeism, and Participation in Specific Programs,” J Occup Environ Med. 2010;52(3):269-280. http://journals.lww.com/joem/Abstract/2010/03000/The_Effectiveness_of_Health_Promotion_at_the.6.aspx.

The study objectives were to determine the effectiveness of the University of Minnesota’s worksite health promotion program in reducing health care expenditures during the first 2 years of the program; to investigate the program’s effect on Absenteeism; and to study the effect of specific disease- or lifestyle-management programs on both health care expenditures and Absenteeism. Participation in the general disease management program over 2 years was associated with significant reductions in expenditures, as was participation in programs for certain specific diseases. DM participation in a smoking cessation program, and in asthma-, cardiovascular- or CHF-management programs reduced expenditures, but participation in a program to manage musculoskeletal problems seemed to increase costs, relative to the average effect of DM on expenditures. Although the program significantly reduced expenditures, it did not generate a positive ROI, presumably due to low participation rates.
Peer-reviewed
Keywords: health promotion; disease management; worksite; academic; lifestyle management

(22). Chapman LS. “Meta-evaluation of worksite health promotion economic return studies: 2005 update,” Am. J. Health Promot. 2005;19:1-11.

(23). Goetzel RZ, Shechter D, Ozminkowski RJ, Marmet PF, Tabrizi MJ. “Promising practices in employer health and productivity management efforts: findings from a benchmarking study,” J. Occup. Environ. Med. 2007;49:111-30. http://journals.lww.com/joem/Abstract/2007/02000/Promising_Practices_in_Employer_Health_and.3.aspx.

(24). Linnan L, Bowling M, Lindsay G, Childress J, Blakey C, et al. “Results of the 2004 National Worksite Health Promotion Survey,” Am. J. Public Health. 2008;98(8):1503-1509. http://ajph.aphapublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/98/8/1503.

(25). Ozminkowski RJ, Goetzel RZ, Wang F, Gibson TB, Shechter D, et al. “The savings gained from participation in health promotion programs for Medicare beneficiaries,” J. Occup. Environ. Med. 2006;48: 1125-32. http://journals.lww.com/joem/Abstract/2006/11000/The_Savings_Gained_From_Participation_in_Health.6.aspx.