Health Insurance Daily

Mandatory Health Screenings Reap Huge Rewards

Cadmus Communications, a publishing services company in Richmond, Va., took a radical approach to employee wellness last year: It required employees to take a health risk assessment, blood pressure screening and cholesterol screening. Seventeen employees lost their health coverage this year because they didn't cooperate.

Cindy Ellis, a Cadmus benefit manager, admits workers initially questioned the mandates: "A lot of people said, You're invading my privacy. What are you going to do with this information?' We talked to our lawyers and made sure what we were doing was legal."

Not surprisingly, Cadmus found high levels of hypertension and high cholesterol among its staffers. Although 23% of employees thought they were overweight, 78% actually were. Nurses followed up to ensure that workers received appropriate treatments. The company also organized weight-loss contests with cash prizes and provided a 25% subsidy for Weight Watchers memberships.

The results? Cadmus saw a 21% drop in hospital admissions, a 44% reduction in the length of hospital stays and a 33% decrease in diagnostic testing costs last year. Its health premiums jumped only 7% for 2006, compared to 22% for 2005.

To read this article in its entirety click on Employee Benefits News.

posted by Mike @ 9:15 AM