HCW Benefits Blog

Contributor:
Twyla Hutchins, RN, BSN, COHN-S, Medical Management Officer
Hill, Chesson & Woody

I think it is safe to say that wellness is the buzz word these days in the healthcare industry.  Who doesn’t want to get their employees in tip top shape and shave a few points off that dreaded renewal?  But, what are the differentiators when it comes to wellness programs, and how do you tell what you are getting when purchasing wellness from third party vendors? How do you compare carrier offerings?

Before I tell you what to look for, consider using a neutral third party to help you take a look.  Using your benefits broker with a wellness consultant on board can become a real differentiator right out of the gate.  Every carrier on the street and every vendor wants you to believe that his or her product is the best. But, letting someone who doesn’t have a dog in the fight help you evaluate the programs might help you win the best program.   Compare and contrast all the components and decide what best meets your needs.

Beyond that neutral eye, here are the questions you are going to want to ask.  Most of these questions apply to both vendors and carriers, but program integration is the key when using a combined approach.

Carrier or Third-Party Administrator Programs

• Show me the Money!  Are there free resources to be had such as a Health Assessment, wellness portal or online wellness programs?
• Do you offer Biometric Screenings to integrate with the Health Assessment or Wellness Portal?  Does the data integrate seamlessly, or will my employees have to input the data themselves?
• Do you have any incentive programs already in place?  If I meet program goals will it mean a certain discount off my renewal?
• How can I integrate your program with other programs that I may choose to use?
• Will you allocate a certain dollar amount to wellness each year and, if so, how much? What are the stipulations on use?
• Do you offer data? How is the data integrated and do you offer cohort data so I can tell if my program is working?
• Is nonmember participation allowed?  Is this important to your program?
• How will you reach both off-line and online populations?  Is there access for multilingual populations?

Wellness Vendor Programs

• What separates you from the pack?  What makes you “World Class?”
• How is your data secured?  What steps do you take to ensure privacy and HIPAA compliance?
• What type of reporting do you offer?  As outcomes-based programming is more and more prevalent, can this vendor meet the demand of results-based reporting and meet the HIPAA wellness rules?  Obtain samples of all reporting.
• Determine data integration if spouses are on the plan!  This can be a real nightmare if they are on the plan and there is no unique identifier used to link the two together.  This is especially important if an incentive is to be paid only if both the spouse and the employee participate.
• Make sure your vendor can provide integrated year-over-year cohort reporting.  This will ensure you can show a return on investment. Without this data, you are just shooting in the dark regarding program results!

Choosing a wellness partner is an important decision since you will want to align your program with the corporate and strategic direction of your organization. As Hill, Chesson & Woody's medical management officer, I guide clients toward successful planning and implementation of wellness plans through our Wellness Toolkit to gain desired results.

Share with us your wellness ideas! We'd love to hear from you!