7/22/2011: From Dennis Thompson’s excellent coverage in the SJ:
-Participants in the HEM will have to undergo health screenings to detect potential chronic diseases. In the first year, the screening will involve a simple self-reported waist measurement. Screenings in future years could involve blood work, blood pressure testing and other means to assess a person’s overall heath.
The health assessment and the screening information will be used to determine steps to be taken to prevent chronic conditions like diabetes or heart disease, Loretz said.
For example, waist circumference could be used to determine whether a person needs to participate in a weight control or exercise program, the document said. Women with waists of more than 35 inches and men with waists of more than 40 inches could be required to participate in such a program.
Smokers would be required to take part in a tobacco cessation program, while workers with stress, alcohol or substance abuse issues would be asked to seek help from the state’s Employee Assistance Program.
Workers would be on the honor system in the beginning of the Health Engagement Model, personally tracking their progress and participation in required programs, Loretz said.
However, PEBB could decide to begin enforcing the HEM by auditing the employee, asking them to provide proof of their participation. “Members will be tracking that themselves, but they need to be able to give us information should we audit them,” Loretz said.
Sounds like they are trying to goad even people like me to join a faculty union!
I would support this proposal. I’ve heard that 80% of health care costs are spent on 20% of the population, and if employees are asked to pay a greater share of these costs out of pocket, there should be strong incentives to act proactively and avoid high-risk behaviors and factors such as obesity and smoking. If one reads the other news from Dennis Thompson, there’s a debate in SEIU over whether employees should pay a % of their salary, or a % of their premiums for a given health-insurance coverage package. Seems to me that payments that respond to usage and risk should be part of it as well.