LOUISVILLE, Ky., and NASHVILLE, Tenn., May 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Humana Inc. announced today that it has signed an agreement with Gordian Health Solutions to provide self-insured customers with a customized health management program designed to help employers reduce health care costs.
The American Journal of Health Promotion reported last year that the cost of obesity to businesses in the United States for health care, sick leave and life and disability insurance is estimated to be $12.7 billion. The new Humana "Get Healthy" program is designed to help companies address these issues by increasing employee productivity, decreasing absenteeism, improving employee health status and reducing health care spending.
"Offering our customers resources that foster healthy behaviors is in keeping with our overall business strategy of providing actionable information that engages them in being active consumers of health care rather than passive users," said Jonathan T. Lord, M.D., senior vice president and chief innovation officer for Humana. "Employers recognize the importance of keeping their workers healthy and productive as a means of reducing their health care spending, and they have turned to us to help them in that effort."
With the "Get Healthy" initiative, Humana's self-insured customers will be able to tailor a health improvement program to meet the needs of their employee population. They will be able to add components onto existing programs or create a customized program using tools from Gordian Health Solutions.
To achieve the ultimate goals of improved health outcomes and savings on health care, incentives are among the tools used to encourage employee participation. Companies work with Gordian to design incentives, which may range from merchandise for completing a health risk appraisal up to decreased monthly health care contributions for participation in the Get Healthy program.
"By combining Gordian's population health management programs focusing on member-health behavior changes with clinical programs offered by Humana, an employer is able to access a full range of tools to engage the consumer and provider as they seek to obtain better health outcomes and cost savings," said Gregg Lehman, Ph.D, CEO of Gordian Health Solutions. "We are delighted to work with Humana, a company that recognizes the clinical value of evidence- based preventive care enabled by technology."
"Get Healthy" enables companies to identify health improvement opportunities and offer meaningful programs to their employees. Gordian reaches out to employees with risk factors or health conditions and invites them to take an active role in adopting healthy behaviors. Ultimately, participation in the Get Healthy program may lead to lower health care spending as well as decreased employer costs.
The Get Healthy tools include health risk assessments, telephonic one-on- one coaching, online health education programs and tools and motivational activities designed to effect behavioral changes. Moderate-risk program topics include weight reduction, stress and cholesterol management and tobacco cessation. High- risk programs address asthma, diabetes, hypertension, gastro- esophogeal reflux and low back conditions.
In addition to the individualized tools for employees, employers will receive aggregate reporting to track the measurable results of improved health within their employee populations. The full cost of a comprehensive employee health improvement program is usually less than one percent of an employer's total health care costs and typically delivers a positive return on investment within the first year.
About Humana
Humana Inc., headquartered in Louisville, Ky., is one of the nation's largest publicly traded health benefits companies, with approximately 7 million medical members located primarily in 19 states and Puerto Rico. Humana offers coordinated health insurance coverage and related services - through traditional and Internet-based plans - to employer groups, government- sponsored plans and individuals. More information regarding Humana is available via the Internet at http://www.humana.com/ .
About Gordian Health Solutions
Gordian is a national population health management company based in Nashville, Tennessee. The company offers a comprehensive suite of products and services such as population health risk analysis, telephonic counseling, online products, health education hotlines, on-site health education/fitness center management and lifestyle and disease management programs. Gordian works with employers, health plans and hospital's to identify, control and manage health risk factors and their associated costs. Through targeted and tailored programs, and sophisticated tracking, monitoring and reporting capabilities, Gordian works with clients to measure program progress and cost savings. For more information about Gordian Heath Solutions, visit http://www.gordian-health.com/
FACT SHEET
* Healthcare costs associated with obesity are 36 percent higher than the
norm -- more than smoking (21 percent) or heavy drinking (14 percent)
Rand Corporation Study - 2002
* A comparison of state annual medical costs for obese people with those
for adults at healthy weights found that the public paid about $39
billion--or about $175 per taxpayer--through Medicare and Medicaid
programs for obesity-linked illnesses.
RTI International and the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention
* A report in May 2003 that showed that the total annual medical bill for
people who are either obese or overweight, weighing just a few to 30
pounds over an ideal weight, is as much as $93 billion. Their analyses
include direct medical costs related to extra weight but not indirect
costs such as time off work.
RTI International and CDC
* Chronic diseases related to lifestyle account for 70 percent of total
healthcare spending
Fries, Koop, Beadle - 1998
* Better diet and exercise could reduce cancer rates 30 percent to 40
percent, 300 million cases worldwide
International Obesity Task Force - 2001
* A company of 10,000 employees earning a 10 percent profit would have to
increase revenues by $130 million to $200 million to cover an eight
percent to 12 percent annual increase in the cost of health benefits,
which increased 14 percent in 2002
Watson Wyatt Worldwide, 2003
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Humana Inc. and Gordian Health SolutionsCONTACT: Mary M. Sellers of Humana Corporate Communications,+1-502-580-3689, or msellers1@humana.com; or Karla Hurter of Gordian HealthSolutions, +1-703-319-0957, or gordianhealth@aol.com
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