The Healthy Workforce Act would encourage preventive initiatives by providing a tax credit to companies that offer “effective and comprehensive wellness programs.” Reintroduced by U.S. Senators Tom Harkin (D-Idaho) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) and U.S. representatives Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) and Mary Bono Mack (R-Calif.) last week, the bill would significantly ease barriers for small and mid-sized businesses to make an investment in their employees’ well-being.
“Health reform will not be complete without prevention and wellness being a center piece for fixing this broken system, the lifesaving and cost-saving benefits have been proven in study after study,” said Harkin. “With health care costs quickly increasing, it is no surprise that some companies report spending more than 50 percent of their profits to cover these expenses. Employer spending on health promotion and chronic disease prevention is a good investment. Studies have reported a proven rate of return on investment within 12 to 18 months, ranging from $2 to $10 for each dollar invested…It simply makes sense to partner with employers and leverage the place where Americans spend the majority of their waking hours – the workplace.”
The bill calls for tax credits to employers who provide health awareness education and risk assessments and behavioral change programs such as counseling, seminars and on-line programs on topics like nutrition, stress, management, or smoking cessation. Tax credits can also be expended to those companies that offer a supportive environment. This could mean a reduction in health insurance premiums or other incentives for participants.
The bill comes at an opportune time when President Obama has reiterated his commitment to health care reform, a reason that bill supporters expect the legislation to pass this time around.
“This bill was introduced in the past and went through much debate, but the timing is much better now given the current administration’s focus on health care reform,” says Craig Thorne, M.D., MPH, a spokesperson for the American Heart Association (AHA) who has endorsed the bill and worked closely with regional cosponsors to help raise awareness and support for the bill. “We’re more optimistic [about its passing] now because it has a lot of [bipartisan] support.”
It is estimated that 145 million American adults are overweight and 74 million are obese, making more than a third of the working-age population at risk for chronic illness. Obesity related health conditions expend approximately $33 billion from employers in health care and other indirect costs. In general, the average employer medical costs increased 72% between 2000 and 2006. Asthma, diabetes, and hypertension are linked to 164 million lost work days per year at a cost of $30 billion to employers.
The reintroduction of the Health Workforce Act precedes the National Workplace Wellness Week (April 5-11), when the U.S. Workplace Alliance—a group of 75 businesses, health care advocates and nonprofit organizations, including the AHA--hopes to showcase the successes of workplace wellness initiatives. AHA’s National START! Walking Day will take place on April 8 with the aim to spur Americans to exercise.
“Getting your employees to walk briskly for just 30 minutes a day can help lower chronic disease risk factors such as high blood pressure,” said Dr. Thorne. “Educating them about basic cardiovascular disease prevention and developing health education programs that focus on lifestyle behavior change is a huge investment that will increase any company’s bottom line.”
