Impacts of Workplace Health Promotion and Wellness Programs on Health Care Utilization and Costs: Results From an Academic Workplace. Issue 11 (November 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dement, John M.; Epling, Carol; Joyner, Julie; Cavanaugh, Kyle
• Is Part Of: Journal of occupational and environmental medicine. Volume 57:Issue 11(2015)
• Publication Date: 2015-11
• Subjects: Medicine, Industrial -- Periodicals; Environmental health -- Periodicals; Occupational Medicine -- Periodicals; Environmental Medicine -- Periodicals; Environmental health; Medicine, Industrial; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.9803
• DOI: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000000555
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1076-2752

Abstract

Abstract : Objective: This study evaluated the impacts of a long-standing workplace health promotion (HP) program on health care utilization and costs and estimated return on investment (ROI). Methods: Analyses used a retrospective, observational cohort design based on 7 years (2005 to 2011) of health claims and HP program participation data for 3829 HP participants and 6617 controls. Inverse propensity score-weighted mixed-model regression methods were used to balance employee demographics and comorbidities by study arm. Results: Mean monthly health care costs were $35 less for HP participants compared with controls, and results were robust based on sensitivity analyses. ROI was estimated to be $2.53 for every dollar spent on the HP program. Conclusions: Results support a positive impact of HP program participation with regard to reduced health care utilization and costs and a positive ROI.