More than 10,000 Colorado state employees have participated in wellness activities in a health incentive program since July, with one half of them having completed a health risk assessment.
UnitedHealthcare and Kaiser Permanente, both of which provide coverage for Colorado state employees, sponsored the CafeWell Health Optimization Platform provided by Welltok, a social health management company, with a variety of healthy activities and incentives for participants. The Welltok platform offers employees resources, such as health coaching.
The activities include nutrition, stress management and smoking cessation. For example, participants have committed to drinking 64 ounces of water daily, eating more leafy green vegetables and following habits that encourage getting enough sleep.
The insurers' programs also support Gov. John Hickenlooper's goal to make Colorado the healthiest state. The state recently started a walking initiative, with participants having walked 112 million steps in the first two months of the program.
"As one of the largest employers in the state, we have a unique opportunity to improve the health of state employees and lead the way as a wellness-focused employer," Hickenlooper said in a media release.
The wellness partnership "offers employees an exciting way to make healthy choices a part of their everyday life," said Robert Beauchamp MD, chief medical officer, UnitedHealthcare of Colorado. And the program helps promote a culture of total health. Eric France MD, Kaiser Permanente chief of population care and prevention services, said that "employees can motivate each other to make positive changes that can ultimately result in a healthier workforce."
Also, UnitedHealthcare announced that those enrolled in its employer-sponsored health plans in the Denver area now have access to a new accountable care organization formed with Primary Physician Partners and South Metro Primary Care, which together number 300 primary care physicians.
Physician Health Partners, which manages the physician groups, will support them with care coordination and establishment of evidence-based care. Physicians will be eligible for payment incentives based on measurable improvements in hospital readmission rates, disease management and prevention as well as total cost savings and patient satisfaction. UnitedHealthcare has another existing ACO in Denver with New West Physicians.