Summer time is not the typical time to think about report cards. Kids are off at summer camp playing the day away, teachers are recharging their batteries, and schools are sprucing up to prepare for the fall enrollment. But this is as good a time as any to review the recently released report card on health policy topics in Massachusetts.

 

The Healthy People/Healthy Economy Coalition recently unveiled a new report card for Massachusetts. The report reviews policies for 14 health indicators in four key areas: physical activity; access to healthy foods; investments in health and wellness; and citizen education and engagement. While the overall grades for Massachusetts were good especially for innovative programs, improvements in support and coordination are needed. 

 

The category of Employee Health Promotion earned a B grade. The Coalition researchers felt that the enactment of policies that promote employee health and wellness provides a promising landscape for improving the health of the Massachusetts workforce. They cited the Massachusetts Department of Public Health's "Working on Wellness" program as encouraging smaller and midsize firms to implement wellness programs. Currently 20 employers representing over 29,000 Massachusetts employees are enrolled in the program. Since its inception in 2008, the program has trained 28 organizations and impacted over 30,000 Massachusetts employees. AdvancingWellness created the curriculum for this program and leads the training sessions in the year-long program.

 

The second key policy element is the passage in 2010 of Chapter 288, which provides for the Massachusetts Group Insurance Commission to adopt a comprehensive wellness program for state employees and retirees. This legislation also provides for subsidy to micro businesses (under 10 employees) that purchase their insurance through the Connector and adopt the Connector wellness offering. The final element creates group-purchasing cooperatives with a requirement for a wellness program for businesses with under 50 employees. Time will tell if these experiments in the micro and small business market will be adopted and impact health status.

 

These policies are a great first step. We need more encouragement for the small and medium business market to implement worksite health promotion programs. We hope that this is not a case of grade inflation.

 

Getting Employees On Board

 

Ever wanted to make a health habit change but had trouble getting started or staying with it? Our clients' employees face this all the time. This is where our health coaches come in - helping holding you accountable to the goals you set. Here's a special offer of free coaching for four weeks. One of our health coaches is completing a coaching certification and is looking for willing participants for practice coaching. The commitment is four weeks, one telephone coaching session a week. Can't beat the price. Send an email to info@advwellness.com to learn more about this free coaching offer.