Nashville, TN. February 17, 2006 When President George W. Bush joked with Wendy´s employees Wednesday that empowered health care consumers will choose more salads than triple-patty hamburgers, he hit the nail on the head, according to industry health and prevention experts.
"We applaud President Bush and his commitment to greater consumer health care empowerment," said Gregg Lehman,PhD, CEO of Gordian Health Solutions, a national population health management company. "The evidence is mounting to show that informed consumers who control their own health care spending are also more likely to make better personal health care choices."
Bush´s speech, which emphasized the rapid growth of consumer-directed health care plans and health savings accounts (HSAs), also pointed to a renewed emphasis on personal health and wellness. Using Wendy´s 9,000 employees enrolled in HSAs as an example, Bush noted, "when you're watching your own money, and you realize that if you take care of your body and you exercise and you don't do stupid things, you end up saving money." He added that medical claims at Wendy´s have dropped by 17 percent since the company implemented HSAs, and the company´s overall health care costs rose only 1 percent last year-well below the double-digit increases many other companies experienced.
The remarks coincided with the White House release of "Reforming Health Care for the 21st Century,"
(http://www.whitehouse.gov/stateoftheunion/2006/healthcare/#section14#section14) a 20-page plan for improving the nation´s health care system. One section of the report, entitled "Promoting Prevention, Wellness, and Fitness," emphasizes the active role individuals must take to improve their own health status through exercise and chronic disease prevention. The plan outlines White House initiatives that champion vigorous exercise, help fund community-based chronic disease prevention efforts, encourage responsible eating, discourage the use of alcohol and tobacco, and prevent disease through screening and testing.
"These efforts are positive steps to promoting healthier lifestyle choices for Americans," Lehman said. "It is extremely appropriate that President Bush launched this initiative in a workplace setting. More and more employers have made the connection between better health and lower health care costs, and are taking positive steps to enhance employee wellness programs." Gordian´s comprehensive population health management programs deliver a return on investment for their clients that ranges from $1.52 to $2.07 for every dollar spent.
A new report from America´s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) shows health insurance premiums are growing at a reduced rate-in part because of greater consumer engagement and a new emphasis on healthy lifestyles. Prepared by PricewaterhouseCoopers on behalf of AHIP, the study found that premiums increased 8.8 percent between 2004 and 2005--36 percent lower than the 13.7 percent increase in 2002.
Bush, who personally promotes an active lifestyle with his mountain bike treks, has inspired CEO-led health promotion efforts across the country. The Washington-based, bipartisan nonprofit Partnership for Prevention has inspired high-profile executives, including state governors and CEOs of such Fortune 200 companies as Xerox, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer and Procter & Gamble, to proactively support workplace wellness programs.
"Our costliest health care problems-in both economic and human measures--are related to chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes," Lehman said. "We know that many of the lifestyle choices we make every day can prevent or delay the onset of these diseases. Employers are learning that the more they help employees determine their health risks and the more opportunities they provide employees to make better choices, the greater the rewards-a healthier, more productive workplace."
About Gordian Health Solutions, Inc.
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 hospitals 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.