Benefits Think One tricky way vendors show ‘savings’ that never materialize
As a new year with fresh point solutions to evaluate fast approaches, beware of promises being made that may be too good to actually be true.
Linda K. Riddell
Chief data scientist
Ask an Adviser: How do I know whether my wellness vendor actually delivered?
Establishing clear expectations and measures, as well as gathering outside evidence, will help avoid buyer’s bewilderment.
Benefits Think Using online enrollment to cut through wellness clutter
How Quizzify makes learning about healthcare fun, delivering information to clients and employees in a game-show contest format.
Benefits Think Online education tool cuts through wellness clutter
Quizzify makes learning about medical care fun and interesting, delivering information to employees in a fun, game-show contest format.
Benefits Think Obesity-profitability link called into question
A percentage of any staff is overweight. Current theory holds an obese workforce can negatively affect profitability. But healthcare consultant Linda Riddell says companies like Wal-Mart and other firms counter the conventional wisdom.
Benefits Think Does an obese workforce really lead to lower profits?
Large employers like Wal-Mart show this health costs-based assumption doesn’t always add up.
Benefits Think Valid measures needed in bid for wellness results
Comparing wellness program participants to nonparticipants is a widely repeated mistake. It continues because employers are not schooled in research study design.
A post-mortem for wellness programs: What went wrong?
The obituary for traditional wellness programs has been widely published, though perhaps not universally acknowledged. What, indeed, went wrong?
Benefits Think Is your wellness math better than a fifth grader’s?
The Validation Institute certifies individuals as competent to review, analyze, and produce health program measures. Given the high stakes millions of dollars in savings its comforting that not just any 11-year-old could pass.
The other side of wellness
Commentary: Your new wellness vendors presentation showed impressive results from their work with other clients risk factors reduced, cost curves bent, and ROI blossomed. It all sounds terrific.
Wellness ROI: Less than meets the eye
Commentary: The closer you look, the lower the return on investment for wellness programs. Thats the take-home message from a thorough, scientific review published by the American Journal of Health Promotion.
Benefits Think American Heart Associations wellness policy sells outdated science
Opinion: While some thought that expensive, broad-based health screening programs were a thing of the past, the AHA's policies may support practices that should have been abandoned long ago.
Benefits Think Intel, GE will check your wellness math
Wondering if your wellness program is delivering the goods or just delivering good profits to your vendor? Intel and GEs joint venture Validation Institute will tell you. Think of it as a new sheriff in the wild west of wellness ROI, armed with science and a calculator.
CDHPs create confusion, complexity for employees
The allure of lower premiums and higher consumer engagement is powerful, but it may not work in the end.
Quality of reporting, not quantity, matters
Vendor performance guarantees are toothless without meaningful vendor reporting.
Book busts wellness myths
Guest blogger Linda Riddell reviews the book Cracking Health Costs.
Lost in translation
Health data is not intuitive so benefit managers must learn to ask the right questions.
Uncover narcotics abuse with close look at PBM reports
Most pharmacy benefit managers dont use warning systems to flag high use or potential abuse of narcotics. But you can, with a good eye and simple calculator.
5 wellness ROI mistakes to avoid
Senior managers, CFOs, accountants and HR/benefits professionals all want to know that their company wellness programs are making a difference. I can share with you five mistakes to avoid: