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Sparrow PHP Launches New Wellness Initiative

Michigan Business Beat
March 26, 2018 3:00 PM

Physicians+Health+Plan.pngChris Holman talks with Scott Norman, VP, Business Development of Physicians Health Plan about the importance of wellness for individuals and employers along with how PHP is launching a new wellness initiative.

The focus is on why health, wellness and prevention should matter to employer or small business owner.

Everybody knows that employers use benefits to attract and retain employees but the cost of employee health plans has gone up nearly 200% over the past 15 years. Should employer care about employee health and wellness just to help control the cost of employee benefits?
*Cost control is definitely part of it….but wellness and prevention mean more to employers as it relates to productivity. Absenteeism costs employers $225 billion a year in lost productivity….that’s about $1,600 per employee per year lost due primarily to poor health or illness. And health employees miss 40% fewer days per year. It’ about the value of a business and the bottom line.
*Employee’s care as well – Why? They have more skin in the game – over 50% of employee have a deductible of $1,000 for a single person and the average deductible is now $1,500 for singles and $3,000 for families. The cost of not being healthy hits the employees pocket book as well.

What can employers do about this and what can PHP offer them?
*It starts with prevention and making sure employees get their screenings – things like annual checkups, breast cancer screening, colonoscopy….we track this closely for our members at PHP and for almost all of the prevention measures we beast the national average which is a good thing
*Employers should think about flu shots, screening reminders and maybe even biometric screenings – PHP can offer many of these through the Sparrow BeWell wellness team – it’s a great place to start

What about wellness programs or worksite wellness…are these hard to put in place for an employer?
*Prevention and screening is about early detection and wellness is about getting and keeping people healthy
*A good place to start is with a Health Risk Assessment – only about 1/3 of small employers offer these – PHP is launching a new initiative in the coming months that will give all of our employers online access to our BeWell portal and a Health Risk Assessment AT NO ADDITIONAL COST – this is great opportunity for smaller employers and larger employers will have the opportunity to buy up to the full platform
*Once you have an idea of the risk and health issues, employers can look for easy and fun ways to engage employees….health eating classes, weight loss challenges, running groups and maybe gym discounts or even an onsite fitness center. It doesn’t have to be expensive or complex….start small, keep it simple and fun and get leaders of the business involved as cheerleaders.
*PHP and Sparrow offer all kinds of options for employers & wellness

Listen to full interview now by clicking on the embedded SoundCloud PodCast shared below!

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Michigan Business Beat, hosted by Chris Holman, discusses economic development, new or unusual entrepreneurial initiatives, and successful business practices from different regions and industries around Michigan with a wide range of entrepreneurs and business leaders.

8:00 AM every Monday through Friday
Replay: 8:00 AM, 2:00 PM, 8:00 PM, 2:00 AM The music for 'Michigan Business Beat' is graciously shared use of Phil Denny's "Traffic Jam" off his 2012 CD 'Crossover'

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