Health Care Reform Means Good News For Corporate Wellness

We keep hearing about the obesity crisis in America coupled with the increasing cost of health care. Now it’s time for the good news. The new health care reform legislation (including initiatives to provide incentives for corporations to generate a healthier, more active American workforce) has created a win-win situation for employees, employers, and fitness professionals.

What does this new legislation provide? Small businesses can apply for government grants of up to $50,000 over three years, or up to 50 percent of the total cost to implement a wellness program.

How does a business qualify? The business must have 100 or fewer employees who work 25 hours or more a week.

Why implement a health plan? A wealth of statistics indicate that healthy workers are more productive, visit their doctors less, are absent from work less, are more energetic, and are more engaged in their jobs.

Gregory Florez, chief executive officer and founder of First Fitness, Inc., and Fit Advisor.com explains, “A lot of health care programs are becoming more consumer-directed and there is a greater reliance on the employees to take care of their health, and as such, they are being rewarded with money, days off and other incentives to become more active.” Aside from these extrinsic motivators, the health plan should be fun, emphasize group activities and accountability, and when possible, should include some friendly competition.

For more information visit:

http://www.acefitness.org/article/3060/?utm_source=Pro+News&utm_medium=email&utm_term=June+2010&utm_campaign=Pro+News&CMP=EMC-ProNews_0610