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The Kaiser Family Foundation’s  2017 Employer Health Benefits Survey continues to offer excellent insights into strategies behind — and benefits of — a well-run workplace wellness program. One area of focus: chronic disease management.

This issue is even more relevant now, during American Diabetes Month.

The report highlights the growing role that companies see for a well-run workplace wellness program in terms of helping reduce over health costs and improve employee health: “Firms continue to show considerable interest in programs that help workers identify health issues and manage chronic conditions. Many employers believe that improving the health of their workers and their family members can improve morale, productivity and reduce health care costs. In addition to wellness programs, many large firms use disease management programs to help workers manage chronic conditions.”

The report notes: “Disease management programs aim to improve health and reduce costs for enrollees with chronic illnesses by educating them about their disease and suggesting treatment options. These programs can help enrollees with conditions such as diabetes, asthma, hypertension, and high cholesterol.”

Importantly, the study outlines an opportunity for smaller firms — to grow their participation in offering disease management programs to their employees. One tactic they may want to include: Incentives.

The study states:

• “Forty-one percent of firms that offer health benefits offer disease management programs. Large firms are more likely than small firms to offer disease management programs (68% vs. 40%)”
• “Nine percent of large firms that offer disease management programs offer incentives for workers to participate in or complete the programs. This percentage is highest among firms with 5,000 or more workers (26%)”