Support Prevention in the Workplace by Supporting the Health Workforce Act

By Fred Goldstein, President, U.S. Preventive Medicine, Inc.

Given the financial crisis looming over Americans, is health care and more importantly prevention a top priority for our government at this time?  Based upon the speeches of President Barack Obama and the reintroduction of The Healthy Workforce Act of 2009, it certainly is. And, it's an issue employers and employees need to support now before the health care chaos matures into a full-blown frenzy.

A concrete step we can take now is to support The Healthy Workforce Act of 2009, sponsored by U.S. Senators Tom Harkin and John Cornyn (R-TX) and U.S. Representatives Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Mary Bono Mack (R-CA). The legislation provides a tax credit to businesses that offer and promote comprehensive wellness programs for their employees. Workplace wellness initiatives are a critical means of addressing the nation’s rising obesity rates, sedentary behavior and increasing prevalence of chronic disease such as diabetes and heart disease
This bill -- S-803 with the corresponding bill in the House HR 1897 -- would allow employers to take a tax credit of 50 percent of the cost of implementing appropriate wellness programs, or up to $200 per employee for the first 200 employees and $100 for each employee thereafter.

Why is this important? Employers, particularly small employers, need these resources. Many U.S. employers spend more on medical care than they earn in profits. This makes it difficult for them to compete in a global market place, and is threatening the survival of many companies.

According to Senator Harkin, more than a third of the working-age population is at risk for chronic diseases, which account for 75 percent of the nation’s health care costs. Our nation’s health care costs doubled from 1990 to 2001 and are expected to double again by 2012. Clearly, this is unsustainable.

Most of us spend nearly half of our waking day at work. By bringing employees worksite programs and tools – such as health risk assessments, behavior change programs and meaningful incentives – employees can get the support they need to move to a healthier lifestyle. Imagine the changes that could happen if you found out your top health risks and got personal attention and financial rewards to make changes in key areas that would reduce those risks:   smoking, weight, exercise, stress, to name a few.

Employer spending on health promotion and chronic disease prevention are a sound investment and the basis for this important legislation. Studies have reported a proven rate of return on investment within 12 to 18 months, ranging from $2 to $10 for each dollar invested. For businesses and families struggling to cover rising health care costs, preventive measures are a no brainer.

This issue isn’t going away. Take a few minutes to let your legislators know how this issue affects you and why you support The Healthy Workforce Act of 2009. More information is available at www.senate.gov and www.house.gov.