Employer Benefits: Focus on Incentives and Penalties

 

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

1:00 - 2:00PM Eastern

 

http://www.healthwebsummit.com/hewitt082510.htm

      Detailed Hewitt Associates Research Findings and Implications
      Designs to Motivate Employees, Improve Outcomes and Reduce Costs

      Employee behaviors and actions being targeted by employers for change
      The types of programs and the various incentive and disincentive strategies
      Case studies and examples of incentives and disincentives being used by employers
      What works and doesn't, including results from various tactics and incentive models
      The future and what's next for employers

Hewitt Associates, a global consulting and outsourcing company examines this increased employer focus in incentives and penalties, based upon extensive research including results from Hewitt's annual Emerging Health Trends survey: "The Road Ahead: Under Construction With Increasing Tolls 2010."  Their detailed study highlights the strategic direction employers plan to take in the immediate future, as well as emerging long-term trends. 600 organizations participated in the survey, representing programs affecting more than 10 million U.S. employees and dependents.

Cathy Tripp, a principal in Hewitt's Health Management practice, co-presenting this session, comments that "the economy and continued escalation of health care costs have driven many employers to be a little more bold and demanding of their employees, making disincentives an increasingly attractive option. As companies learn more about their workforce, they're realizing that some people may be more motivated to take action if they risk losing $100 versus gaining $100. The key for each employer is to find the right mix of strategies and plan designs that will motivate employees to be healthier, but not go so far as to drive the wrong behaviors." 

Co-presenter Craig Dolezal, principal and senior Health Management consultant with Hewitt, notes that "incentives and penalties are not aimed at punishing those who are sick. Employers may reward a diabetic who manages her condition well, with appropriate prevention, weight management and nutrition. In contrast, they may hold an employee who does little to address the behaviors that may lead him to become a diabetic accountable for those behaviors."

This session is designed to provide detailed data, examples and implications regarding employer use of health care incentives and penalties, including targeted employee behaviors and actions; types of programs involved; types of incentives and disincentives utilized;  changes in utilization of incentives and penalties; and desired strategic outcomes. 

1. Identify the employee behaviors and actions being targeted by employers for change
2. Ascertain types of programs involved in employer incentive and disincentive strategies
3. Examine the types of specific incentives and disincentives being utilized by employers
4. Learn the levels of utilization, and changes in utilization by employers deploying incentive and disincentive strategies
5. Consider the desired strategic outcomes, and implications of this key trend
6. Engage in interactive learning through online question submission, attendee feedback and opportunity for follow up questions, and networking with attendees, faculty and other professionals through dedicated LinkedIn group
    

• C-Suite Executives
• Health Benefit Executives and Staff
• Human Resources Executives
• Strategy, Planning and Policy Executives and Staff
• Product Development Executives and Staff
• Business Intelligence Staff
• Medical Directors
• Care Management and Disease Management Executives
• Wellness and Lifestyle Management Managers
• Other Interested Parties

Attendees would represent organizations including:

• Employers
• Health Plans 
• Third Party Administrators
• Agents
• PBMs
• Care Management Organizations 
• Pharmaceutical Organizations
• Provider Networks 
• Solutions Providers 
• Associations, Institutes and Research Organizations 
• Media
• Other Interested Organizations