Shirley Musich

The association of health risks with workers' compensation costs.

Thepurpose of this study was to investigate the association between health risksand workers’ compensation (WC) costs. The 4-year study used Health RiskAppraisal data and focused on 1996-to-1999 WC costs among XeroxCorporation’s long-term employees. High WC costs were related toindividual health risks, especially Health Age Index (a measure ofcontrollable risks), smoking, poor physical health, physical inactivity, andlife dissatisfaction. WC costs increased with increasing health risk status(low-risk to medium-risk to high-risk). Low-risk employees had the lowestcosts. In this population, 85% of WC costs could be attributed to excess risks(medium- or high-risk) or non-participation. Among those with claims, asavings of

Effectiveness of an Incentive-based Online Physical Activity Intervention on Employee Health Status

1238 per person per year was associated with Health Risk Appraisalparticipation. Addressing WC costs by focusing on employee health statusprovides an important additional strategy for health promotionprograms.

The Relationship between National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Weight Guidelines and Concurrent Medical Costs in a Manufacturing Population

Objective: The objective of this study was to test whether a financial incentive integrated with health benefits for an online physical activity program was associated with increased employee participation and improved health status among participants compared with nonparticipants. Methods: Participation in the Virtual Fitness Center (VFC), an online physical activity program associated with a

The Association of Corporate Work Environment Factors, Health Risks, and Medical Conditions with Presenteeism Among Australian Employees

150 cash rebate, was assessed. Risk status for 2004 VFC participants and nonparticipants was compared using a health risk appraisal. Results: A total of 53.8% of total eligible employees were VFC participants and reduced their risk for physical inactivity (8.4% points), life dissatisfaction (2.1), low perception of health (1.9), high risk status (1.3), smoking (0.4), and high body weight (0.2). Conclusions: Providing a cash incentive is one strategy for encouraging VFC participation and eliciting improved health status in an employer-sponsored, web-based physical activity program.

The Association of Two Productivity Measures with Health Risks and Medical Conditions in an Australian Employee Population

Purpose. To explore the relationship between the 1998 National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) weight guidelines and concurrent medical costs. Design. Cross-sectional study. Setting. In a nationwide manufacturing corporation (General Motors Corporation). Subjects. A total of 177,971 employees, retirees, and their adult dependents who were enrolled in Indemnity/PPO health insurance plan during the years 1996 and 1997 and completed one health risk appraisal (HRA) in the same period. Measures. The participants were categorized into six weight groups according to the NHLBI 1998 guidelines (body mass index [BMI] <185, 185–24.9, 25–29.9, 30–34.9, 35–39.9, ≥40 kg/m2). The height and weight data were collected by self-reported values on an HRA or biometric screening completed during 1996 to 1997. To represent the typical medical costs in a given group, the median, instead of mean, medical charges were used in this article. The annual median medical charges (including drug charges) for years 1996 and 1997 were compared among the six weight groups by using Wilcoxon rank sum tests. The differences in median charges were also tested between the normal weight group and the other five groups for each of the 10 gender-age subgroups (five age groups: 19–44, 45–54, 55–64, 65–74, 75+). Results. Overall median medical costs were consistent with the NHLBI weight guidelines. The normal-weight group costs the least and both underweight and overweight-obesity groups cost more. The median medical costs of the six weight groups were

Examination of risk status transitions among active employees in a comprehensive worksite health promotion program.

3184,

The Savings Gained From Participation in Health Promotion Programs for Medicare Beneficiaries

2225,

Pattern of medical charges after quitting smoking among those with and without arthritis, allergies, or back pain.

2388,

Costs and Benefits of Prevention and Disease Management

2801,

The impact of resilience among older adults

3182, and