Measuring the Impact of a Health Risk Management (HRM) Program on Employees’ Health Risks and Workers’ Compensation

1. Measuring the Impact of a Health Risk Management (HRM) Program on Employees’ Health Risks and Workers’ Compensation Lee S. Newman1,MD, MA, Kaylan Stinson1, MSPH, Hai Fang1, PhD, Adam Atherly, 1 PhD, PhD Claire Brockbank2, MS, Jim McMillen3, MSPH, CIH, Margo Trotter4, RN, MHSc, Kim Jinnett5, PhD, Liliana Tenney1, MPH, Ron Goetzel6, PhD 1- Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO; 2- Segue Consulting, Denver, CO; 3- Pinnacol Assurance, Denver, CO; 4-Trotter Wellness, Sheboygan, Wisconsin; 5-Integrated Benefits Institute, San Francisco, CA; 6- Truven Health Analytics, Washington D.C. Background Significant factors associated with filing workers’ compensation claims • Americans spend one-third of their time at work.* • Worksite health promotion programs can improve health risk factors and reduce costs (direct and indirect). • Some published evidence exists showing associations between health risks/behaviors and workers’ compensation outcomes. • It is not known if wellness programs that address health risks and comorbid conditions reduce the number and cost of work-related injuries. • Studies that have methodically studied health promotion in small businesses are lacking, despite the fact that 56% of US workers are employed by small businesses.** Female 34-54 < High School High School/Some College African American Hispanic/Latino <=$16/hour $16.01-24/hour 25.0-29.9 (overweight) 30.0-34.9 (class I obesity) 35.0-39.9 (class II obesity) >=40.0 (class III obesity) High Cholesterol Cholesterol unknown Glucose values unknown Depression Back Pain Arthritis High Alcohol Consumption Cigarette Smoking Intervention: Health Risk Management Program A worksite wellness program, provided free of charge to companies and their employees insured by Pinnacol Assurance, a workers’ compensation carrier in the state of Colorado. Results Significant factors associated with medical costs related to workers’ compensation claims Objective Female >=55 < High School High School/Some College <=$16/hour $16.01-24/hour The overall objective of this study is to assess the effect of the Health Risk Management program on the frequency and severity of workers’ compensation claims and to determine if the HRM provides measurable benefits to policyholders by improving employee health and productivity. <18.5 (underweight) 35.0-39.9 (class II obesity) High Cholesterol Cholesterol unknown Blood Pressure values unknown Depression Workers’ Compensation Claims (N=958) • Information presented in this poster will: • Describe the baseline health status of participants enrolled in the HRM program. • Identify associations between risk factors and prospective workers’ compensation data. High Alcohol Consumption Methods Summary & Future Directions • Data Collection & Analysis • Health Risk Assessment Data (HRA): Baseline HRA data was collected using a web-based, self-administered questionnaire provided by Trotter Wellness and certified by the National Committee for Quality Assurance. • Workers’ Compensation Data: prospective workers’ compensation claims data (closed medical claims only) were collected for individuals in the HRM program from the Pinnacol Assurance workers’ compensation database. • Notes: • *medical costs= no lost work time paid out (<3 missed work shifts) • All statistical anlayses performed using STATA 12 (StataCorp. 2011. Stata Statistical Software: Release 12. College Station, TX: StataCorp LP.) • Research reviewed and granted exempt status by the Colorado Multiple Institutional Review Board (COMIRB) • By pooling data from many small employers into a uniform database, we have created a unique opportunity for a prospective, multi-year intervention study in small businesses. • First year analysis identified important modifiable health risks in the small business workforce • Workers’ compensation injuries and medical costs are associated with important demographic, health and behavioral risk factors. • Future analyses will test whether the intervention results in improved health and reduced costs and claims. • The long term evaluation objectives of this project are to prospectively: • Measure changes in workers’ compensation claim rates/costs over time • Identify changes in employee health profiles over time • Study the effects of the Health Risk Management program on labor market and performance • Study the effects of the Health Risk Management program on preventive health behaviors • References: • * Bureau of Labor Statistics, American Time Use Survey 2010 • ** Bureau of Labor Statistics, Business Employment Dynamics Survey 2011 What are the top self-reported health risks among the population at baseline? For more information about this poster, please contact: Lee.Newman@ucdenver.edu