American employers recognize that the cost of healthcare and its steep rate of increase are critical issues. Employers have attempted many techniques for dealing with these problems: Negotiating price discounts, regulating lengths of stay, restricting the choice of treatment venue, reducing coverage, cutting benefits, shifting costs, or otherwise limiting care. While each of these has value in either reducing healthcare costs or reducing the rate of increase, they address only the supply of healthcare, not the demand for it. They also fail to recognize another, related, issue: The effect of declining rates of worker health on productivity and profitability.

An increasing body of evidence indicates that there is great potential to lower healthcare spending by reducing the demand for it. Fortunately, many of the actions which can impact this demand can also improve employee health and productivity. Population health management programs - also known as WELLNESS programs – can accomplish these goals if they are designed properly, communicated aggressively, and provide incentives which motivate people to engage in the program.

Benefit Sources & Solutions is pleased to present UBA WellnessWorks, a comprehensive health management program designed to move individuals in your employee and dependent population to lower risk states, improve their health and productivity, and reduce the demand for high-cost healthcare. The program is supported and powered by Matria Healthcare, one of the nation’s leading wellness and health management companies.