Webinar features health and regulatory policy expert Nandan Kenkeremath and Katherine H. Capps, president of Health2 Resources
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WASHINGTON, Sept. 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The summer's heated exchanges about health care reform shed little light on reform proposals that could affect employer-sponsored health and wellness programs. A Sept. 29 Webinar from Health2 Resources will analyze how employers are using incentives and programs to improve employee health, and will delve into questions employers/purchasers and health benefit professionals are asking about how these programs will be affected by upcoming policy and regulatory changes.
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Among President Barack Obama's eight principles for health care reform is "investment in health and wellness programs," and proposals from both the House and Senate include measures to encourage more employers to offer voluntary wellness programs. Positive lifestyle changes have been proven to help employees become healthier and more productive, and work-based programs to improve employee health have also been shown to lower overall health care costs.
The Webinar, "Change on the Horizon: Worksite Health and Wellness Programs -- Reform, Regulations and Reality," is sponsored by Health2 Resources. The Vienna, VA-based health care communications and research firm recently released the results of its third annual survey on the use of incentives in corporate wellness programs, How employers use incentives to keep employees healthy: Perks, programs and peers. The in-depth survey of small, medium and large employers will inform analysis by Webinar speaker Katherine H. Capps, president of Health2 Resources.
Nandan Kenkeremath, president of Leading Edge Policy & Strategy, LLC, will offer insight into the national policy and regulatory landscape during the Webinar. Kenkeremath served 17 years as senior counsel on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce focusing on health care. His work focuses on current activities in comparative effectiveness research, innovative health care payment policy models, health care reform, employer-sponsored health plans, and policy changes that are coming through implementation of the stimulus legislation.
"Nearly two-thirds of employers have implemented programs designed to improve employee health and productivity. These programs are the models policy makers are looking to as they craft broad-based initiatives to extend worksite prevention and wellness," Capps said. "Employers want to know how current limits on the incentives they can offer may change, or how their freedom to innovate in this space may be restricted if the federal government takes a more active role."
The Webinar will address issues and trends surrounding incentive use in worksite health and disease management programs, the status of proposed reform legislation, the regulatory landscape and how health-related research may impact worksite wellness programs. Discussion will shed light on innovative ways employers use incentives to lead employees to better health habits. For more information, go to http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs067/1101292888704/archive/1102705058633.html.
The Webinar is set for Sept. 29, 2009 from 2 to 3 p.m. EDT. For more information or to register, go to https://www.elbowspace.com/servlets/cfd?xr4=&formts=2009-09-11%2012:35:47.392135. To access the complete Health2 Resources survey report, go to www.health2resources.com/surveys_publications.html.
About Health2 Resources
Founded in 1998, Health2 Resources is a full-service communication agency that exclusively serves health care clients throughout the U.S. by offering a full range of research and public relations support. It works closely with local, state and federal policymakers and regulatory agencies to build and improve relationships on behalf of a mix of clients that buy health care, pay for health care, provide health care and evaluate health care. Visit Health2 Resources at http://www.health2resources.com.
SOURCE Health2 Resources
