title: Long-term impact of Johnson & Johnson's Health & Wellness Program on health care utilization and expenditures.
abstract: The long-term impact of corporate health and wellness programs is largely unknown, because most evaluations focus on impact in just 1 or 2 years after program initiation. This project estimated the longer-term impact of the Johnson & Johnson Health & Wellness Program on medical care utilization and expenditures. Employees were followed for up to 5 years before and 4 years after Program implementation. Fixed-effects regression models were used to control for measurable and unmeasurable factors that may influence utilization and expenditures. Results indicated a large reduction in medical care expenditures (approximately $224.66 per employee per year) over the 4-year Program period. These benefits came from reduced inpatient use, fewer mental health visits, and fewer outpatient visits compared with the baseline period. Most benefits occurred in years 3 and 4 after Program initiation. We conclude that programs designed to better integrate occupational health, disability, wellness, and medical benefits may have substantial health and economic benefits in later years.
authors.affiliation: Research and Policy Division, MEDSTAT Group, Inc, 777 East Eisenhower Parkway, 803R, Ann Arbor, MI 48108, USA. ron.ozminkowski@medstat.com
authors.forename: Ronald J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Ozminkowski
authors.forename: Davina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ling
authors.forename: Ron Z
authors.initials: RZ
authors.lastname: Goetzel
authors.forename: Jennifer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Bruno
authors.forename: Kathleen R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Rutter
authors.forename: Fikry
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Isaac
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D005102:Health Expenditures; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000191:economics* / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D009786:Occupational Health Services / Q000191:economics* / Q000458:organization & administration; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000191:economics*; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012044:Regression Analysis; D014481:United States; D014600:Utilization Review / Q000191:economics*