Health risk reduction programs in employer-sponsored health plans: Part I-efficacy.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to determine whether workplace health risk reduction programs (HRRPs) using health risk assessments (HRAs), individually focused risk reduction, and financial incentives succeeded in improving employee health and reducing employer health benefit costs.


METHODS
We reviewed the proprietary HRA available to us and conducted a literature review to determine the efficacy of HRRPs using HRAs, individualized employee interventions, and financial incentives for employee participation.


RESULTS
There is some evidence that HRRPs in employer-sponsored programs improve measures of employee health, but the results of these studies are somewhat equivocal.


CONCLUSIONS
Employer-sponsored HRRPs may have some benefits, but problems in plan design and in the studies assessing their efficacy complicate drawing conclusions.
Rothstein
Mark A
MA
Institute for Bioethics, Health Policy and Law, University of Louisville School of Medicine, KY 40202, USA. mark.rothstein@louisville.edu
Harrell
Heather L
HL
D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D006264:Health Benefit Plans, Employee / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D016272:Occupational Health; D015397:Program Evaluation; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior