Corporate Wellness Blog

Given the gigantic growth of health promotion programs over the last two years, it was inevitable resistance would creep up among watchdog groups.

In Washington, lobbyists have spearheaded a push for Congress, the DOL and IRS to crack down on “punitive” wellness programs.

In particular, the groups seek to limit health promotion programs in which employees’ share of their healthcare costs are directly tied to their willingness to take part in a health promotion program.

HIPAA’s non-discrimination rules prohibit businesss from building negative financial incentives for staff members with health risks.

For example, you can’t raise someone’s premium share because he or she smokes. What you can do is offer a discount when someone completes a smoking cessation program.

Reason –  the law does allow for financial incentives to staff who willingly participate in wellness programs.

The watchdog groups seek greater regulation to be sure incentives and discounts are used only as rewards for healthful behavior, not as a thinly veiled form of discrimination against high-risk staff members.