Final Rule Issued on Employee Wellness Programs
Wednesday, June 5th, 2013 | Corporate Wellness, Employment Based Wellness, Exercise, Wellness Program | No Comments
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The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said its final rule on employment-based wellness programs, released yesterday, supports workplace health promotion and prevention as a means to reduce the burden of chronic illness, to improve health, and to limit growth of health care costs, all while ensuring that individuals “are protected from unfair underwriting practices that could otherwise reduce benefits based on health status.”
The final rule continues to support “participatory wellness programs,” which generally are available without regard to an individual’s health status. These programs reimburse or reward employees for such initiatives as joining a fitness center, attending health education seminars, or completing a health risk assessment with no obligation to take further action. Read More
