Wellness Program Participation and its Association With Reduction in Health Risks and Health Care Costs: One University's Story.

Abstract

Evaluate if there is a(n): 1) reduction in health risk behaviors and 2) association between health and wellness initiative participation and claims costs decreases overtime. Health risk behavior change consisted of the analysis of pre (2009) - post (2019) measures of health questionnaire participants. The medical and pharmaceutical claims costs evaluation consisted of a time-series (2016-2019) design with a comparison group. A large mid-western university with a health system. The health risk behavior sample ranged from 5215-5399, depending on the variable of interest. The medical and pharmaceutical costs sample used a cohort of participants (participating all 4 years, n=11114) and non-participants (not participating all 4 years, n=4776). Comprehensive employee health and well-being initiative. McNemar's tests were used to identify bivariate associations between 2009 and 2019 health risks. The claims cost analysis used propensity score matching based on select demographics and linear mixed-effects regression modeling. Results show statistically significant (P > .001) improvements (ranging from -2.1% to -12.5%) in 7 of 8 health risk behaviors. 2016 and 2019 claims costs have a lower statistically significant (P > .001) percent increase for participants (32.6%) compared to non-participants (47.5%). Employers, may consider implementing a comprehensive health and wellness program as part of their strategy to assist in health behavior risk reduction and health care cost containment.