On September 25th, I presented at the Annual Health 2.0 2011 conference in San Francisco as part of the “Employers 2.0” panel. The panel discussed the integration of online health and wellness programs and applications into health benefits, new developments in worksite clinics, and how Health 2.0 tools are helping employees purchase care in a different way.
I challenged employers to think of the new age of consumerism as an opportunity to lead the way in improving access and quality while controlling costs , which engendered lively discussion between employers and business innovators in this space. Throughout the discussion, I emphasized the following:
1. Consumers’ increasing demand for health quality and cost information online is changing the workplace. The increase in consumer health activity online, including searching for information and selecting providers, gives employers an opportunity to impact employees health behaviors.
2. Managing health care for self-funded employers can be akin to managing the supply chain: it may not be the core business, but employers can take steps to increase quality and decrease cost.
3. Now is the time for employers to lead the way and take a role in improving employee health; employers don’t have to wait for government or health plans to design the future.
4. Employers can lead through value-based benefit design, and “get their hands dirty;” they can engage employees directly or with partners like health plans or wellness programs, and move from pilots to standard business practice.
5. Employers can identify and plan for moments when employees are “listening” or are receptive to health and wellness messaging and willing to get engaged. There are many strategies for getting employees’ "skin in the game" without taking away valued benefits.
6. Employers can work with vendors to use data and evaluate progress of change.
Presentations from other members of the panel included a talk by Jen Freitas from Clif Bar on how that company is integrating employee health and wellness into their core mission, and a compelling case study from Nicole Ansani at Pfizer on how they are using the online incentive and management application platform Keas to motivate employees to get fit and stay well. The panel also featured live demos of the latest employee-focused applications from health tech innovators, including Castlight, an online tool for price transparency and health cost management which was featured in PBGH’s summer webinar series on price transparency tools. To learn more about PBGH’s participation in the Health 2.0 conference or the Consumer Engagement activities on behalf of our members, please contact me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
