Innovations in Workers Compensation: Workplace Wellness Grant Program Carol Morrison Manager, DSH Outreach Programs & Services Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation 614-644-8225 Carol.morrison@bwc.state.oh.us
Wellness Defined Wellness is an active process of becoming aware of and making choices toward a more successful existence. ~ National Wellness Institute
Chronic illnesses & o Obesity o Heart tdisease o Diabetes o Arthritis o Aging workforce o Stress conditions
Risk factors opoor nutrition otobacco Tb use ophysical inactivity odrinking too much
What is the daily recommended amount of dietary fat a healthy adult should eat? 1. 30 grams 2. 50 grams 3. 80 grams Source: Mayo Clinic
What is the recommended amount of sodium intake? 1. 1,500 grams 2. 2,300 grams 3. 3,300 grams Source: Dietary Guidelines of America
Tobacco use o Tobacco use costs > $289 billion a year o Includes at least $133 billion in direct medical care o Costs > $156 billion in lost productivity o U.S. adult cigarette smokers = 18.1% o More than 16 million Americans suffer from a disease caused by smoking Source: CDC
How much physical activity does the CDC recommend per week? 1. 1 hour, 15 minutes 2. 2 hours, 30 minutes 3. 3 hours, 30 minutes 4. 4 hours, 30 minutes Source: CDC
Drinking too much o Responsible for 88,000 deaths o One in 10 deaths among working-age adults o Costs the US $224 billion Source: CDC
What is the Workplace Wellness Grant? o Overarching goal o Develop workplace wellness programs
Effective Workplace Wellness Program 1. Senior leadership commitment 2. Written wellness program 3. Wellness plan in the business plan 4. Wellness team or coordinator 5. Data from surveys and screenings 6. Health promotion programs and services 7. Evaluate and improve
BWC s Workplace Wellness o Allocated $4 million o Use of grant funds Grant Program o Provide up to $15,000 over a four-year period o Total of $300 per participating employee o Must participate four consecutive years
Eligibility Requirements o State-fund t employer o Current on monies owed to BWC o No cumulative lapses of more than 40 days in the past 12 months o No comprehensive workplace wellness program already in place o Must contract with a third-party wellness program vendor
Funding Scheme Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Total $300 per $100 $75 $75 $50 employee
Grant Fund Use Cost of health risk appraisals/biometric screenings Cost of developing and implementing activities based on health risk factors Activities may include: Weight loss programs Educational seminars Physical fitness activities Nutritional counseling
Vendor Selection Guidelines 1. Access to health professionals 2. Strong business background 3. Experience in your industry 4. Legal and regulatory compliance 5. Secured data systems 6. Online portal/other means to collect data 7. HRA and biometric software 8. References
What is the relationship between workplace safety and wellness? o Share the same goal o Health-risk factors increase recovery time
Impact of Workplace Wellness Programs on Workers Comp Significant reduction in: Return-to-work to days; Frequency of claims; Cost of claims; Absenteeism; Presenteeism; Health-care costs.
How do I apply for the grant? o Visit grant webpage o www.bwc.ohio.gov o Complete the online application o Submit the Ohio Shared Services forms o Print, sign, and mail program contract o Receive approval o Contract with wellness vendor
Yearly Employer Requirements 1. Health-risk appraisals (HRAs) due within 3 months of approval 2. Biometrics screening due within 3 months of approval 3. Employee data due within 3 months of approval 4. Programs/Training g developed after HRAs and Biometrics 5. Case studies end of each year
Grant Yearly Timeline o First three months after approval o Three to six months. o Three months to one year o End of each year
Who has applied for the grants? o Current status o Appropriated $4m o Projected spending $2.5m to date
23% Employer size 8% 37% Less than 50 50 100 100 200 Greater than 200 32%
Industry type 1% 3% 5% 7% Cities 9% 4% 26% Mftg Commercial Construction Officework/misc School 13% 15% 16% Service Special Districts Transportation Miscellaneous
Examples of Activities/Programs o Volunteer walking, dancing, yoga o Smoking cessation programs o Weight loss management o 12 week team challenge o Educational seminars o Health fairs o Motivational speakers o Disease prevention
Workers comp and wellness studies o Colorado Study o NIOSH/BWC partnership o National Healthy Worksite program
BWC Resources o Training classes, including wellness o o o o o o o o o Library resources Consulting services Safety council program Safety intervention grants Drug-Free Safety Program Drug-Free Safety Program Grant Transitional Work Program Transitional Work Grant Destination: Excellence
NIOSH National Institute t for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) A part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Mission: to generate new knowledge in the field of occupational safety and health and to transfer that knowledge into practice for the betterment of workers. Accomplishes this through research and developing guidelines Total Worker Health: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/twh/
Other Resources o The Whole Worker: Guidelines for Integrating g Occupational Health and Safety with Workplace Wellness Programs: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/twh/reports.html html o Resources for Health Protection and Promotion: www.cdc.gov/workplacehealthpromotion
Contact Information o Webpage http://www.ohiobwc.com/employer/programs/safety/wellnessgrants.asp o Mailbox Program.wellness@bwc.state.oh.us state oh
Thank you!