Network Health Launches Small Group Wellness Program

Wellness Pathways rewards small businesses and their employees for healthy lifestyles 

July 9, 2010

Menasha, WI - Network Health is launching its first-ever small group wellness plan, called Wellness Pathways, to allow groups with 2-50 employees to benefit from the improved health outcomes and dollars saved that wellness programs achieve.

Beginning with plans that went into effect on July 1, 2010, Wellness Pathways will financially reward businesses when their employees reach five out of seven wellness criteria.

"We have seen a great deal of success with Millennium, our wellness program for large groups, and we feel it's important to also offer our small group employers a wellness program that's simple and effective," said Sheila Jenkins, president of Network Health. "Participants in our wellness programs achieve healthier lifestyles and they have saved health care dollars. We think that wellness and prevention plays a crucial role in the future health status of our participants, and because of recent wellness legislation from the state of Wisconsin, expansion of wellness incentives to small employer groups is now possible."

Network Health provides a tool-kit for employers to promote wellness in ways that are most appropriate for the group and the employment setting.

"It's important for the businesses themselves to be in control of Wellness Pathways because each workplace is different," said Jenkins. "The program allows employers to control the message, the programming and the rewards. We provide businesses with the materials, resources, website and funding of the rewards, but our businesses decide, based on their climates, how to best use Wellness Pathways. Our program lets the businesses and the employees benefit directly."

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Network Health has offered customized commercial and Medicare health insurance services to area employers, individuals and families since 1982, and through its strong reputation for providing quality health care coverage and excellent customer service has grown to serve thousands of people in Northeast Wisconsin and beyond. Each year since 2002, Network Health has received the highest possible "Excellent" accreditation status from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) for its commercial HMO insurance plans, and annually since 2004 it has been ranked in the Top 50 Health Insurance Plans in U.S. News and World Report's NCQA Best Health Plans in America listing.