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Network Health Plan unveils new product that rewards wellness

Millennium allows employees to embrace wellness and be rewarded

06 / 09 / 2008

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MENASHA, Wis. – Network Health Plan is introducing a new insurance product aimed at reducing health care costs and improving the health and well-being of its members.

The new Millennium product by Network Health Plan creates a partnership between the health plan, primary care physicians, occupational health, employers and employees. “Network Health Plan is in a unique position because, as part of the Affinity Health System integrated health network, we can coordinate all of these services for our members and employers,” said Sheila Jenkins, Network Health Plan president.

“And unlike other wellness initiatives, with Millennium all stakeholders have the tools, as well as the incentives, to embrace wellness,” Jenkins said.

Employers who qualify for Millennium will be assigned a corporate wellness specialist and a health coach nurse who will be dedicated to that business and act as a health advocate for employees. Employees enrolled in Millennium complete a health risk assessment, which is a wellness tool that points out potential health risks.

Programs, such as fitness and weight management, are then established to allow the employees to take control of their health and reduce those health risks. “Employees are rewarded for making healthy lifestyle choices, and employers are rewarded by achieving a healthier workforce,” Jenkins said.

National studies show that health care costs are lowered when employees participate in wellness programs. Studies also show that without an incentive, less than 25 percent of employees participate in employer-sponsored wellness programs.

Employers that show improvements in wellness scores will be rewarded with lower health insurance premiums, and their employees will be rewarded with their choice of gift cards, merchandise, or other perks chosen by their employer for working to improve their health. “Millennium is different from all other health care plans on the market today,” Jenkins said. “ We not only provide employees with their health risk profiles, but we give them the plan, goals, motivation through financial incentives, tools and support that will improve their health and decrease their risk for serious, chronic and often debilitating health conditions.”

Network Health Plan has been piloting Millennium for about six months with select local companies. Based on feedback from employers during the pilot program, enhancements were made to the product. There are now three distinct Millennium versions suited to diverse employer needs.

All Millennium customers will have access to the private WebMD portal, which in addition to providing all the health information found on the public Web site, includes detailed, specific information and tools for employees with health risks to use to reduce or eliminate those risks.

“When employees commit to a healthy lifestyle, employers and employees benefit,” Jenkins said. “Millennium is the resource to help accomplish this.”

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For the Editor:
Affinity Health System, a Catholic mission-oriented regional health care network, is a partnership of Ministry Health Care and Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare. Affinity Health System is the Fox Valley’s third largest employer, according to the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce & Industry, and is nationally listed among the top 50 hospitals for quality and efficiency (Thomson Reuters, Modern Healthcare). For eight consecutive years, Affinity Health System has been named to the SDI Health (formerly Verispan) Integrated Health Network Top 100, an annual assessment of the 100 most highly integrated health care networks in the nation – Affinity ranks no. 29 in the 2009 report. Both St. Elizabeth Hospital in Appleton and Mercy Medical Center in Oshkosh rank among the top 1 percent among hospitals nationwide in terms of quality and efficiency, as determined by the 2007 Premier | CareScience Select practice National Quality Award. Network Health Plan has achieved Excellent accreditation status from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), the highest possible level. It is ranked 31st in the nation, according to the U.S. News and World Report/NCQA Best Health Plans in America listing. Members of Affinity include Mercy Medical Center and Mercy Health Foundation, Oshkosh; St. Elizabeth Hospital and the St. Elizabeth Hospital Community Foundation, Appleton; Affinity Medical Group, a regional network of 22 family practice and specialty clinics – including two fully operational Medical Home models – in 14 communities; Calumet Medical Center, Chilton; Network Health Plan, Menasha; and Affinity Occupational Health.