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| Wellness Programs & Trends |  |  |
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- Survey: Employers to continue benefits but shift approach
A recent Aon Hewitt survey shows that among large and midsize employers, 94% plan to continue offering health benefits for their employees for the next three to five years. However, 37% of employers plan to change their approach in offering coverage, moving from the "managed trend" to a "house money/house rules" approach, which includes actions such as lowering premiums or giving broader coverage in exchange for taking biometric screenings or answering health risk questionnaires. "Employers are staying in the game, but they are taking bold and assertive steps to achieve more effective results," said Aon Hewitt executive vice president John Zern. Employee Benefit News
(2/28), Business Insurance (tiered subscription model)
(2/28)     
- More employers embracing wellness-based incentives
Survey results released on Wednesday shows employers are investing more money on wellness-based incentives and programs per employee. Employers are planning to spend an average of $521 per employee this year, which is double the amount spent in 2009, and 77% of employers plan to offer wellness-based incentives this year, more than double the percentage who did the same in 2010. Among wellness-based incentives, the most popular are reduced premiums and cash rewards or gift cards. BenefitsPro.com
(2/27)
| Fitness | | |
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- First lady launches "Let's Move Active Schools"
First lady Michelle Obama on Thursday launched a public-private partnership that builds on her "Let's Move!" campaign to provide financial help to schools for programs that improve student fitness. The "Let's Move Active Schools" initiative includes grants to schools from the Department of Education, with organizations and companies such as Nike, GENYOUth Foundation, ChildObesity180, Kaiser Permanente and the General Mills Foundation pledging funding and other resources. Yahoo/The Associated Press
(2/28)
| Health News & Research | | |
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- Study looks at housework in relation to weight gain in women
U.S. women in 2010 were an average of 22 pounds heavier than they were in 1965 and spent 13.3 hours on household chores per week versus 25.7 hours a week 45 years earlier, suggesting that fewer hours spent on household chores may play a role in obesity, a study in PLoS One found. The results suggest that women and people in general should incorporate more activity and exercise in their everyday activities, the study's lead author said. ABC News/Medical Unit blog
(2/28)
- Study links improved academics, breakfast at school
A report created for Share Our Strength showed that eating breakfast at school was associated with higher scores on math tests and greater school attendance per year compared with students who went without breakfast. The improvements in academic performance suggest that children who eat breakfast at school would be 20% more likely to finish high school, researchers said. The Philadelphia Inquirer
(2/28)
| Schools & Community | | |
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- Healthy-foods bill moves forward in Iowa Legislature
An Iowa Senate subcommittee has endorsed a bill to require food-service vendors in state buildings, public universities and community colleges to cook healthier meals and to post menus that display nutrition facts such as calories, fat and sodium. The measure also would require the state to contract with food vendors that follow American Heart Association and U.S. Agriculture Department dietary guidelines, and to give preference to those purchasing from local growers. Omaha World-Herald (Neb.)/The Associated Press
(3/1)
| Wellness Industry Developments | | |
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| AHIP News | | |
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AHIP now offers IT-focused health insurance education
With health care reform implementation, payers and providers are looking at IT as a strategic partner. The need for IT professionals with health insurance knowledge has never been greater. AHIP offers a program that educates IT professionals of all levels about health insurance. The curriculum includes two professional designations, webinars, workshops, online courses and more. Get details.
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Webinar: The Privacy Mega Reg
HHS issued a “Mega Reg” that addresses numerous aspects of patient privacy. The new rule will strengthen the privacy and security protection for individuals' health information in an ever expanding digital age. Join us from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET on March 21 when legal experts will dissect the changes, provide analysis, and present experienced commentary. Get details and register.
| SmartQuote | | |
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 | Mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself, but talent instantly recognizes genius."
--Sir Arthur Conan Doyle,
Scottish-born writer
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| AHIP Solutions Team |
Managing Editor, Online Publishing:
Yvonne Chanatry
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| | Recent AHIP Wellness SmartBrief Issues:
- Thursday, February 28, 2013
- Wednesday, February 27, 2013
- Tuesday, February 26, 2013
- Monday, February 25, 2013
- Friday, February 22, 2013
| | | Lead Editor: Kathryn Doherty
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Childhood-obesity rates have started to decline in Mississippi -- a point that was highlighted by first lady Michelle Obama during a visit Wednesday marking the third anniversary of her "Let's Move!" campaign. Since the program launched, schools in the state have placed different standards for food and drinks in vending machines, replaced cafeteria fryers with steamers and made other changes. 
