An interim Legislative committee is looking at wellness programs – and how they could be made part of the health insurance plan for state employees.
"Are they effective?" said Rep. George Keiser (R-Bismarck), the chairman of the interim Health Care Reform Review Committee. "If so, what are the advantages to the employees, and what are the advantages to the employer?"
Keiser said the Committee is exploring various options to consider.
"We could be looking at doing something, even on a pilot basis, possibly," said Keiser. "We want to see if it will benefit the state of North Dakota and, most importantly, our employees."
Dick Hedahl knows all about offering wellness programs. Hedahl’s Incorporated is an auto parts supply house with a number of locations in the upper Midwest. His business employs about 200 people. Hedahl told the committee his company offers a wellness plan.
"Why wellness? Because you can give some people incentive to be healthy," Hedahl told the Committee. "If you are self-insured, you end up costing the company less, long term. That was the theory."
Hedahl’s gives incentives for employees to lose weight, quit smoking, have their blood pressure and blood sugar checked, as well as some other medical tests.
"My goal was to change the culture of the company, so that people think about living a healthy lifestyle," Hedahl said.
But Hedahl cautions that the financial incentive, while helping to promote a healthy lifestyle, won’t do it by itself.
"You gotta wanna," said Hedahl. "You're not going to lead a healthy lifestyde if you don't want to. All this does is encourage people to 'want to.'"
Hedahl says his company has saved a lot of money – because employees have embraced a healthy lifestyle.
