Welcome to the Frequently Asked Questions page for the Goshen College Wellness Program
As employees ask questions, we will try to update this page to include the most common ones.
What is the purpose of the wellness program? 1) Improved health for employees 2) Savings on health care expenses for employees and the college 3) Freeing up resources for pay, benefits, and other institutional priorities
What are the components of the program?
The four areas that will be used to determine acceptable levels of health are:
Blood glucose will also be measured but not used as one of the four areas for setting health targets. Employees whose glucose level is high are advised to seek or continue medical treatment.
Research has shown them to be the most critical factors in predicting overall health and amount of medical treatment needed.
Monday-Thursday, April 18-21, 7a-10a, in Newcomer 19. You must sign up at this BravoWellness web site (registration required): https://www.bravoscreenings.com/mebp/bravo-login-new.php. Twelve-hour fasting is required prior to the screening, and you may drink water and take your normal medication. Refreshments will be available after your appointment.
Each participant will get a report mailed to their home address within a few weeks from the date of screening.
What if my results from the screening seem inaccurate? You have 30 days to appeal the results, and your doctor can either provide evidence or indicate why the reading is not a true indicator of your level in this area.
I’ve been advised by my doctor that my medical condition makes it unlikely I can improve my measurements at the present time. Will it still count against me? No. If your doctor or practitioner verifies your condition is being treated and is not likely to be improved, failing to reach the acceptable level will not count against you.
Why aren’t other cholesterol measurements, like HDL and ratio, used? The LDL level is the best predictor of health problems associated with high cholesterol. The others are important as well in determining the course of action you and your medical advisor will follow.
What levels will be established and when? Once group aggregate levels are known, Bravo Wellness staff will recommend appropriate levels for our pool of employees. The levels will likely be announced in the Fall of 2011.
Who will know my individual results? Only you as the employee and people (like your doctor) with whom you choose to share them. The college will only be given overall group results.
Why are you calling the Wellness Program "voluntary" when we must pay part of our medical premium if we don't participate? In order for the Wellness Program to be successful in "bending the curve" of future premium increases, both Everence and Bravo Wellness recommend that we achieve at least a 95% to 97% participation rate. To achieve that number, the College is using both "carrot" and "stick" incentives to encourage employees to participate. However, this approach does not mean the program is mandatory, only that the program is most beneficial to the GC community if all or nearly all of its members participate.
What financial incentives are involved? Employees who choose not to participate in the health screening will start paying an amount equal to 20% of the individual employee premium rate effective July 1, 2011. Using current rates, which may change July 1, this is about $35.75 per pay, $76.50 per month.
What incentives will be used once our levels for the four indicators have been determined? The incentives will be determined in the next months, and would go into effect July 1, 2012. Points will be awarded for meeting the acceptable levels for each area.
Can progress toward an acceptable level count as a point? Yes, providing a medical practitioner has verified this progress is realistic in the time frame available. For instance, someone with a BMI of 40 may have an approved goal of reaching 36 in the next year, or losing 15-20 lbs. An employee who reaches this level at the next screening would receive would a point.
If I have achieved the stated goal and no longer improve, will I lose that point? No, once you have reached the stated goal, you keep the point unless you drop below the acceptable level the following year.
Can my spouse or children be enrolled? At this time, no. Expanding this to dependents covered in the plan will be considered after several years of experience with the employee group.
Will Bravo Wellness sell my contact information to other medical or health organizations? No, your personal information will not be sold or provided to any other business or organization. Bravo Wellness is compliant with all HIPAA and DOL regulations. These are the same regulations that all providers of health care services are subject to. That includes regulations and penalties.
Why was the decision to start the program made this quickly? As we're nearing the end of the plan year, the MEBP (Mennonite Educators Benefit Plan) found itself with reserves that can only be used for medical purposes. In order to preemptively "bend the curve" of future premium increases, the members decided to use the funds to encourage improvement in the wellness of its employees by implementing the wellness program while still in the position to do so. We didn't want to wait until after significant premium increases had occurred.
The Mennonite Educators Benefit Plan is comprised of Goshen College, Eastern Mennonite University, Bluffton University, Hesston College, Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary, and Mennonite Education Agency. The members are in a self-funded medical pool, which helps to keep costs down as claims risks are spread among all members.
Why did we select Bravo Wellness as the company to partner with for our wellness program? Bravo Wellness was highly recommended to us by Everence, which researched many wellness companies before choosing Bravo. Everence, Oaklawn and Greencroft have all been using Bravo Wellness for the past few years, and have been satisfied with their service and results. |
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