Lobby groups take aim at wellness programs.
Given the huge growth of health promotion programs over the last two years, it was inevitable resistance would creep up among watchdog groups.
In Washington, lobbyists have spearheaded a push for Congress, the DOL and IRS to crack down on “punitive” health promotion programs.
Especially, the groups seek to limit wellness programs in which employees’ share of their health care costs are directly tied to their willingness to participate in a wellness program.
HIPAA’s non-discrimination rules prohibit corporations from building negative financial incentives for staff members with health risks.
For instance, you can’t raise someone’s premium share because he or she smokes. What you are able to do is offer a discount when someone completes a smoking cessation program.
Reason – the law does allow for financial incentives to workforce who willingly participate in wellness programs.
The watchdog groups seek greater regulation to be sure incentives and discounts are used only as rewards for healthful behavior, not as a thinly veiled form of discrimination against high-risk workforce.
