Comptroller Kevin Lembo announced today that more than 99 percent of state employees in the Health Enhancement Program — a beefed-up wellness program negotiated in last year’s labor concession talks — have complied with preventative screening requirements.
“This Health Enhancement Program compliance blew away all expectations — and should be a strong signal about the potential long-term financial and health benefits to the state,” Lembo said. “My office is already seeing preliminary signs that HEP may be helping to drive down unnecessary emergency room visits and other costly acute care.”
About 53,000 state employees and new retirees are enrolled the program, which offers reduced premimums and no-deductible services in return for employees and dependents obtaining regular health screenings in an effort to reduce long-term medical costs for chronic conditions..
The program is designed to reduce emergency-room visits and complications associated with chronic conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease.
“While the rest of the country is experiencing health care cost increases of more than 8 percent — twice the general rate of inflation — Connecticut, as an employer, will see no increase this year,” Lembo said. “This is not a coincidence — but a direct result of health care innovations, including the Health Enhancement Program, that are moving the cost needle on health care.”