Comprehensive Workplace Health Programs to Address Physical Activity, Nutrition, and Tobacco Use in the WorkplaceComprehensive Workplace Health Programs to Address Physical Activity, Nutrition, and Tobacco Use in the Workplace

The Affordable Care Act’s Prevention and Public Health Fund is supporting a $9 million national initiative to establish and evaluate comprehensive workplace health programs to improve the health of workers and their families.  Through a competitive process, two contractors have been chosen to support this initiative.
Viridian Health Management, based in Phoenix, Arizona, will help an estimated 70 to 100 small, mid-size, and large employers create and expand workplace programs aimed at achieving three goals:

• Reduce the risk of chronic disease among employees and their families through evidence-based workplace health interventions and promising practices.
• Promote sustainable and replicable workplace health activities.
• Promote peer-to-peer healthy business mentoring.

In addition, Research Triangle Institute, based in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, will coordinate and administer a national evaluation of the program.

The Cost of Chronic Disease and the Need for Prevention

Chronic diseases – such as heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes – are responsible for 7 of 10 deaths among Americans each year.  Treatment for people with chronic conditions account for more than 75 percent of the more than $2.5 trillion spent on annual U.S. medical care costs.  Obesity is a significant health care cost driver – in 2008, about $147 billion of medical bills were weight-related.  With disease risk often related to economic, social, and physical factors, too many people engage in behaviors – such as tobacco use, poor diet, physical inactivity, and alcohol abuse – that lead to poor health and contribute to chronic disease.

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