What does the future of workplace wellness programs look like under the GOP's plan to replace the ACA? Look for consumer-driven growth, says one expert.
Borne of the Affordable Care Act, wellness programs are favored by employers as a mechanism to keep healthcare costs down and employee engagement up.
They are extremely popular with employers, if not with employees:
- 83% of all employers offer some wellness programs
- As many as 99% of healthcare organizations offer them
But what does the future of workplace wellness programs look like under the American Health Care Act, the GOP's plan to replace the ACA?
Mary Coleman has some thoughts about the future of wellness plans. She is manager of government affairs and consumer engagement at Centura Health, a non-profit health system based in Colorado. It employees more than 17,000 workers.
The transcript below of Coleman's recent conversation with HealthLeaders has been lightly edited.
HealthLeaders: Why did employer-sponsored wellness proliferate during the Obama administration?
Mary Coleman: I've given this a lot of thought. We always try to decide if the growth of these programs is politically motivated, or if there is some other reason. I do think they grew under the Obama administration, in large part due to the Affordable Care Act.
There was a push from employers, insurance carriers, health systems, patients, and providers to really get innovative and bring down the cost of care and increase quality of care.
When all of the interested parties started putting our heads together around the employee wellness piece, we began asking how we could best help our employees by getting people more engaged, better educated, and more empowered about healthcare decisions.
When the ACA came about, people were overwhelmed with information about healthcare, but not sure what to do with it.
HealthLeaders: Do you believe that employer-sponsored wellness programs will continue to grow during the Trump administration?
MC: My opinion is that they will continue to be popular, because we now have healthcare consumers that are aware of the impact that their access or lack of access and the cost of healthcare have on them individually.
As employers, providers, healthcare systems, and a community in general, we will have to stay focused on the foundation we've built for consumers.
Trump has some plans to modify HSA contributions. What this will do is say to consumers, "Hey, we know healthcare is expensive, we're giving you a better way to make it more affordable."
[Wellness plans] will continue to grow, but [the growth will be] consumer-driven rather than driven by any political administration.
HealthLeaders: What impact will the potential repeal and replacement of the ACA have on wellness programs?
MC: We have to be very thoughtful regarding how the Affordable Care Act is going to be repealed, replaced, or reformed over time.
The initial focus of the American Healthcare Act [the Republican house bill intended to replace the Affordable Care Act] is tax relief, elimination of mandates, patient protections, and amendments to HSAs. It doesn't really target wellness programs.
HealthLeaders: How are federal standards likely to change under the current administration? Have you heard any rumblings about changes yet?
MC: We've heard nothing but rumblings of change since the beginning of this administration! This has given us an opportunity to pause and think about where healthcare is headed in the United States.
There are rumblings, but not a lot is focused on employer-sponsored wellness programs. Health systems and providers, and healthcare delivery in general, will continue to charge ahead and try to do the right thing for our patients and workers.
HealthLeaders: Any parting thoughts on employee wellness programs under the Trump administration?
MC: At the end of the day, whether you favor the Trump administration or the Obama administration, the one thing we have to do is clear: We must bring down the cost of healthcare, deliver very high quality, and be innovative with the care that we are offering and the way that you are engaging employees.
Lena J. Weiner is an associate editor at HealthLeaders Media.