 Doing fine in 2009: Progress report on the Health Reform Initiative
Since Healthy IncentivesSM began in 2005, King County employees have been doing their part to improve health and reduce costs. 2009 proved a watershed year, marking significant progress towards better health and controlling costs. Cost Savings Prior to the Healthy IncentivesSM, health care costs at King County were rising at 11% a year. By 2009 expenses had slowed to 9% growth a year, a reduction of $18 million from original projections. Healthier Employees and Families Good news: Healthy IncentivesSM has been successful not only in helping healthy folks stay healthy, but also in actually improving the well being of both employees and their spartners. According to the highly regarded research firm Thompson Reuters, King County employees and their spartners showed steady improvement in 12 out of 14 health indicators over the past four years, including blood pressure, weight and tobacco use. The researchers say these health improvements are particularly notable given the county’s aging population and low turnover. Without innovative wellness programs (like Healthy IncentivesSM) experts normally expect decreases in health each year. 
Health risks lower More employees have lowered their risk for developing a chronic health condition by making healthier lifestyle choices. The number of people categorized as high risk in the annual wellness assessment has dropped from 44 percent in 2006 to 34 percent in 2009. The number of low risk people increased from 51percent in 2006 to 60 percent in 2009.  Better health saves money
Health improvements and lower medical costs resulting from losing weight or quitting tobacco are often felt more quickly than the longer term proposition of preventing a chronic disease. BMI levels have decreased – in 2006 67.8 percent of employees were above recommended BMI ranges. In 2009 that dropped to 65.4 percent. Tobacco use for employees and spartners has plummeted from 10.1 percent to 6.3 percent. Going generic saves money, too KingCareSM members today are choosing lower cost generic prescriptions almost two-to-one over brand name drugs -- a 20 percent increase over 2008 alone. Choosing generics saved the county $1.4 million dollars. Continued engagement and satisfaction Participation by King County employees continues to rank among the best in the nation, with the rate of those taking the wellness assessment consistently above 90 percent. The number of people who then follow up with an individual action plan that addresses their health risks has increased from 88 percent in 2006 to 92 percent in 2008. The program also remains popular with employees and their spartners. Workplace Wellness Workplace wellness programs are rapidly becoming a national standard for improving health and reducing expenses. Many of them are modeled after King County’s Health Reform Initiative, where 2009 was a banner year for employee engagement . . . and more than a little fun. Live Well Challenge More than 540 employees participated on 95 teams throughout King County. Congratulations to Snap Pea Dragons (Top point earning Traditional Team), Mick & Spirit Team Up (Top point earning Couples Team), The Nutty Hardwalking Conscientious Munchers (Most improved Traditional Team), Dangeo-Kokorowski (Most Improved Couples Team) The Audacity of Nope (Best name), and Push Up Dolls (Best team photo). Kudos also goes to our first year spartner teams, bloggers, and Team Captains. Get the full skinny on the Live Well Challenge . Eat Smart Weight Watchers at Work® members have collectively lost almost 11,379 pounds since the program began at King County. A produce delivery pilot program called Farm to Work was set up at the Chinook Building and most vending machines in county buildings now offer healthy snack choices as a result of the Healthier Snacks Program. The Eat Smart web site is full of information on eating organically and incorporating more fruits, vegetables and whole grains into your meals.  Move More
In 2009, the Gym Discount Program offered discounts to employees and families at 29 gyms in 139 locations throughout the county. Onsite activity centers at many county locations are helping employees get physical activity before and after work. During King County Walks Week in April, over 630 employees turned out to walk the talk during lunch hours. In May, almost 180 King County employees were recognized the King County Council for their participation in Bike to Work Month. And this past October, over 274 employees took part in the American Heart Association’s Heart Walk, raising $25,805. Want to Move More in 2010? Click here. Onsite Seasonal Flu Shots attracted a record number of employees to 32 clinics held throughout the county this November. In a year when local clinics and pharmacies ran out of seasonal flu vaccine, King County was able to administer vaccine to more than 3,400 employees, a record for our onsite seasonal flu clinics. Healthy employees result in savings for the county in both sick days and productivity at work. Staying informed Scores turned out for screening and advice during Diabetes ID Day and follow-up lectures during the month of April. Later in the year employees packed county conference rooms to hear the latest thinking from leading health experts at our “Lunch and Learn” lecture series. Meanwhile the Puget Sound Health Alliance published another of its popular Community Checkup Reports, adding hospitals and insurance plans to its interactive web engine which rates the quality of care provided throughout the region. More than 650 employees have created personal health records since they began being offered through Aetna KingCare.
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