WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) announced that he has joined two of his Senate colleagues to urge the federal government to evaluate the effectiveness of federal workplace wellness programs. Senator King joined Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) in reaching out to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to emphasize the benefits of programs that encourage healthier lifestyles, reduce risks of chronic diseases and cut overall healthcare expenses. In their letter, Senators King, Cardin, and Van Hollen urge the GAO to assess the availability, participation and impact of these programs in our federal workforce.

“The burden of chronic disease is not just hurting individuals, but is also contributing to the rising cost of healthcare—which has put a strain not only on family budgets but also on employers,” wrote the senators in the letter. “The average premium for employer-sponsored coverage for a family of four now exceeds $18,000, and employee contributions exceed $5,500 annually.  According to the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), the average emergency room visit cost $1,003 in 2016; almost 10 times the cost of a visit to a family physician.

“As noted by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), ‘Worksite health and wellness programs help employees modify their lifestyles and move toward an optimal state of wellness,’” continued the senators. “As the nation’s largest employer, it is essential that the federal government utilize workplace wellness programs strategically. Compared to private companies, the federal government is in a unique position as a steward of taxpayer dollars, and thus should actively seek ways to minimize cost and maintain healthy employees. According to OPM, federal agencies are encouraged to develop and sustain programs that address the current and future needs of their employees to produce the healthiest possible workforce.”

Senator King is a champion for prevention policies across the board – including advocating for the benefits and financial efficiency of proactive and preventive healthcare. Earlier this month, he hosted a panel discussion in Bangor with local healthcare providers and public wellness experts on the best ways to use prevention strategies to improve health outcomes and reduce costs. As a follow-up to the event, Senator King also focused his monthly “Inside Maine” podcast on the same topic. In May, Senator King introduced the Preventive Health Savings Act of 2019, which would direct the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to more accurately reflect the cost-savings of preventive healthcare, including health screenings. Under current law, the CBO only measures the budgetary impact of legislation in a ten-year timeframe; in contrast, the Preventive Health Savings Act would allow Congressional Committees reviewing healthcare legislation to request up to two additional ten-year projection windows to provide a better understanding of the legislation’s long-term effect on the nation’s healthcare spending.

In March, Senator King introduced the Personal Health Investment Today (PHIT) Act, which incentivizes healthier living by allowing Americans to use a portion of the money saved in their pre-tax health savings accounts toward qualified sports and fitness purchases such as gym memberships. Also in March, he introduced legislation to help seniors and individuals with disabilities navigate the complex web of federal home modification programs; by investing in small changes like grab bars in the shower or a ramp in place of stairs, these Americans can reduce the risk of a serious fall that brings major expenses for both the individual and the Medicare and Medicaid systems. In a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing last November, he highlighted the importance of pursuing preventive healthcare measures to reduce overall healthcare costs for service members and veterans. 

The full letter can be downloaded HERE or read below. 

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We write regarding the high cost of healthcare in this country and with the knowledge that the leading causes of death and disability in the United States are both preventable and responsive to workplace interventions,  and request that the Government Accountability Office conduct a comprehensive investigation into the state of federal workplace health and wellness programs.

In the United States, 70 percent of the total disease burden is made up of preventable or postponable illnesses,  and 99 percent of the adult U.S. population has at least one of seven cardiovascular health risks that lifestyle change can often alter: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood glucose, unhealthy weight, tobacco use, physical inactivity, poor diet.   Additionally, a Stanford University study from 2015 found that more than 120,000 deaths a year, and roughly 5 to 8 percent of annual healthcare costs, may be attributable to how U.S. companies manage their workforces—which would make it the fifth leading cause of death in the U.S.

The burden of chronic disease is not just hurting individuals, but is also contributing to the rising cost of healthcare—which has put a strain not only on family budgets but also on employers. The average premium for employer-sponsored coverage for a family of four now exceeds $18,000, and employee contributions exceed $5,500 annually.  According to the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), the average emergency room visit cost $1,003 in 2016; almost 10 times the cost of a visit to a family physician.

With 151 million U.S. adults in the civilian non-industrialized workforce, the workplace is an ideal setting to improve population health. Many private companies recognize the impact of the social environment in the workplace on health, and are implementing programs that, in some cases, show a reduction in medical costs of approximately $3.27 for every dollar spent on workplace wellness programs.  While the methods of intervention can vary, many programs often include health education, nutrition services, lactation support, physical activity promotion, screenings, vaccinations, traditional occupational health and safety, disease management, and linkages to related employee services. There is substantial evidence, gathered over time, that well-designed and implemented (utilizing best practices) wellness programs can improve the health of participants and minimize health risk factors that could lead to health problems and chronic conditions. In one study of a company with over 100,000 employees, the company saved $535 in annual medical costs of wellness program participants compared to the sample group between 2002-2008. 

As noted by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), “Worksite health and wellness programs help employees modify their lifestyles and move toward an optimal state of wellness.”  As the nation’s largest employer, it is essential that the federal government utilize workplace wellness programs strategically. Compared to private companies, the federal government is in a unique position as a steward of taxpayer dollars, and thus should actively seek ways to minimize cost and maintain healthy employees. According to OPM, federal agencies are encouraged to develop and sustain programs that address the current and future needs of their employees to produce the healthiest possible workforce.

Given this, we would like GAO to address the following questions:

(1)       What workplace well-being and wellness programs do federal employees currently have access to? What is the level of participation?

(2)       What resources and support systems are made available to managers and persons in positions of leadership to implement programs to support the health of employees?

(3)       How does the federal government collect data on the efficacy of workplace wellness programs?

(4)       To what extent has the federal government evaluated the effectiveness of its expenditures on workplace wellness programming, considering such factors in employee health and satisfaction such as productivity, absenteeism, and retention?

Thank you for your attention to this important issue.