| Press Release |
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| October 31, 2008 |
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Governor's Wellness Initiative Encourages Healthier Choices for a Healthier Oregon
(Salem) – As part of the state’s health care reform efforts, Governor Ted Kulongoski today called on Oregon employers – including state agencies – to take advantage of the state’s free, online wellness program to assist employees in making healthier choices.
“Efforts to reform our health care system will be hampered unless we also address the worsening health of Oregonians by reducing smoking and obesity rates,” Governor Kulongoski said. “As we work toward increasing access to affordable health care for all Oregonians, employers can help make a difference by creating healthier workplaces and encouraging employees to make healthier choices today. Wellness programs not only are good for employees, but also are good for a business’ bottom line.”
A recent analysis showed that companies that had implemented a minimum of three wellness measures for at least a year experienced an average 26 percent decrease in health care costs, 27 percent decrease in sick leave and 32 percent decrease in workers compensation and disability costs.(Chapman, LS. The Art of Health Promotion: Meta-evaluation of worksite health promotion economic return studies: 2005 update. American Journal of Health Promotion, 19(6), July/August 2005.)
Because chronic diseases resulting from tobacco use and obesity comprise at least 75 percent of health care costs, all wellness initiatives include smoking cessation programs and education programs to promote physical activity and nutrition.
The Oregon Business Council, Oregon Business Association, Association of Oregon Industries and Oregon Coalition of Health Care Purchasers have listed efforts to stem tobacco use and obesity as critical for containing health care costs.
“A healthier workforce can pay dividends, but we all also know intuitively that healthy employees are happier and more productive, producing positive affects at work and at home,” said Governor Kulongoski.
Wellness programs also usually include voluntary health risk assessments, education and motivating employees to address health problems; designing health benefit plans to encourage healthy behaviors; promoting preventive screenings such as blood cholesterol and blood pressure checks; and providing healthier food options in vending machines, at meetings and creative approaches such as holding “walking meetings.”
To foster the implementation of wellness programs, the Governor is encouraging all Oregon businesses and state government agencies to take advantage of the “Healthy Worksites Toolkit” provided by the Oregon Department of Human Services.
The Governor also believes that wellness initiatives can be implemented community-wide. Today he designated Lincoln City as the first community to begin work on a community-wide wellness program. Lincoln City has committed to helping its citizens focus on healthy eating with an emphasis on locally grown produce.
Lincoln City will have the help of Oregon Solutions, a program that facilitates a new style of community governance based on collaboration, integration and sustainability. Up to four other communities will be designated as Oregon Solutions projects under the Governor’s Wellness Initiative.
To read the Governor’s letter to state agency directors about the initiative, click here.
Contact:
Anna Richter Taylor, 503-378-6169
Rem Nivens, 503-378-6496
Jillian Schoene, 503-378-5040
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