WELLNESS 2022:
"Teamwork Makes the Dream Work"
ESHCA Wellness Newsletter
July 2022
The shareable link (printable) for this issue:
For complete member services visit us at: www.eshca.org
MVP Population Health Report (2021)
The Population Health Report (MVP)
In June, ESHCA met with MVP to review health insurance spend for 2021. Data is used by the Wellness Program to "coach" members on maximizing and ideally lowering annual spend. While costs vary from year to year there is consistency in where those costs come from:
  • 1) High-Cost Claims; 2) Emergency Room Spend; 3) Chronic Disease Management

1) High-Cost Claims "drive" healthcare spend!
  • The number of medical appointments in a given year does not vary much, however, the severity of those claims does. Severity dictates cost:
  • large number of high-cost claims = high healthcare spend
  • low number of high-cost claims = low healthcare spend

2) Emergency Room Claims makeup 7% of ESHCA Healthcare Spend
  • ER is expensive for the member ($250 copay); Urgent Care ($25 copay)
  • ER is expensive for the insurance plan (3-6 times more than UC)
  • 2021 data:
  • The "Bad": 17.3% increase in ER visits
  • The "Good": non-emergent appointments decreased 13.1%
  • Non-Emergent are those claims that could have been handled at an UC or somewhere else.
  • Key to Success: reduce non-emergent claims. If you do not need the ER, use lower cost options such as UC or Gia.

3) Prescription spend was $1.6 million (actually a good year)
  • Nationally, Chronic Diseases account for 80% of healthcare costs (high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, asthma, arthritis, etc.)
  • Diabetes drugs alone accounted for $413,500 of ESHCA prescription spend in 2021 (25.2%).
Wellness "Action Plan" to Lower Healthcare Spend:
3 Step Approach
What can be done? In December 2021, members were granted a "premium holiday", meaning premium and necessary reserve exceeded spend. One months premium was moved from health insurance into retirement benefits (this is the ultimate Wellness Objective)! The Wellness "Action Plan":

  • 1) Annual Physical (the best defense against high-cost claims)
  • Preventative appointments are underused (only make up 2.5% of medical spend)
  • Making sure you have a doctor and meeting with them for an annual visit reduces the risk of high-cost claims
  • Early detection and intervention.
  • If you would like: submit the paperwork for the $200 Annual Physical Incentive
  • Additional Preventative: 2 dental cleanings per year and 1 eye exam

  • 2) Gia ($0 copay Urgent Care)
  • Download the Gia app on your phone ($25 incentive)
  • email Patrick if you download the app and have not already received the incentive
  • Gia provides virtual Urgent Care services ($0 copay) from the comfort of your home or the convenience of the job site!
  • BEST VALUE FOR YOU AND THE INSURANCE PLAN!!!
  • Additional services include Behavioral Health and Nutrition Counseling at a $0 copay!

  • 3) 35-Day Nutrition Challenge ($50 incentive)
  • Offered in November and January (you will receive information via mail in October).
  • Why would you participate? There is a formula:
  • a) 75% of prescription spend is directed toward chronic disease;
  • b) 80% of chronic disease can be managed and possibly cured through lifestyle changes including diet, exercise, and smoking cessation.
  • Developing healthy nutrition habits takes a bit of education and some "practice".
$25 July Incentive Challenge: Fight Pre-Diabetes and Diabetes
Why? High Blood Sugar over time can do significant damage:
  • Diabetes more than doubles the risk of heart disease and stroke!
  • increasing the risk of "high-cost" claims

What's the cost?
  • Nationwide, 80% of healthcare costs are spent treating chronic diseases.
  • 2021 ESHCA total pharmaceutical costs reflect national data:
  • $1.6 million spent; diabetes accounted for $413,500 (25.2%) of that total.
  • Not a bad thing, "practicing a healthy lifestyle" includes adhering to the medication protocol prescribed by your doctor.

How can it be improved?
  • 80% of chronic disease can be managed or cured through lifestyle (nutrition, exercise, and smoking cessation). Take the challenge and "take action":
  • 1) Read "Healthy Eating for Pre-Diabetes" (very short, just read do not fill-in).
  • 2) Fill in the Pre-Diabetes Worksheet.
  • 3) Return the Worksheet to me by 8/15/22 and receive your $25 incentive!
  • Email (good cell phone picture), mail, or fax.
  • If you cannot print the worksheet, make up your own and send it in, I will take it!
  • 4) All members of the household are encouraged to participate, however, only one incentive can be issued to each member-household with the exception that more than one employee-member lives in a household. Each member-household is limited to 6 incentives per year, if you participate in more than 6 newsletter challenges your company will be given additional participation points toward the "Golden Boot" award, recognizing the ESHCA Wellness Company of the Year!

Special offer: Get your crew involved!!!
  • Take the lead, be a "Wellness Champion". Encourage the members of your crew to participate, have a group discussion and develop strategies to be successful on the job (Tool Box Talk). Record all your names on one "Healthy Eating for Pre-Diabetes Worksheet" and send it in, each will receive the $25 incentive (note: ESHCA members only).
Additional July Challenge!!! Drink 8 to Hydrate Challenge (MVP):
  • Participate in the MVP "Work Well, Live Well" challenge:
  • Over the course of 4 weeks (July 11th - August 5th) receive weekly emails to help track and guide your hydration
  • You will be eligible to receive prizes at the end of the challenge!
  • Note: there is not an ESHCA incentive attached to this challenge.
  • Click to register! Invite family and friends to participate, this challenge is not limited to MVP members.
Financial Wellness:
Meet with QCI
Monthly reminder: "Know Your Financial Numbers"
  • The QCI Team "oversees" your ESHCA Retirement Benefit
  • QCI welcomes the opportunity to review your "Financial Wellness" on an annual basis
  • Use the contact information on the flier to schedule a meeting!

ESHCA recognizes this as an important step in understanding your benefits, if you meet with QCI notify Patrick of the date and QCI representative you met with (to verify) and you will be issued a $25 incentive. Email Patrick with questions.

The Wellness Program offers a number of incentive programs encouraging, motivating, and rewarding you to "practice" a healthy lifestyle. Check out the 2022 Wellness Incentive Program: