But when it comes to your corporate wellness program, you don’t need to experience mistakes first hand to learn from them. By considering past and current health care trends, you can avoid the most common mishaps — without making them yourself.  Read the full article at Corp!

For the past 5 years, Corp! has honored Michigan Companies who are a driving force in the economy. Winners are celebrated at an awards breakfast, in the May/June 2012 print edition of Corp! and in the June 14th Everything Business e-Publication of Corp!

“It is an honor to contribute good news to Michigan-based businesses and to be recognized by the distinguished Corp! Magazine,” says Scott Foster, Wellco President. “The award represents the potential, pride and perseverance of the Michigan workforce.”

About Wellco
Wellco fixes wellness and health programs for organizations that want to measurably improve health costs and conditions. Wellco specializes in wellness ROI and appraisal systems, corporate wellness programs, speaking, and consulting. To learn more, visit www.wellcocorp.com or call (248) 549-4247.

Many people ask me if I can recommend a company that understands wellness or to help them evaluate organizations that claim to be skilled.  My answer to the challenge of finding good people is simple:  Ask the prospective provider to show to its wellness presence.

Ask about such things as results, participation, return on investment, awards, recognition, news coverage, integration with existing benefits, and the structure of their own employee wellness program.  Make it an open-ended question and ask to speak to their clients.  If a provider is worthy of taking your money to advise you, then their outcomes should be readily available.   If a provider can’t show results beyond marketing materials then they’re going to come up short for clients as well.

All of a sudden many of these self-styled experts won’t say much.  This vetting tool eliminates 95 percent of agencies who just plain stink at understanding wellness.

About Scott Foster and Wellco
Scott Foster is President of Wellco, based in Michigan.  Wellco fixes health and wellness programs for organizations that want to measurably improve health costs and conditions.   Wellco specializes in wellness ROI and appraisal systems, corporate wellness programs, speaking, and consulting.  For more information, visit www.wellcocorp.com or call 248-549-4247.

Permission to Reprint
You may reprint any items from Health Trends Blog in your own print or electronic newsletter. When you do, please include the following paragraph: Reprinted from “HealthTrendsBlog.com,” free, proven corporate wellness ROI strategies and market intelligence. Subscribe and receive a free gift at www.wellcocorp.com. Copyright (c) by Wellco Corporation.

The MWC recently held its inaugural event at Compuware Corporate Headquarters in Detroit, featuring Dee Edington, Ph.D., Director of the University of Michigan Health Management Research Center.

“Previously, businesses have not had the resources necessary to effectively impact health care costs across the entire spectrum of care,” said Scott Foster, MWC chairman and president of Wellco, a leading Michigan-based corporate health and wellness consulting firm. “The Michigan Wellness Council is proud to be the first to provide non-proprietary, non-profit resources to help businesses throughout the state effectively control medical costs.”

The MWC has also introduced its first board of directors.  The board was carefully selected to demonstrate the collaborative solutions available to Michigan businesses and provided with staggered terms to continue momentum and growth. The board consists of experts in business, medicine, wellness, health care administration, media and government.“The MWC board is a reflection of the leadership and collaboration needed for effective health cost control,” said Foster. “Each of these outstanding business and community leaders will bring significant experience with key growth and development issues central to our quality of life in Michigan.”

Directors include:  Scott Foster, President, Wellco; Ken Rogers, Executive Director, Automation Alley; Jennifer Kluge, President and CEO, Michigan Food and Beverage Association and the Michigan Business and Professional Association; Kathleen Neal, Director, Integrated Health Care and Disability, Chrysler Group LLC; Christi Demitz, Public Health Consultant, Michigan Department of Community Health;Earlexia Norwood, MD, Physician-in-Charge, Henry Ford Medical Center-Troy; Debra Brandt, Senior Benefit Manager, Global Health & Wellness, Whirlpool Corporation; Susan Bailey, Program Manager-Health and Wellness, DTE Energy;  Michele Hodges, President, Troy Chamber of Commerce; Jamie Spriet, Vice President, Business Development, HAP; Tom Spring, Strategic Executive Director, Health Care Provider Segment, WebMD Health Services; Fred Zimmer, Partner, Business Development Group, Kent Sharkey, President and CEO, T.E.A.M. Human Capital Solutions and Mary Jo Lefevre, Account Executive, AGIS.

“We’ve noticed businesses asking for better health information, not just more,” said Foster. “The complexity of reform and rapid-fire pace of insurance and wellness changes have created a perfect storm of opportunity for businesses that keep up and leverage the latest strategies. Employers want to know what is proven to make a difference in their bottom line.”

Read a related story in Crain’s Detroit Business by following this link.

For more information about the Michigan Wellness Council, visit www.michiganwellnesscouncil.org.

Wellco fixes health and wellness programs for organizations that want to measurably improve health costs and conditions.  Wellco specializes in wellness ROI and appraisal systems, corporate wellness programs, speaking, and consulting.  Wellco currently offers a free, 7-point wellness program review and planning guide to help you avoid the most common mistakes and identify the most promising improvement opportunities.  For your free review, or for more information, call Wellco today, at 866-636-WELL (9355) or visit www.wellcocorp.com.

Jamie Spriet, Vice President, Business Development, HAP

Companies of various sizes across 7 national regions will be provided with 2-years of support from a national firm to develop or expand their workplace health programs.  Worksites will be selected based upon leadership support, baseline data, and willingness to collaborate with other participating awardees in the region. Organizations with more than 500 full-time employees will need to provide $50,000 in matching funds for consideration.

The programs will be facilitated by Viridian Health Management and evaluated for effectiveness by North Carolina’s Research Triangle Institute.

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) features wellness prominently and uses the word wellness 86 times.  The most pertinent wellness issues are in the Prevention of Chronic Disease and Improving Public Health Section (Title IV).  Soon, section 10408 will provide $200M for small businesses to provide comprehensive wellness programs.  The fund appropriation and application protocols are currently being finalized by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.  You will soon need to submit an application along with an agreement to implement programs “based on and consistent with evidence-based research.”

Wellco recently completed facilitation of 10 pilot programs as precursors to the National Prevention Strategy.

Here is what you need to know to jumpstart your opportunity:

1. Get ready – You will be required to submit a proposal for a comprehensive wellness program that meets guidelines according to the Guide to Clinical Preventive Services, National Registry for Effective Programs and the Guide to Community Preventive Services.  Develop your plan now.

2. Get Set – The grant program is only for companies who do not have an existing wellness program. Do not launch your program until your plan is developed and you are caught up with the grant and application criteria.

3. Get connected – The guidelines and processes sound complicated, but they don’t have to be. Contact a high-level wellness expert for plan guidance, for application assistance and for timing updates to be among the first in line for funding. Wellco has been assisting with and receiving wellness grants for more than 15 years. Contact us if we can help.

About Scott Foster and Wellco
Scott Foster is President of Wellco, based in Michigan.  Wellco fixes wellness and health programs for organizations that want to measurably improve health costs and conditions. Wellco specializes in wellness ROI and appraisal systems, corporate wellness programs, speaking, and consulting. For more information, visit www.wellcocorp.com or call 248-549-4247.

Permission to Reprint
You may reprint any items from Health Trends Blog in your own print or electronic newsletter. When you do, please include the following paragraph: Reprinted from “HealthTrendsBlog.com,” free, proven corporate wellness ROI strategies and market intelligence. Subscribe and receive a free gift at www.wellcocorp.com. Copyright (c) by Wellco Corporation.

Wellco, a Michigan-based wellness firm, provides companies with health-risk appraisals and health return-on-investment (ROI) systems. For example, Wellco recently launched the Wellness Positioning System to track company wellness efforts and identify the most effective opportunities. This product incorporates data from wellness programs and health benefits into an actionable scorecard to improve wellness effectiveness, prevention impact, medical costs and integration.

Wellco is known as a firm that fixes health and wellness programs, rather than merely a provider of wellness programs. During a time when most employee wellness programs have no data to prove effectiveness, Wellco’s average measured return on investment is 1.9 to 1. Recognizing its valued services, many companies have turned to Wellco to integrate health benefits with wellness programs or to capitalize on new opportunities and grants from health reform.

“Michigan is highly supportive and loyal to its business community,” said Scott Foster, president. “It is a privilege to receive this distinguished award and to have the opportunity to contribute. We proudly carry our ‘Made in Michigan’ message throughout the nation.” Wellco’s biggest challenge has become balancing the additional priorities associated with momentum and growth. Plans to adapt include adding positions for support, operations and marketing.

To read the Corp! article, follow this link.

Wellco fixes health and wellness programs for organizations that want to measurably improve health costs and conditions.  Wellco specializes in ROI and appraisal systems, corporate wellness programs, speaking, and consulting.  Wellco currently offers a free, 7-point wellness program review and planning guide to help you avoid the most common mistakes and identify the most promising improvement opportunities.  For your free review, or for more information, call Wellco today, at 866-636-WELL (9355) or visit www.wellcocorp.com.

Only 1 person passed all seven measures and less than 10 percent passed at least five criteria. The research concluded that good heart health scores are the exception, rather than the rule and health improvement represents both a tremendous challenge and opportunity.

The annual cost of heart disease in the United States is estimated at $475.3 billion, according to the American Heart Association.  Many experts believe heart disease could be nearly completely eliminated with appropriate wellness and prevention.

The study was performed by physicians and researchers from the University of Pittsburgh Cardiovascular Institute and published in Circulation, a medical journal published by the American Heart Association.

About Scott Foster and Wellco
Scott Foster is President of Wellco, based in Michigan. Wellco works with organizations that want to measurably improve health costs and conditions. Wellco specializes in health ROI systems, health risk appraisals, corporate wellness programs, speaking, and consulting. Wellco the developer of the award-winning HealthHammer (TM), the first and only Zero Trend Appraisal (R) system to help companies accurately benchmark and fully achieve flat health costs over time. For more information, visit www.wellcocorp.com or call 248-549-4247.

Permission to Reprint
You may reprint any items from Health Trends Blog in your own print or electronic newsletter. When you do, please include the following paragraph: Reprinted from “HealthTrendsBlog.com,” free, proven corporate wellness ROI strategies and market intelligence. Subscribe and receive a free gift at www.wellcocorp.com. Copyright (c) by Wellco Corporation.

Wellco will be honored at an awards ceremony during the seventh annual Michigan Celebrates Small Business event, April 28 in Lansing, Mich.

Wellco is a Wellness ROI Firm that specializes in the measurement and improvement of medical costs along with wellness program evaluation.

“Michigan is a highly supportive and loyal to their business community,” says Scott Foster, Wellco President.  “It is a privilege to receive this distinguished award and to have the opportunity to contribute.  We proudly carry our ‘Made in Michigan’ message throughout the nation,” Foster said.

Companies making it to the “Michigan 50 Companies to Watch” list are a remarkable group of second-stage companies. Defined as having 6 to 99 full-time-equivalent employees and generating $750,000 to $50 million in annual revenue or working capital from investors or grants, these companies form the backbone of Michigan’s economy. Representing all regions of the state and a diverse range of industries, companies like Wellco are known for their exceptional entrepreneurial leadership, creation of innovation or use of innovation in creative ways, and their sustainable competitive advantage.

Winners were selected by Michigan-based judges from the banking, economic development, entrepreneurship development and venture capital communities.

Wellco works with organizations to measurably improve health costs and conditions. Wellco specializes in ROI systems, health risk appraisals, corporate wellness programs, speaking, and consulting. In addition, Wellco is the developer of the award-winning HealthHammer ™, the first and only Zero Trend Appraisal ® system to help companies accurately benchmark and fully achieve flat health costs over time.  For more information visit www.wellcocorp.com.

Michigan 50 Companies to Watch is presented by Michigan Celebrates Small Business.

PNC Bank is the lead underwriter for Michigan Celebrates Small Business, with additional underwriting support from Clark Hill PLC, Michigan Economic Development Corporation, DTE Energy Foundation, Comcast Business Class, Michigan Certified Development Corporation, Accident Fund Insurance Company of America, and Dynamic Edge.

Michigan Celebrates Small Business is presented in association with the Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center, Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Small Business Association of Michigan, the U.S. Small Business Administration – Michigan, and the Edward Lowe Foundation.

Information about the 2011 Michigan 50 Companies to Watch program can be found at http://Michigan.CompaniesToWatch.org. For information about Michigan Celebrates Small Business, visit http://MichiganCelebrates.biz.

Beginning in 2011, section 10408 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will provide $200M for small businesses to provide comprehensive wellness programs. Businesses must have less than 100 employees working at least 25 hours per week and must not have a current wellness program.

You will soon need to submit an application along with an agreement to implement programs “based on and consistent with evidence-based research.”

The fund appropriation and application protocols are currently being finalized by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Here is what you need to know to jumpstart your opportunity:

1. Get ready – You will be required to submit a proposal for a comprehensive wellness program that meets guidelines according to the Guide to Clinical Preventive Services, National Registry for Effective Programs and the Guide to Community Preventive Services. Develop your plan now.

2. Get Set – The grant program is only for companies who do not have an existing wellness program. Do not launch your program until you are caught up with the grant and application criteria.

3. Get connected – The guidelines and processes sound complicated, but they don’t have to be. Contact a high-level wellness expert for plan guidance, for application assistance and for timing updates to be among the first in line for funding. Wellco has been assisting with and receiving wellness grants for about 15 years. Contact us if we can help.

About Scott Foster and Wellco

Scott Foster is President of Wellco, based in Michigan. Wellco works with organizations who want to measurably improve health costs and conditions. Wellco specializes in health ROI systems, health risk appraisals, corporate wellness programs, speaking, and consulting. Wellco the developer of the award-winning HealthHammer (TM), the first and only Zero Trend Appraisal (R) system to help companies accurately benchmark and fully achieve flat health costs over time. For more information, visit www.wellcocorp.com or call 248-549-4247.

Permission to Reprint

You may reprint any items from Health Trends Blog in your own print or electronic newsletter. When you do, please include the following paragraph: Reprinted from “HealthTrendsBlog.com,” free, proven corporate wellness ROI strategies and market intelligence. Subscribe and receive a free gift at www.wellcocorp.com. Copyright (c) by Wellco Corporation.